Dual Diagnosis Recovery Navigator

Job responsibilities

The post holder will take a lead in developing and delivering dual diagnosis services, ensuring that high quality services are delivered to service users with a dual diagnosis. The post holder will act as a specialist resource to mental health and substance misuse teams, in statutory and voluntary sectors. The post holder will be responsible for undertaking substance misuse triage of service users, implementing, and managing complex management plans in joint partnership with Mental Health and Substance Misuse teams in Haringey, including delivering dual diagnosis interventions to those in supported accommodation and verified rough sleepers, to ensure that effective and responsive plans are in place.

The Dual Diagnosis Recovery Navigator will be embedded into local mental health (acute/community) services, with co-location in Haringey substance misuse services and will act as a specialist resource with focus on pathways between Haringey Mental Health services, Substance Misuse services, supported accommodation and rough sleeper outreach teams. The post holder will also be involved in designing and providing training, advice, and support in alignment with mental health and substance misuse teams in Haringey.

The dual diagnosis post will focus on delivering structured psychosocial interventions including harm reduction/minimization strategies to those that were previously unable to access services by removing current barriers into treatment. This will reduce the potential for increased substance use and mental health related crisis, repeat homelessness, evictions, and long-term reliance on statutory services.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• oRelevant qualification in the field of substance misuse or social care oMin requirement NVQ level 3

Desirable

• oExperienced in the use of ITEP or other psychosocial interventions such as addictions counselling or Motivational Interviewing

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Recent and relevant experience of working with those affected by substance misuse
• Experience of assessment of drug and alcohol users with complex needs
• Experience of working with a caseload of clients on Opiate Substitute Treatment
• Experience of complex case management in a community setting
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• oExperience working in homelessness. oKnowledge of working in liaison with GP's oExperience in carrying out Dry Blood Spot Testing
• oExperience of working in community settings oExperience of working in dual diagnosis service
• oExperience in case/care management for vulnerable and complex mental health and substance misuse problems within in-patient and/or community settings. oAble to apply advanced understanding of physical, psychological and social needs of complex mental health and substance use / dual diagnosis.
• oGood theoretical and clinical skills in Trauma Informed Care and the ability to inter-relate complex presentations in women and Domestic Violence, substance misuse and mental health problems.
• oExperience in contributing to multi agency case/care management plans for service users with dual diagnosis presentations.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• oAbility to work independently if necessary and as part of a team, coupled with the ability to share skills, knowledge and experience
• oA good working knowledge of the specific health risks that those affected by substance misuse are exposed to.
• oAn understanding of the principles and practice of harm minimization, and a commitment to work within the harm reduction model of practice
• oThe ability to conduct strength-based assessment eliciting a client's recovery capital.
• oAn understanding of the physical, psychological and social needs of those affected by substance misuse.
• oAn understanding and knowledge of the main psychoactive drugs used by this client group, their effects and current treatment.
• oAbility to establish working therapeutic relationships and maintain professional boundaries.
• oAbility to communicate complex and highly sensitive information to clients and other professionals.
• oAn understanding of the theories and practices of safeguarding procedures for children and vulnerable adults.
• oBasic knowledge of blood borne infection (BBV) and their impact on this client group.
• oAbility to manage challenging behavior/ crisis intervention.
• oAbility to work in sometimes highly distressing and emotional circumstances.
• oAbility to design training programs, educating others about substance use, health and social well-being in formal and informal settings.

Desirable

• oAn understanding of Public Health directives and their impact on service delivery. oAwareness of the Recovery Model.
• oEvidence of applying working knowledge of complex interactions in mental health and substance misuse
• oAble to formulate assessment, risk and care management of dual diagnosis service users.
• oEvidence of ability to develop, sustain and provide support to individuals with drug, alcohol and mental health needs.
• oEvidence of knowledge and application of Mental Health Act
• oEvidence of knowledge of good practice guidelines on Dual Diagnosis and implications on service delivery.
• oAble to develop and maintain professional and service user relationships across multiple Hospital and Community settings.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• oGood communication skills, both verbal and written. To be able to communicate in English both verbally and written.
• oExperience of using word processing and database, as well as willingness to improve existing skills.
• oThe ability to quickly respond to changing and unpredictable service user behavior and manage situations accordingly.

Desirable

• oExperience of using electronic case management systems

Other Requirements

Essential

• oWillingness to handle body fluids, e.g. urine screening and body fluid spillages.
• oAble to work flexibly according to the needs of the service.
• oThe ability to understand and implement Equal Opportunities Policy, at a level appropriate to the job.
• oA non-judgmental approach to drug use and drug users.
• oWillingness to deliver services in partner agencies and across multiple sites within the Trust.

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).