Substance Misuse Nurse Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST

- Delivery of high quality, safe and effective substance misuse interventions clinical procedures in line with level of training and competence (e.g. ECGs, venepuncture, fibro scans, BBV testing and vaccinations, Pabrinex injections).

- Working collaboratively with the DHI team to assess referrals and identify complex patients requiring clinical input.

- Supporting/managing a caseload of complex patients, including pregnant women.

- Undertaking comprehensive assessments of substance misuse needs and development of clinical care plans.

- Conducting assessments of physical dependency using a symptomatic withdrawal scale, using results to determine safe induction to opiate substitute treatments as required.

- Delivery of specific clinical procedures and tasks.

- Prescribing and administrating medication safely in accordance with own area of competence; OR administrating medication safely in line with PGD.

- Contributing to the safe and effective storage and administration of drugs, exercising responsibility for the custody and maintenance of statutory records of such drugs in accordance with the Practices policies/procedures on the supply and carriage of drugs in the community.

- Ensuring the safe management of medically assisted community alcohol detoxes in line with policy.

- Ensuring service users receive high quality harm reduction interventions (e.g. naloxone, BBV testing).

- Counselling patients about their substance use and related behaviours, using motivational interviewing, relapse management and other evidence-based interventions.

- Targeting clinical and harm reduction interventions to support in the achievement of clinical key performance indicators.

- Undertaking dry blood spot testing and urinalysis when required.

- Screening patients at risk of, or affected by, blood borne diseases.

- Providing pre and post-test discussion to patients screened for blood borne viruses in accordance with relevant guidelines.

- Providing education and assertively promoting Hepatitis B vaccination for patients who are at risk of contracting the virus.

- Administering vaccinations when required, in accordance with Practice policy and procedure.

- Actively promoting attendance at the hepatology clinic for patients affected by liver disease.

- Training and supporting colleagues to deliver health education and promotion to patients in areas including smoking cessation.

- Ensuring clinical checks (including housekeeping checks) are completed in line with policy.

- Supporting with clinical audit activities within the service.

- Supporting the development and effective use of physical health pathways.

- Retaining all required competencies and revalidation.

- Supporting the training and continuous professional development of colleagues within the service.

- Effective and timely communication with colleagues within the service and with partner agencies.

- Ensuring a high standard of case notes and that all paperwork and recording is undertaken in accordance with policy and procedure.

- Effectively safeguarding patients, staff, and others.

- Completing clinical risks and needs assessments and support the implementation of management plans and support others in doing so.

- Reporting all incidents to support learning.

- Supporting in analysis of incident trends and in patient mortality review processes.

- Completion of clinical audits including supporting with medicine optimisation and cost effectiveness.

- Use of data and reports to target clinical and harm reduction interventions to ensure achievement of clinical key performance indicators.

- High quality record keeping for patients in treatment.

- Following all information governance guidance and policies.

- Maintaining confidentiality as outlined within data protection policies.

- Ensuring health and safety standards are maintained.

- Maintaining NMC nursing standards.

- Such other duties deemed as appropriate to the needs of the Clinicians and Central Management team as agreed between the post holder and the Clinical Services Manager

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• RGN at degree level (or equiv.) with current NMC Registration and evidence of CPD.
• Demonstrable understanding of the substance misuse sector and health issues relating to substance misuse.
• Experience of contribution to effective and safe care plans and discharge plans.
• Experience in reporting, reflecting, and learning from incidents.
• Experience working with Patient Information Systems.

Desirable

• Non-medical prescriber.
• Experience of clinical leadership and clinical supervision.
• Experience working in substance misuse sector.
• Experience of managing a caseload within the community.
• Experience of working in and delivering services to injecting drug users.
• Experience of working with stimulant users and people with alcohol problems.
• Experience of working within primary care.
• Evidence of immunisation and vaccination training and competency.
• Evidence of previous Motivational Interviewing training.

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN at degree level (or equiv.) with current NMC Registration and evidence of CPD.

Desirable

• Non-medical prescriber.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hanham Health

Address

33 Whittucks Road

Hanham

Bristol

BS15 3HY

Employer's website

https://www.hanhamhealth.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)