Sexual Health Advisor: Pay, Salary, Progression & How to Become
A Sexual Health Advisor is a genitourinary medicine clinic or integrated sexual health service practitioner responsible for partner notification, contact tracing, and behavioural support for people with sexually transmitted infections and HIV, typically at Band 5 to 6. This guide sets out what the role involves, how it differs from a GUM nurse, the advisor types across HIV and outreach work, and the qualifications the career requires. The salary sections cover the NHS Agenda for Change bands an advisor sits in, the 2026/27 pay scale, pay progression from Band 5 to Team Manager, unsocial hours and overtime, take-home pay, maternity and sick pay, and the hourly rate. The closing questions confirm the band range, SHASTD membership, London weighting, and partner notification.
A Sexual Health Advisor supports people through the diagnosis of an STI or HIV and reaches their partners to break the chain of transmission. The role matters for anyone considering a sexual health career and for tracking how the UK controls sexually transmitted infections.
What Is a Sexual Health Advisor?
A Sexual Health Advisor is a Level 3 genitourinary medicine clinic or integrated sexual health service practitioner responsible for partner notification, contact tracing, and behavioural intervention for people with sexually transmitted infections and HIV, typically at Band 5 to 6. The advisor delivers the BASHH partner notification standards and works alongside GUM consultants within the multidisciplinary team.
A Sexual Health Advisor performs partner notification, informing the sexual partners of a person diagnosed with an STI about possible exposure, and provides pre-test and post-test discussion for HIV. The advisor works with diverse and vulnerable populations, offering a confidential and non-judgemental service.
The role combines clinical knowledge, communication skill, and cultural sensitivity, linking clinical services to the community to reduce health inequalities and improve sexual health outcomes.
What Does a Sexual Health Advisor Do?
A Sexual Health Advisor leads partner notification for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and other STIs, using provider, contract, and patient referral routes to trace and inform sexual contacts and break transmission. The advisor coordinates contact tracing, delivers HIV pre-test and post-test discussion including positive result disclosure, and supports PrEP initiation. Safeguarding assessment for child sexual exploitation, sexual violence, and trafficking runs through the role, alongside motivational interviewing for behaviour change and sex worker outreach, all within the multidisciplinary GUM team.
What Is the Difference Between a Sexual Health Advisor and a GUM Nurse?
The difference between a Sexual Health Advisor and a GUM nurse lies in the health advising arm versus the clinical arm. A Sexual Health Advisor (Band 5 to 6) specialises in partner notification, contact tracing, and psychosocial support, focusing on health advising, risk assessment, and guidance on safer sex.
A GUM nurse (Band 5 to 7) holds NMC registration and performs STI screening, phlebotomy, treatment administration, and clinical assessment. Both roles work within the multidisciplinary GUM team, but the advisor handles partner notification and health advising while the nurse handles the clinical care.
What Are the Different Types of Sexual Health Advisor?
Sexual Health Advisors specialise by the population and setting they serve. The main types are listed below:
General Sexual Health Advisor
A General Sexual Health Advisor delivers STI partner notification and contact tracing across the GUM clinic caseload, the largest advisor role. The advisor gathers sexual health histories, provides safer-sex guidance and contraception advice, and acts as a first point of contact, working in clinics and community settings alongside healthcare colleagues.
HIV Health Advisor
An HIV Health Advisor specialises in HIV positive result disclosure, PrEP initiation support, adherence support, and HIV partner notification. HIV partner notification should form part of ongoing care, offered at follow-up visits when there are new contacts of negative or unknown status, according to the BASHH, BHIVA, SSHA and NAT HIV partner notification standards. The advisor helps people understand HIV risk, navigate treatment and referral pathways, and manage the stigma and anxiety around diagnosis, working with HIV consultants and community organisations.
Sexual Health Advisor (Outreach / Sex Worker)
An outreach Sexual Health Advisor delivers health services to marginalised groups such as sex workers, homeless people, and men who have sex with men, who may not use clinic services. The advisor works in street outreach, drop-in centres, and drug services, offering confidential testing, harm reduction, and partner notification, and connecting people to housing, drug and alcohol, and crisis support.
Senior Sexual Health Advisor
A Senior Sexual Health Advisor works at Band 6, supervising junior advisors and leading on complex partner notification and safeguarding. The senior advisor manages challenging cases involving vulnerable populations and complex psychosocial need, contributes to policy and training, and holds a caseload reflecting complex clinical need.
