Sex and the City - Manchester`s Health and Wellbeing Service

Sex and the City
Sexual Health Promotion
Pete Smith
Senior Public Health Development Advisor
Group Agreement
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Confidentiality
Listening
Opt in/opt out
Respect
Mobile phones off
What is sexual health?
In pairs come up with one word or phrase
each, that explains what sexual health is.
Sexual Health
‘A state of physical, emotional, mental and social
well being related to sexuality; it is not merely
the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity.
Sexual health requires a positive and respectful
approach to sexuality and sexual relationships
as well as the possibility of having pleasurable
and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion,
discrimination and violence.’
(WHO, 2004,p1)
What is Sexual Health Promotion and
Prevention?
Any activity which proactively and positively
supports the sexual health and emotional
health and well being of individuals, groups,
communities and the wider public and
reduces the risk of HIV transmission’
DH 2003
What is Sexual Health Promotion and
Prevention?
Sexual Health Promotion encompasses HIV prevention,
any work which promotes positive sexual health work,
work to reduce unintended pregnancies, sex and
relationship education, initiatives to bring about
changes in prejudice / discrimination / stigma, and
general awareness-raising work
DH 2003
What the Sexual Health and Harm
Reduction Team does
Improve the sexual health of targeted groups in Manchester by:
Supporting clinical development in areas such as; GUM, ante-natal,
drug and alcohol services. Providing education and training
Providing support, facilitation and advice
Project development
Development of resources and access to information
Campaigning, using the media, encouraging community involvement
What we do (continued)
•To support national and international events and to develop local initiatives
•To use a settings approach to target the work e.g: saunas, prisons,
residential care units, community venues, primary health care and general
practices
•To challenge discrimination and target work in
order to reduce health
inequalities e.g: marginalised and vulnerable groups
•To conduct needs analysis/research
Who do we work with?
• Men
who have sex with men
• BME communities
• Young People
• Vulnerable People
The training programme aims to:
• Equip frontline workers to receive clear consistent,
informed and accurate information about sexual
health, alcohol and drug use.
• Increase participants knowledge, awareness and
skills around sexual health and sexual health
promotion.
• Challenge, prejudices, stereo-types and beliefs
• Create a challenging yet safe forum in which
participants can share and learn.
Prevention campaigns
Providing Information
Work with targeted groups
Manchester Sauna Owners Forum
• Founded in February 2003
• Chaired by Sauna Owner
• Approx 20 Saunas Owners / Managers attend
monthly meetings
• Terms of reference
• Good practice guidelines
• Website
Men who have sex with men
• Valentine’s Love is ..... HIV testing project.
Anal Treet
• An HIV prevention and sexual health
promotion project.
• Aimed at young gay men aged 16-25
• Online interactive soap opera
• It is a social group on face book which people
are invited to join and they meet the boys.
Background
• A group of young HIV + gay men were
recruited with a view to produce a HIV
prevention campaign for non + gay men
• Issues around creating a clear prevention
message while not stigmatising + people
• The group highlighted that the campaign had
to be engaging, sexy, stylish, in no way
preachy and hard hitting.
Activity.
• In small groups discuss. What barriers might
stop you undertaking Sexual Health
Promotion?
Legal Issues
Age of Consent
• The age of consent for any form of sexual activity is 16
for both men and women.
• The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced a new series
of laws to protect children under 16 from sexual abuse.
• However, the law is not intended to prosecute against
mutually consensual teenage sexual activity, between
two young people of a similar age, unless it involves
abuse or exploitation.
• Specific laws protect children under 13, who cannot
legally give their consent to any form of sexual activity.
Confidentiality
• Any competent young person (under 16) can consent to medical,
surgical or nursing treatment – including contraception and sexual
health.
• They are said to be competent if they are capable of fully
understanding the nature and possible consequences of the
treatment.
• Consent from parent/carer is not legally necessary, although the
involvement of a parent/carer should be encouraged.
• Young people are owed the same duties of care and confidentiality
as any adult.
• Confidentiality may only be broken when the health, safety or
welfare of the young person, or others would be at grave risk
Safeguarding
• Follow the MSCB Parenting and Substance Misuse
Guidance www.mscb.org
• If staff are worried that a child is at risk of significant
harm they should make a referral via the contact centre
and follow it up in writing using the multiagency referral
form.
Where to Go?
• Sexual Health and Cash (Contraception and Sexual
Health Clinics) NHS choices – WWW.NHS.UK
• Sexual Health Resources PHDS Resource Library
1st Floor Fallowfield Library
Platt Lane
Fallowfield
Manchester M14 7FB
Tel: 0161 248 1757
Contact Details
Pete Smith
Public Health Development Service
peter.smith@mhsc.nhs.uk
0161 248 1760