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DCP Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health

The Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health provides a forum for both psychologists and other professionals working in these areas to discuss common issues.

About

We work tirelessly to promote current research and learning in the field and to keep our members appraised of ongoing developments.

The Faculty aims:

  • To foster effective psychological services to people whose lives are affected by HIV, AIDS or sexual health issues
  • To promote the professional and scientific work of member of the Faculty with an interest in HIV, AIDS and/or sexual health
  • To promote an awareness of current services and research issue and models of clinical practice
  • To promote communication amongst psychologists working in the field of HIV and sexual health
  • To disseminate psychological information and knowledge about HIV and sexual health related issues
  • To advise the Society and the Division of Clinical Psychology on matters relating to HIV, AIDS and sexual health

We are always looking for new members from our membership to get involved with supporting us with our aim, either by joining the committee or volunteering within our working groups.

If you want to get involved or have any ideas to share which we can support with, please get in touch on [email protected].

We also have a number of vacant committee positions – please check out the “Committee” tab to see the positions available.

DCP Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health

News

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DCP Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health

Events

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Guidelines

Guidelines for psychologists working therapeutically with sexual and gender minority clients

Published: February 2012

These guidelines have been developed in recognition of the importance of guiding and supporting applied psychologists around their work with sexual and gender minority clients in order to enable their inclusion in clinical practice at a high standard.

They also aspire to engender better understanding of clients who may have suffered social exclusion and stigmatisation in order to reduce the possibility of this in the clinical arena.

Good practice guidelines for the training and consolidation of clinical practice in HIV/Sexual Health Settings

Published: December 2006

This document has been written in consultation with the committee of the Faculty of HIV/Sexual Health and advising trainers.

Its key purpose is to guide members of the profession and training providers in ensuring that trainee clinical psychologists, upon qualifying, are able to meet the needs of individuals with sexual health and HIV related problems, in whatever setting or context they come into contact with them.

The guidance within is also intended to aid in planning and evaluating the consolidation of experience and competencies of newly qualified clinical psychologists working within sexual health and HIV settings before the transition from Band 7 to Band 8 within Agenda for Change and Continuing Professional Development

The Complete Guide To Contraception & Your Cycle

With so many choices available, choosing the right method of contraception can be tricky. Some options, although effective, can have an adverse effect on menstrual cycles, which can cause physical and mental distress.

So I’m sharing this useful resource called ‘The Complete Guide To Contraception & Your Cycle’ which aims to help women become more informed about contraceptives and how it impacts their menstrual health. It features a lot of great information, such as:

  • An in-depth look at the various types of contraceptives available - both hormonal and non-hormonal - and how women can get them for free.
  • Detailed comparison of each contraceptive's pros and cons - how they affect intercourse and their efficacy in preventing STDs.
  • Important stats on the effectiveness of each contraceptive, possible side-effects, and how they might affect menstrual cycles.
  • Key takeaways and advice on finding a method that works for each individual and other useful external references on reproductive health.

Read the complete guide to contraception and your cycle

Additional resources

Articles

  • Butler, C. (2004).An awareness-raising tool addressing lesbian and gay lives. Clinical Psychology, 36, 15-17 
  • Butler, C. (2006). What's different about sex? Clinical Psychology Forum, 158, p36-39 
  • Butler, C & Shaw, E. (2007) Putting sex on the agenda. Clinical Psychology Forum, 173, 45-47 
  • Byrne, A., Watson, R., Butler, C. & Accoroni, A. (2006). Increasing the confidence of nursing staff to address the sexual health needs of people living with HIV: The use of motivational interviewing. AIDS Care, 18 (5), 501-504 
  • Maslin, J. & Shaw, L. (2006). Clinical Psychology and asylum seeker clients: The therapeutic relationship. Clinical Psychology Forum, 165, 10-15 
  • Patel, N. et al. (2000). Clinical Psychology, 'race', and culture: a training manual. London: BPS 
  • Shaw, L. (2007) NICE about sex. Clinical Psychology Forum, 174, 55-56 
  • Shaw, L. & Tacconelli, E. (2006). Displaced people in sexual health settings. Clinical Psychology Forum, 159, p8-20 

