Job summary
Path 2 Recovery have a rare opportunity that has arisen due to service redesign. We seek to recruit x 2 physical health nurses to join our dedicated drugs and alcohol team. Path to Recovery (P2R) is a community drug and alcohol service in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. P2R delivers a range of services to individuals. The aim of the service is to enable patients to make better choices about their wellbeing, to achieve a better quality of life and wellbeing and fulfil their ambitions for recovery. P2R is committed to working in partnership.
Physical health interventions are a key part of drug & alcohol treatment. P2R patients typically engage poorly with primary care. Alongside harmful drug & alcohol use, this can result in multiple health difficulties. The role of Physical Healthcare Nurse is to hold part of that role, whilst encouraging the healthy use of primary care.
Key duties are:
- General physical health assessments and interventions
- Specific assessments and interventions for drug and alcohol use
- Virology testing
- Vaccination
- Following pathways into secondary and primary care
- Engaging patients into health assessment, interventions, and learning to care for their own health
- Working together with recovery workers and other clinical staff in the team
- Pragmatic and flexible thinking
Main duties of the job
To engaging patients into health assessment, interventions, and learning to care for their own health
To provide general physical health assessments eg screening for hypertension, diabetes, chest infection. It is the aim that all P2R patients have a full assessment of their general health.
To provide general physical health interventions. Taking action where required - referral on, monitoring, treating
To provide specific assessments based on drug and alcohol use eg injecting harm, wound care, liver disease, gastro disease, breathing disorders, sexual transmitted diseases
To provide specific interventions based on drug and alcohol use - referral on, monitoring, treating
To provide harm reduction advice, health promotion and health education to patients
To carry out other interventions such as pregnancy testing and wound care
To provide screening (and diagnosis and treatment, depending on skillset) for sexually transmitted infections
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please could you kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please could you kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered General Nurse
- Evidence of portfolio of personal development
Experience
Essential
- Medical nursing experience with transferable skills
- Working with people who use drugs or alcohol
Desirable
- Delivering training
- Championing health initiatives/pathways
- Primary Care Practice Nurse
- Working with Patient Group Directions
- Sexual health services
- Tissue Viability services
- Liver disease services
Skills
Essential
- Sound general medical knowledge
- Wound management
- Contraception management
- Phlebotomy skills
- Dealing with challenging behaviour
- IT literacy
- Ability to work well as a team
- Ability to empower service users
- Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
- Ability to respond flexibly to the demands of the service.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries
- Ability to work effectively with other agencies
Desirable
- Liver disease management
- Chest Infections - identification and treatment
- Complications of injecting drug use
Knowledge
Essential
- Harm reduction in a drug and alcohol service
- Effects of drug and alcohol use on health
- Statutory responsibilities like Safeguarding Children and Adults
- Understanding and commitment to Equality and Diversity.
- NMC code
Desirable
- Liver disease
- Sexual health services
Other
Essential
- Motivated to providing the highest standards of care
- Awareness of equal opportunities
- Able to work within the accountability framework
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered General Nurse
- Evidence of portfolio of personal development
Experience
Essential
- Medical nursing experience with transferable skills
- Working with people who use drugs or alcohol
Desirable
- Delivering training
- Championing health initiatives/pathways
- Primary Care Practice Nurse
- Working with Patient Group Directions
- Sexual health services
- Tissue Viability services
- Liver disease services
Skills
Essential
- Sound general medical knowledge
- Wound management
- Contraception management
- Phlebotomy skills
- Dealing with challenging behaviour
- IT literacy
- Ability to work well as a team
- Ability to empower service users
- Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
- Ability to respond flexibly to the demands of the service.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries
- Ability to work effectively with other agencies
Desirable
- Liver disease management
- Chest Infections - identification and treatment
- Complications of injecting drug use
Knowledge
Essential
- Harm reduction in a drug and alcohol service
- Effects of drug and alcohol use on health
- Statutory responsibilities like Safeguarding Children and Adults
- Understanding and commitment to Equality and Diversity.
- NMC code
Desirable
- Liver disease
- Sexual health services
Other
Essential
- Motivated to providing the highest standards of care
- Awareness of equal opportunities
- Able to work within the accountability framework
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
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).
