The STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency is a workplace-based qualification assessing the competence of newly qualified nurses or nurses new to sexual health. It includes assessments relating to the role in assisting more senior staff, setting up clinic rooms and safe management of cryotherapy as well as female genital exam (speculum), administering cryotherapy and giving injections (immunisations and antibiotics). It involves tailored one-to-one clinical training and assessment by specialists within a sexual health clinic setting.
Training is provided by Registered STI Foundation Competency Trainers.
STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency
- £295
E-learning (eHIV-STI)
You do not need to be registered on the STI Foundation Gateway plus programme to undertake the e-learning. It is highly recommended that you complete 50% of the e-learning before commencing your training and assessments.
Time frame for completion of training
The STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency training and assessment pathway should be completed within 12 months of the date of the first assessment (unless extenuating circumstances).
On successful completion of the training and assessment programme, a Certificate of STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency is awarded. The Certificate needs to be revalidated every five years.
Microscopy
Microscopy is carried out by health care professionals across a wide range of roles. We do not include microscopy as a core element within the competencies due to the variety of approaches to this area of work across Sexual Health Clinics. BASHH’s Bacterial Special Interest Group (BSIG) have developed an eLearning package to develop the knowledge required for microscopy. The eLearning is accompanied by a set of competency checklists that support the assessment and recording of the core competencies, which can be signed off by a senior microscopist with relevant experience.
The eLearning is free for BASHH members and costs £16.50 +VAT for a year’s access for non-members. Click here for more information.