Sexual Health Advisor Manager / Lead
A Sexual Health Advisor Manager works at Band 7, leading the advisory team and the health advising service. The manager runs staff supervision, performance management, service development, and quality assurance, handles budgets and service planning, and usually brings several years of Band 6 experience plus leadership training.
How Much Does a Sexual Health Advisor Earn?
A Sexual Health Advisor in the NHS earns between £32,073 and £56,515 a year under Agenda for Change, across Bands 5 to 7. An entry-level advisor starts on Band 5 (£32,073 to £39,043), a senior advisor reaches Band 6 (£39,959 to £48,117), and a Team Manager sits at Band 7 (£49,387 to £56,515).
Earnings vary with location, experience, and responsibility. An advisor in and around London receives a High Cost Area Supplement, and enhancements for unsocial hours, weekend clinics, and overtime add to the total. Take-home pay is lower than gross once income tax, National Insurance, and pension are applied, and most posts are full-time at 37.5 hours a week with part-time options.
How Much Does a Sexual Health Advisor Earn Per Hour?
A Sexual Health Advisor earns between roughly £16.40 and £29 an hour, depending on band. A Band 5 advisor earns about £16.40 to £20 an hour, a Band 6 senior advisor about £20.50 to £24.50, and a Band 7 Team Manager about £25 to £29, based on a 37.5-hour week. Geographic location, a London High Cost Area Supplement, and unsocial hours or overtime enhancements lift the effective rate above the basic figure.
Sexual Health Advisor Band 5 Salary
A Sexual Health Advisor on Band 5 earns between £32,073 and £39,043 a year for 2026/27, the entry-level band for the role. Band 5 covers gathering sexual health histories, delivering partner notification, and providing health promotion advice. The salary reflects the professional responsibility and specialist knowledge the role requires, and unsocial hours, overtime, or a High Cost Area Supplement can lift total pay.
Senior Sexual Health Advisor Band 6 Salary
A Senior Sexual Health Advisor on Band 6 earns between £39,959 and £48,117 a year for 2026/27, reflecting advanced responsibility and the supervision of junior staff. Band 6 covers complex partner notification handled independently, HIV specialist scope, and safeguarding lead work, plus training and mentoring. A London-based post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement on top.
Sexual Health Advisor Team Manager Band 7 Salary
A Sexual Health Advisor Team Manager on Band 7 earns between £49,387 and £56,515 a year for 2026/27, reflecting managerial responsibility. The role oversees the team, manages clinic operations, and develops service policy, calling for extensive experience and leadership skills. A London-based post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement, and NHS pension and benefits add to the package.
What Is the Sexual Health Advisor Pay Scale for 2026/27?
The Sexual Health Advisor pay scale for 2026/27 runs under NHS Agenda for Change across Bands 5, 6, and 7. Band 5 pays £32,073 to £39,043, Band 6 pays £39,959 to £48,117, and Band 7 Team Manager roles pay £49,387 to £56,515, according to the 2026/27 pay scales published by NHS Employers.
The scale includes the 3.3% consolidated uplift effective 1 April 2026, with incremental pay points inside each band that release on satisfactory performance and length of service. A London-based advisor receives a High Cost Area Supplement on top of the base scale.
How Is Sexual Health Advisor Pay Determined by Agenda for Change?
Agenda for Change determines Sexual Health Advisor pay through job evaluation, which scores each role on job content, responsibility, skill, and autonomy before assigning a band. Band 5 reflects entry with the STIF STI Foundation course and SHASTD membership, Band 6 reflects a sustained advisor caseload plus the SHASTD Diploma, and Band 7 reflects Team Manager scope. NMC nurse registration is common but not required, and community-based services may sit with local authorities on transferred NHS terms. Each band holds pay points that release with service.
How Much Did Sexual Health Advisor Pay Rise in 2026?
Sexual Health Advisor pay rose by 3.3% in 2026 under the Agenda for Change pay award. The consolidated uplift took effect on 1 April 2026 and applied across every pay point in Bands 5, 6, and 7, so both entry-level advisors and experienced practitioners benefited. Higher bands received larger cash increases from the same percentage, and the award reached April 2026 salaries directly.
