Community Addictions Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

To discharge professional responsibilities under the Mental Health Act (1983) and revised subsequent act Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the NMC Professional Code of Conduct and SLaM commitments.

Be accountable and responsible for a defined caseload that reflects the priorities of the local population and carry responsibility for the assessment of care needs; under the supervision of the Clinical Lead.

To develop, implement and evaluate evidence based programmes of care; set standards of care and liaise with other agencies.

Take on the role of care co-ordinator to service users, participating in the multi-disciplinary assessment of physical, psychological, mental health and social care needs and offering care to individuals with substance use issues living in the community, by providing nursing skill, perspective and expertise, and promoting the recovery model to service users and their carers.

Ensure that a risk assessment and management plan is completed for service users, especially if there is a history of, or a potential for risk. To be aware of the potential for vulnerability to abuse amongst the service users/families, and use of the local policy to inform appropriate personnel in line with safeguarding vulnerable adults and children and SLaM.

Ensure that BBV testing, treatment and where appropriate naloxone are offered to service users at first contact.

To effectively implement recovery based care-plans in collaboration with service users so their needs are best met within the treatment system which may include a successful transfer to the team or site that best meets the service users needs.

Help develop and maintain effective joint working arrangements with colleagues in the community mental health services, residential services, primary health care, social services and voluntary services, thus facilitating the co-ordination and comprehensiveness of provision of care, and to provide high quality nursing advice and consultation to colleagues, community groups and organisations.

To participate in the Consortiums Group Training Program, SLaM mandatory training and the Consortium Duty and Triage rotas as required.

To act in a manner to respect the customs, individuality, values, sexuality and spiritual beliefs, actively supporting the individual to fulfil these, and to adhere to all registration professional standards.

To lead the clinical management of a care package to individuals who use our services, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

To co-ordinate and monitor the delivery of person centred healthcare to a designated group of people who use our services, using complex clinical decision making where appropriate and responding to changes in presentation/ situation appropriately. To promote shared decision making with service user/relatives/carers, as appropriate, in terms of involvement in all aspects of their care.

To deliver individual and group therapy utilising CBT skills.

To ensure provision of the necessary physical care to help people who use our services i.e.: personal hygiene, diet and fluid intake, clothing and laundry, personal environment, manual handling, elimination, maintaining rest and sleep and activity, physical observations.

To ensure provision of therapeutic activities, emotional support and stability to clients to ensure effective engagement whilst maintaining professional boundaries.

To ensure prescribed physical observations are undertaken as follows: blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, blood sugars, urinalysis, weight and height and act upon exceptions appropriately

Supervise junior nurses and other non-qualified staff in the service/team, and participate in the education of pre and post registration nursing, social work, psychology, medical and occupational therapy students.

To lead the development, maintenance and monitoring of service standards, collect and collate data/ information effectively for the purpose of audit, research and service performance.

To ensure compliance by self and staff of the Trusts Policies, Procedures and Guidelines, including taking all reasonable steps to manage and promote a healthy working and diverse working environment.

To participate in clinical governance activities including monitoring standards set within the service.

To participate in the recruitment and selection of staff

If the post-holder is not an NMP, they will be expected to apply for this training within the Trust

The post-holder may be asked to carry out tasks in other sites/services if there are pressures on other parts of the treatment system

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• Registered Nurse (for band 6- with considerable post qualification experience which would include lengthy clinical experience working with people with substance misuse related problems and evidence of commitment to harm reduction interventions)
• Evidence of continuing professional development and training (band 6: relevant to substance misuse work and harm reduction activity)
• Willingness to work towards an NMP qualification if not yet achieved

Desirable

• Diploma or degree level qualification in addictions or related area of practice such as CBT, dual diagnosis, etc
• Non-Medical Prescriber
• Mentorship Qualifications and updates

Experience

Essential

• Experience and evidence of ability to produce formal written reports, presentations and draft policies for consultation
• Experience of supervising staff or students
• Experience of using word processing and database use as well as a willingness to improve existing skill base
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of liaison with statutory and non-statutory services

Desirable

• Experience of working in the community
• Experience of the management of clients with complex needs

Knowledge

Essential

• A thorough understanding of harm reduction in relation to injecting behaviour as well as safer sexual practices
• Knowledge of potential physical, psycho-social problems among this client group and appropriate interventions to address them
• Knowledge of crack/stimulant interventions, PIEDs interventions, NPS interventions
• Strong understanding of harm reduction, and relapse prevention in relation to substance misuse and planning recovery
• An understanding of the current issues affecting substance misuse services

Desirable

• Experience of and skills in delivering training
• Experience of supervising/managing junior staff and students

Skills

Essential

• Effective assessment and engagement skills
• Effective care planning skills
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate with clients to influence positive outcomes
• Ability to be flexible and thrive in a rapidly changing environment
• Ability to organise and manage time effectively and work autonomously
• Ability to work effectively with clients with drug/alcohol assessments prioritise referrals

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

WCDAS

St John's Therapy Centre, 162 St John's Hill

London

SW11 1SW

Employer's website

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