Getting to vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups is what makes our ISHS team special.

Their stand-out work was with sex workers in Calderdale creating a one-stop shop for their needs.

As there is no designated red light area in Calderdale sex workers often work in isolation and do not readily engage with health or support agencies.

The team work with local drug and alcohol recovery services to establish an outreach service to the sex workers by providing a "clinic in a box" twice a month offering sexual health screening and contraceptive services to this hard-to-engage with group.

The recent CQC inspectors reported a positive team culture, with proactive staff seeking opportunities to engage with harder to reach client groups.

Another area of their innovative work is overcoming the difficulties of engaging with vulnerable or at risk young people. From this group the team provide a twice monthly sexual health and contraception drop-in clinic at the Pupil Referral Unit. Support and advice is offered from a familiar and known health professional to establish working relationships with them.

The work the ISHS team undertake with primary care and third sector agencies is a great example of taking working together to get results to the next level.  And these initiatives to engage with our most vulnerable client groups have an impact on the long term sexual health of our wider communities.

Judges’ comments included: “ Amazing to see such a passionate, positive proactive and innovative team.”