Substance Misuse Practitioner: HMP Nottingham

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 08 May 2025

Job summary

Looking for something new & exciting in the NHS? Ever considered Prison healthcare?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Substance Misuse Practitioner to join the Offender Health Care Group working at HMP Nottingham. Healthcare at HMP Nottingham gives you the opportunity to make this difference to a group of people who traditionally have had high psychiatric and social morbidity but have also faced multiple barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare.

To provide high quality patient care through assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care for people with substance misuse problems working to both harm reduction and health promotion / recovery agendas.

You should be enthusiastic, motivated, patient focused and enjoy a challenge. We provide a service 24 hours 7 days a week on an internal rotation basis. The team operates in a supportive environment with a commitment to personal and professional development.

Please note applicants willbe requiredto pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Main duties of the job

Working with a caseload of often complex and challenging patients you will provide a substance misuse through-care service for patients from the point of entry into the prison system to re-entry into the community so that re-offending is reduced and the health and social functioning of patients is improved.

You will be part of a committed, passionate, and vibrant Substance Misuse Team delivering high quality patient care through assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for people with substance misuse problems, working to harm reduction and health promotion / recovery agendas.

You will provide leadership to junior staff by maintaining professional standards, ensuring adherence to all relevant policies and procedures to ensure the delivery of high-quality care.

The Substance Misuse Team is part of the Healthcare Department which also provides Mental Health and Physical Health services, all of which work together to provide a comprehensive package of patient care.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Date posted

24 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

186-508-25-FS

Job locations

HMP Nottingham

Nottingham

NG5 3AG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Offender Health Care Group is one of the largest and most successful providers of prison healthcare in the UK. The Care Group provide physical, mental health and substance misuse healthcare services in prisons across the East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Leicestershire.

The Care Group provides healthcare to 7 prisons and a short term holding facility. You are part of a large peer group of 400+ healthcare professionals with access to peer support, supervision and excellent opportunities for learning and development. We also offer services within the Personality Disorder Pathway, including Therapeutic Communities (within prisons), Community and Prison Personality Disorder services and specialist Veteran Services.

We are committed to working in partnership with prison services, national probation service other healthcare providers and our criminal justice system partners to improve health, support justice to reduce re-offending behaviour. The Offender Health Team truly believes it can make a difference to the lives of offenders by offering consistent, high-quality care in primary, mental health and substance misuse services that are equivalent to health services delivered outside of Prison.

To assist in the provision of effective substance misuse health services for prisoners which deliver against required standards, e.g. Key Performance Indicators, Prison Health Performance Indicators and demonstrate value for money, improve the health of individuals, enabling the service to compete as provider of choice to local commissioners.

Please be advised Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has made the difficult decision to serve notice on its offender health contracts. Over the coming months, we will be working with NHS England on the transition of the services to a new provider. We still need to recruit to these valued positions and welcome your application. But, in line with our values, honesty is important, so please note that if you are successful that in time your employment would move from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to another provider who would then be your new employer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Offender Health Care Group is one of the largest and most successful providers of prison healthcare in the UK. The Care Group provide physical, mental health and substance misuse healthcare services in prisons across the East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Leicestershire.

The Care Group provides healthcare to 7 prisons and a short term holding facility. You are part of a large peer group of 400+ healthcare professionals with access to peer support, supervision and excellent opportunities for learning and development. We also offer services within the Personality Disorder Pathway, including Therapeutic Communities (within prisons), Community and Prison Personality Disorder services and specialist Veteran Services.

We are committed to working in partnership with prison services, national probation service other healthcare providers and our criminal justice system partners to improve health, support justice to reduce re-offending behaviour. The Offender Health Team truly believes it can make a difference to the lives of offenders by offering consistent, high-quality care in primary, mental health and substance misuse services that are equivalent to health services delivered outside of Prison.

To assist in the provision of effective substance misuse health services for prisoners which deliver against required standards, e.g. Key Performance Indicators, Prison Health Performance Indicators and demonstrate value for money, improve the health of individuals, enabling the service to compete as provider of choice to local commissioners.

Please be advised Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has made the difficult decision to serve notice on its offender health contracts. Over the coming months, we will be working with NHS England on the transition of the services to a new provider. We still need to recruit to these valued positions and welcome your application. But, in line with our values, honesty is important, so please note that if you are successful that in time your employment would move from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to another provider who would then be your new employer.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Either a current professional registration e.g. nursing, O.T, Social Work Or Equivalent knowledge and experience in the provision of structured psychosocial interventions
  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development in relation to substance misuse

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of community related Substance Misuse multi-disciplinary work. This could include substantial voluntary work or work in a related field e.g. housing
  • Experience of working with patients presenting with challenging behaviours
  • Experience of record keeping, report writing, correspondence

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a secure setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Theoretical knowledge of substance misuse and evidence based psycho-social interventions
  • Awareness of local and national substance misuse strategies eg the recovery agenda
  • Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the members of the Multidisciplinary Team

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to undertake comprehensive assessments
  • To assess and evaluate risk in relation to substance misuse
  • Excellent and effective written, verbal and non- verbal communication skills

Desirable

  • Effective problem solving and decision making skills

Contractual Requirements

Essential

  • Flexibility to meet service needs with some unsociable hour

Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Either a current professional registration e.g. nursing, O.T, Social Work Or Equivalent knowledge and experience in the provision of structured psychosocial interventions
  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development in relation to substance misuse

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of community related Substance Misuse multi-disciplinary work. This could include substantial voluntary work or work in a related field e.g. housing
  • Experience of working with patients presenting with challenging behaviours
  • Experience of record keeping, report writing, correspondence

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a secure setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Theoretical knowledge of substance misuse and evidence based psycho-social interventions
  • Awareness of local and national substance misuse strategies eg the recovery agenda
  • Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the members of the Multidisciplinary Team

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to undertake comprehensive assessments
  • To assess and evaluate risk in relation to substance misuse
  • Excellent and effective written, verbal and non- verbal communication skills

Desirable

  • Effective problem solving and decision making skills

Contractual Requirements

Essential

  • Flexibility to meet service needs with some unsociable hour

Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Nottingham

Nottingham

NG5 3AG


Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Nottingham

Nottingham

NG5 3AG


Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Substance Misuse Service Manager

Richard Gittins

Richard.Gittins@nottshc.nhs.uk

Date posted

24 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

186-508-25-FS

Job locations

HMP Nottingham

Nottingham

NG5 3AG


Supporting documents

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