Useful Links

Health promotion and publication information

Information sites

  • AIDSmap: Wide ranging site from the British HIV Association and National AIDS Manual, particularly useful for people living with HIV and AIDS. Plus database of AIDS organisations worldwide, and information for developing countries from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance 
  • Health Development Agency: National authority supporting evidence-based working in public health, providing effectiveness reviews and other publications on sexual health. 
  • HIV i-base: HIV treatment information for healthcare professionals and HIV positive people 
  • The Criminalisation of HIV Transmission: A site set up by Birkbeck & Keel Universities as part of an HIV and the Law lecture series. Contains overheads from speakers and related papers on clinical practice and access to treatment etc. Criminalisation of HIV Lectures

Professional Bodies

  • British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH): an organisation formed by the merging of the former Medical society for the Study of Venereal Diseases (MSSVD) and Association for Genito Urinary Medicine (AGUM)
  • Children's HIV Association of UK and Ireland (CHIVA): An association of professionals who are committed to providing excellence in the care of children infected or affected by HIV and their facilities
  • Dietitians in HIV/AIDS: Registered dieticians who specialise or have an interest in HIV/AIDS 
  • NHIVNA: National HIV Nurses Associations 
  • SSHA: Society of Sexual Health Advisors 
  • NICE: An idependent organisation responsible for providing guidance on good health and preventing ill health

Voluntary Sector, Service Users and other organisations

Our committee

Chair: Jane Vosper

Honorary Secretary: Vacant

Honorary Treasurer: Christopher McCormack

Committee Members:

  • Alex Margetts
  • Herman van der Walt
  • Kate Reilly
  • Sarah Rutter
  • Tomas Campbell

Communication Lead: Vacant

CPD Lead: Vacant

Events Lead: Vacant

Policy Response Co-ordinator: Laura Thompson

DCP Pre-Qualification Representative: Vacant

If you would like to apply for any vacant positions, please complete a Statement of Interest form.

If you would like to find out if there are any other positions available, please contact the Member Networks Team.

Join

Apply to join the faculty (students, affiliates, e-subscribers)

Apply to join the faculty (graduate, chartered, and in-training members)

Membership of the Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health is only open to members of the British Psychological Society.

There are three grades of faculty membership:

  • Full membership

    For psychologists who are Full Members of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) and who work in or have an interest or expertise in the field of HIV and sexual health.

  • Affiliate membership

    For psychologists who are General (Pre-Training) and In-Training members of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Affiliate members may take part in discussions but may not vote.

  • Associate membership

    For General members of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) and non-Division members. Associate members may take part in discussions but may not vote.

If you are not already a member, you can join the faculty at the same time as applying for membership of the society.

Apply to join the society

Benefits of belonging

Benefits of Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health membership

The Faculty for HIV & Sexual Health fosters effective psychological services to people whose lives have been affected by HIV and Sexual Health issues and aims to raise awareness of psychological issues in this area by providing a forum for the presentation and discussion of issues.

The Faculty facilitates communication and support among psychologists and other professionals working in the field by promoting psychological research and advising and influencing relevant organisations and policy.

The Faculty issue a quarterly online newsletter and offer reduced fees for events.

Member Announcement Email List

The Faculty for HIV & Sexual Health uses its membership announcement email list to inform its members of activities and initiatives that are relevant to their interests and to make requests for engagement on topical issues. 

By becoming a member of the Faculty you are automatically added to the announcement list.

To receive these emails you will need to:

  1. become a member of the Faculty for HIV & Sexual Health
  2. opt into receiving email communication and provide a working email address

These preferences can be updated by logging into your member portal.

If you have any queries, please contact Member Network Services.

To assist us in responding to your query please make sure to include your membership number and quote 'Faculty for HIV & Sexual Health announcement email' in the subject line.

Getting involved with the Faculty for HIV and Sexual Health

The Faculty for HIV & Sexual Health relies on a wide range of people getting involved, and the work of the Faculty is largely achieved through the dedication of unpaid volunteers.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of different backgrounds, whether they be practitioners or academics, or full members or in-training members, and together form an open and inclusive community.

The first point of contact for any queries regarding the work of the DCP Faculty of HIV and Sexual Health should be the Member Network Services Team.

The Member Network Services team provides support to all our Member Networks.

Contact the Member Networks Team