Job summary
To case manage a small group of clients with complex mental, physical health, and social care needs who are high users of emergency and inpatient services.
The post holder will work collaboratively with these clients to identify and manage their priorities, supporting recovery while reducing unplanned hospital admissions. With the expansion of the Alcohol Assertive Outreach Team across South London--including Lewisham, Bexley, Greenwich, and Bromley--this role forms part of a regional initiative that integrates care across acute hospital sites and community services.
Main duties of the job
1) Manage a small caseload of clients with complex and multiple needs, including assessment, care planning, implementation, and regular review.
2) Conduct assertive outreach visits in the community, including attending clients' homes and other agreed locations, to maintain engagement and support those reluctant to access services.
3) Proactively engage clients in alcohol treatment pathways, including structured psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions, using motivational and trauma-informed approaches.
4) Act as an advocate for clients--supporting access to services related to housing, benefits, physical and mental health, and social care--while helping remove barriers to engagement.
5) Undertake dynamic risk assessments to ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients, staff, and volunteers in varied community and hospital-based settings
6) Maintain up-to-date and accurate clinical documentation, sharing relevant information with partner agencies to ensure coordinated care and risk management.
7) Support and supervise volunteers and contribute to informal guidance for Band 5 colleagues, ensuring safe and effective involvement across the service.
8) Contribute to service evaluation, quality improvement, and research projects aligned with the AAOT's evidence-based model.
9) Participate in regular supervision, appraisal, and ongoing professional development, including fulfilling all mandatory training requirements.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be assigned a primary hospital base at one of the participating sites:
- St Thomas Hospital
- Kings College Hospital
- University Hospital Lewisham
- Princess Royal University Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich
Candidates should express their site preferences on application and during interview; while these will be considered, final placements will be determined based on service capacity and needs.
In line with the teams growth, and there is an expectation that some work will be carried out across the area, as service needs dictate. The role will also include the supervision and support of Band 5 clinicians as delegated by senior colleagues, offering day-to-day guidance and oversight.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be assigned a primary hospital base at one of the participating sites:
- St Thomas Hospital
- Kings College Hospital
- University Hospital Lewisham
- Princess Royal University Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich
Candidates should express their site preferences on application and during interview; while these will be considered, final placements will be determined based on service capacity and needs.
In line with the teams growth, and there is an expectation that some work will be carried out across the area, as service needs dictate. The role will also include the supervision and support of Band 5 clinicians as delegated by senior colleagues, offering day-to-day guidance and oversight.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oRegistered Nurse (RMN/RGN), Qualified Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, or other relevant health/social care professional registration (A)
Desirable
- oPost-registration qualification relevant to the client group or setting (I)
- oEvidence of continued professional development (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Recent and relevant experience working with alcohol-dependent or mental health clients in a community setting
- Demonstrated clinical knowledge of alcohol dependence and associated co-morbidities, gained through training and/or direct work
- Experience of inter-agency or multi-disciplinary working
- Understanding of structured alcohol interventions, brief interventions, pharmacological treatment options, and motivational interviewing
- Awareness of the physical health risks related to alcohol use and ability to recognise deterioration in physical health
Desirable
- Experience of managing a caseload autonomously
- Experience using clinical or case management databases to record activity
- Experience supporting carers and/or working with volunteers
- Experience of mentoring or supervising junior staff or peers
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Understanding of structured alcohol interventions, brief interventions, pharmacological treatment options, and motivational interviewing
- Awareness of the physical health risks related to alcohol use and ability to recognise deterioration in physical health
- Familiarity with the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, particularly in the context of clients with alcohol dependence and complex needs
- Effective workload management and ability to respond promptly and flexibly to changing priorities
- Ability to engage and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients who are hard to reach
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oRegistered Nurse (RMN/RGN), Qualified Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, or other relevant health/social care professional registration (A)
Desirable
- oPost-registration qualification relevant to the client group or setting (I)
- oEvidence of continued professional development (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Recent and relevant experience working with alcohol-dependent or mental health clients in a community setting
- Demonstrated clinical knowledge of alcohol dependence and associated co-morbidities, gained through training and/or direct work
- Experience of inter-agency or multi-disciplinary working
- Understanding of structured alcohol interventions, brief interventions, pharmacological treatment options, and motivational interviewing
- Awareness of the physical health risks related to alcohol use and ability to recognise deterioration in physical health
Desirable
- Experience of managing a caseload autonomously
- Experience using clinical or case management databases to record activity
- Experience supporting carers and/or working with volunteers
- Experience of mentoring or supervising junior staff or peers
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Understanding of structured alcohol interventions, brief interventions, pharmacological treatment options, and motivational interviewing
- Awareness of the physical health risks related to alcohol use and ability to recognise deterioration in physical health
- Familiarity with the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, particularly in the context of clients with alcohol dependence and complex needs
- Effective workload management and ability to respond promptly and flexibly to changing priorities
- Ability to engage and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients who are hard to reach
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
