Sex talk is right up Jane's street.

JOB TITLE: Health Promotion Specialist Sexual Health for North Tyneside Primary Care Trust WHERE DO YOU WORK? I'm based at The One to One Centre, Brenkley Avenue, Shiremoor. The One to One is the centre for sexual health in North Tyneside and offers all aspects of sexual health advice and telephone support, including contraception services, screening for infections, cervical smear testing and pregnancy decision support.

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE? Raising public awareness about sexual health issues and services, in particular about issues that are currently important in the public health agenda, e.g. teenage pregnancy, and chlamydia. Working closely with a range of professionals who work with different community groups. I also co-ordinate the c-card scheme - which is a service for young people under 25 providing free condoms and sexual health advice at easy access locations across the borough. At the moment we're completely redeveloping the c-card scheme and I'm looking forward to launching the new scheme in October.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITIES YOU NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK? To do this job well you need to enjoy meeting and talking to lots of different people. You need to be sensitive to people's feelings and needs and to be non-judgmental with some of the choices they make. You also need to understand that not everyone finds it easy to talk about sexual health.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS PROFESSION? Just over one and a half years.

WHERE DID YOU TRAIN AND WHAT DID THAT TRAINING INVOLVE? I trained as a nurse and worked for quite a while in the community. I then, worked as a school health advisor for almost 10 years, so became used to working with young people and some of the problems they faced.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS JOB? Sexual health and relationships issues were only part of the work I did as a school health advisor and this job allows me to concentrate on one aspect of health which I always found very interesting.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT IT? I work as part of a really supportive team at the One to One Centre who are really passionate about providing a good service and it's great that I've been trusted to develop this role using my experience and knowledge. I particularly enjoy working with young people in our local college and schools.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT IT? Honestly, there's nothing I really don't like, perhaps spending time on the computer, but I'm out and about a lot of the time.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FILM AND BOOK? Probably 'Gone with the Wind' or 'Rebecca', that's showing my age!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? I like seafood and risotto.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND pounds 1M? I'd probably like a holiday home in the Lake District, as a family we've visited so many times over the years and love walking in the fells. I would also help my kids out and give some to a charity we support.

CAPTION(S):

SUPPORTIVE TEAM - Health Promotion Specialist Sexual Health Jane Cook

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