Introduction to Sexual Health

This 2-day course will give participants an opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence to work with young people around sex and relationships. The course is delivered in a fun, interactive style, using practical exercises that can be used with groups of young people or in one-to-one settings. Topics include: healthy/unhealthy relationships; contraception; pressure to have sex; sex and the law; STIs; puberty changes; and developing a holistic approach to promoting sexual health with any client group. By the end of the course, participants will have had the opportunity to: • Explore the meaning of good health and good sexual health • Explore the experiences and skill base of the group • Look at the use of (sexual) language and why awareness of language is important when doing sexual health work • Examine a holistic model of sexual health • Explore values and attitudes and how these impact upon the work we do • Increase knowledge related to sex and the law and understanding of how the law applies to sexual health work with young people • Discuss why confidentiality is important, particularly to young people, (especially in the context of sexual health), and identify confidentiality limitations • Explore some of the presenting sexual health issues that young people bring • Increase knowledge and understanding of local sexual health services in order to appropriately refer on those who require specialist support and help • Explore issues faced by young LGBTQ+ people when deciding to 'come out' • Gain a basic understanding of STIs and their routes of transmission • Gain a basic understanding of different forms of longer-acting contraception