How Does Sexual Health Advisor Pay Progression Work?
Sexual Health Advisor pay progression runs through the incremental pay points inside each Agenda for Change band, starting at Band 5. An advisor moves up one pay point each year on the strength of a satisfactory annual review, until reaching the top of the band.
Moving to a higher band means demonstrating expanded competencies, taking on added responsibility, and applying for a role at the next level. The career path runs from Band 5 General Sexual Health Advisor to Band 6 Senior Sexual Health Advisor and on to Band 7 Team Manager, each step a competitive application assessed against the person specification, with annual appraisal identifying development needs.
How Do Advisors Move From Band 5 to Band 6?
A Sexual Health Advisor moves from Band 5 to Band 6 by demonstrating advanced skill and applying for a Band 6 post, since progression is not automatic. Candidates usually need one to two years of Band 5 experience, a strong performance record, and completion of the SHASTD Diploma. Evidence of managing complex partner notification, HIV specialist scope, motivational interviewing, and safeguarding lead responsibility supports the move to greater autonomy.
How Do Advisors Progress to Team Manager Roles?
A Sexual Health Advisor progresses to Team Manager at Band 7 by building leadership on top of clinical expertise. Progression usually needs several years at Band 6, developing staff supervision, service development, and strategic planning, often with a leadership qualification such as an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health or a healthcare leadership certificate. Mentoring junior staff, leading projects, and running service audits build the case, and the advisor then applies for a Band 7 Team Manager post through competitive recruitment.
How Much Do Sexual Health Advisors Earn for Unsocial Hours?
Sexual Health Advisors earn a percentage enhancement on the basic hourly rate for unsocial shifts under Agenda for Change. Work on Saturdays and weekday nights between 8pm and 6am attracts a 30% enhancement, while work on Sundays and public holidays attracts 60%. These rates apply to advisors on Band 5 and above.
Sexual Health Advisors on GUM clinic rotas earn these enhancements from evening clinics, typically running to 6pm to 8pm, and Saturday clinics, plus community outreach evening sessions. The enhancement applies to the rostered hours in the unsocial window and appears as a separate line on the payslip.
How Much Overtime Does a Sexual Health Advisor Earn?
Sexual Health Advisors earn additional shifts at time-and-a-half (1.5x the basic hourly rate) for hours worked beyond the contracted week, with double time (2x) reserved for general public holidays. Overtime pay is not pensionable, and rates and eligibility can vary between trusts.
Overtime availability depends on service demand, clinic hours, and staffing, so advisors in urban clinics or those running evening and weekend services have more opportunity. Some trusts offer time off in lieu instead, and a minimum threshold of additional hours may apply before enhanced rates.
How to Calculate Sexual Health Advisor Take-Home Pay
Calculating take-home pay for a Sexual Health Advisor means working from gross salary down to net pay through the standard UK deductions. The steps are listed below:
Start with gross salary
Identify the gross salary for the band, for example between £32,073 and £39,043 on Band 5 or £39,959 and £48,117 on Band 6, then divide by 12 for monthly gross pay.
Add extra earnings
Add any unsocial hours, overtime, or High Cost Area Supplement, which raise gross pay before deductions.
Deduct income tax
Apply the personal allowance of £12,570, then 20% basic-rate tax on earnings up to £50,270 and 40% above, since Band 5 to 7 advisors mostly sit within the basic-rate band.
Deduct National Insurance
National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on anything above £50,270.
Deduct pension contributions
The NHS Pension Scheme takes a tiered contribution between 5.1% and 13.5% of pensionable pay, set by salary, and the contribution is deducted before income tax.
Reach net pay
Subtract student loan repayments, union fees, or salary sacrifice arrangements to reach the monthly take-home pay, usually paid by BACS.
Use our NHS net salary calculator for an instant estimate.
What Deductions Come Off a Sexual Health Advisor Payslip?
A Sexual Health Advisor's earnings statement carries several standard deductions, listed below:
- Income tax through the PAYE system, based on the tax code and earnings
- National Insurance contributions on earnings above the primary threshold
- NHS Pension Scheme contributions, taken as a tiered percentage of pensionable pay between 5.1% and 13.5%
- Student loan repayments, where the advisor has an eligible loan
- Voluntary items such as union membership fees or salary sacrifice schemes
Each deduction is itemised on the payslip, giving a clear route from gross pay to net pay.
How Does Sexual Health Advisor Maternity Pay Work?
Sexual Health Advisor maternity leave benefits follows the NHS Agenda for Change terms. An advisor with at least 12 months of continuous NHS service by the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth receives Occupational Maternity Pay: 8 weeks at full pay, then 18 weeks at half pay plus Statutory Maternity Pay, then 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay alone, up to 52 weeks of leave in total. The advisor notifies the employer early and submits the required documentation, and an advisor who does not qualify for Occupational Maternity Pay receives Statutory Maternity Pay instead.
How Does Sexual Health Advisor Sick Pay Work?
Sexual Health Advisor sickness absence pay rises with length of NHS service under Agenda for Change. During the first year an advisor receives 1 month of full pay and 2 months of half pay. Entitlement then rises to 2 months full and 2 months half after 1 year, 4 months full and 4 months half after 2 years, 5 months full and 5 months half after 3 years, and 6 months full and 6 months half after 5 years. The advisor must follow the sickness absence procedure and provide a fit note for absences beyond seven days.
How to Become a Sexual Health Advisor
Becoming a Sexual Health Advisor combines a relevant degree, healthcare experience, and specialist sexual health training. The steps are listed below:
Gain a relevant qualification
Complete a degree in nursing, social work, psychology, or public health, since a health background supports the role, and hold at least GCSEs including English and Maths.
Build healthcare experience
Work or volunteer in clinics, community outreach, or social care to develop patient interaction and communication skills.
Complete the STIF STI Foundation course
Complete the STIF STI Foundation course, which covers STI testing, contact tracing, and safeguarding, and join SHASTD.
Develop core competencies
Build skills in partner notification, risk assessment, and patient education, providing non-judgemental support with cultural sensitivity.
Apply for advisor posts
Apply for Band 5 Sexual Health Advisor roles through NHS Jobs and local health organisations, highlighting relevant experience.
Continue professional development
Keep skills current through the SHASTD Diploma and continuing professional development, progressing towards senior and specialist roles.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Sexual Health Advisor?
A Sexual Health Advisor usually holds a first degree in nursing, social work, psychology, or public health, with NMC registration common but not required. The STIF STI Foundation course, SHASTD membership, and the SHASTD Diploma for Band 6 progression underpin the role, alongside safeguarding and motivational interviewing training. Relevant clinical experience supports entry.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Sexual Health Advisor?
Becoming a Sexual Health Advisor takes around five to seven years from university entry, since direct-entry routes are rare. Most advisors complete a three-year degree in nursing, social work, or psychology, gain two to three years of relevant clinical experience, and complete the STIF STI Foundation course. The specialist training itself is shorter, but the clinical experience behind a Band 5 post takes several years to build.
What Band Is a Sexual Health Advisor?
A Sexual Health Advisor sits at Band 5, 6, or 7 on the Agenda for Change pay scale. Band 5 is the entry band for newly qualified or less experienced advisors in clinics and community settings, and Band 6 covers senior advisors with advanced practice and supervisory duties. Band 7 covers Team Manager and lead roles with leadership and service coordination. The band reflects the responsibility and experience the post requires.
Are Sexual Health Advisors SHASTD Members?
Yes, Sexual Health Advisors are professionally expected to belong to SHASTD, the Society of Sexual Health Advisers. SHASTD provides the competency framework, the SHASTD Advanced Certificate and Diploma, and the Manual for Sexual Health Advisers that set the professional standard. Membership is not statutory registration, but it is professionally expected and often required by employer job specifications for Band 6 and above, and it demonstrates a commitment to professional standards.
Do Sexual Health Advisors Get London Weighting?
Yes, Sexual Health Advisors working in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement, the NHS form of London weighting, worth 20% of basic salary in Inner London, 15% in Outer London, and 5% in the Fringe zone, each subject to a minimum and maximum cash amount.
Do Sexual Health Advisors Do Partner Notification?
Yes, partner notification, previously called contact tracing, is the defining Sexual Health Advisor function. Placing a duty on services to notify partners supports prompt public health action, and the advisor delivers the partner notification standards published by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, mycoplasma genitalium, and hepatitis B and C, using three referral routes of provider referral, contract referral, and patient referral. A common benchmark is verified partner notification for 0.6 partners per chlamydia index case within four weeks.