Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join an established substance and alcohol treatment service - the Derbyshire Recovery Partnership (DRP). DRP has been successfully re-commissioned to provide this treatment service from April 2024 in the long-term.
Working alongside colleagues from the voluntary sector, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides harm reduction and health improvement interventions to people suffering with drug or alcohol misuse issues. The service has an overarching Recovery-focussed model, where interventions and services are planned in partnership with the people using them.
This opportunity will appeal to any nurse who is motivated by working independently, taking ownership of interventions and supporting some of the most marginalised patients to access healthcare.
It is Trust policy that for posts that are for a time limited period, applicants who are currently employed by an NHS organisation will only be appointed on a secondment basis and should have approval from their line manager this is possible before applying. Applicants who are not employed by an NHS organisation, will receive a fixed term contract.
Please seek approval from your line manager/employer before making a secondment application
Main duties of the job
The Health Improvement Nurse role involves planning and implementing harm reduction and health services for service users within drug and alcohol treatment. This will include the delivery of Blood-Borne Virus tests and Hepatitis B vaccinations as well as developing links with primary care and secondary care. This will also include health initiatives such as promoting take-home naloxone and remote ECGs.
The engagement with service users is essential to reduce harm and improve outcomes and will require a skilled practitioner to be able to provide this in a pro-active manner. The successful candidate will provide harm-reduction advice and health information to service users; this can include needle exchange and advice on safer injecting, advice on healthy eating and provision of smoking cessation support.
About us
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of making a positive difference in people's lives.
CQC rated us as 'GOOD overall, commenting on how our colleagues treated patients with compassion and kindness and felt positive and proud about working for the trust.
Benefits include:
- Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
- 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years service
- Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
- Health service discounts and online benefits
- Incremental pay progression
- Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
- Access to our LGBTI+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
- Health and wellbeing opportunities
- Structured learning and development opportunities
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account
The post holder will
- To assess need for health improvement interventions for people using drugs or alcohol, in order to identify healthcare needs and prioritise support via the most appropriate service elements for that service user.
- The Health Improvement Nurse will provide appropriate vaccination and testing within the service with support, advice and referral in relation to harm reduction interventions with keyworkers and service users.
- To supply Naloxone to appropriate service users either as part of care package or as a harm reduction intervention.
- To work closely with keyworkers, GPs, DHcFT Medical Prescribers, INMP, NMP, Pharmacists and Consultant Psychiatrists to ensure that clients receive an effective and co-ordinated response to their needs in accordance with local guidance and DHcFT policies.
- To provide harm-reduction advice and health information to service users. This can include needle exchange and advice on safer injecting, advice on healthy eating and provision of smoking cessation support.
- To undertake clinical tests with service users including drug tests, BBV tests, LFT and ECGs in line with DHcFT policy and procedure. To work alongside keyworkers and prescribers to incorporate test results into risk assessments and care plans
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account
The post holder will
- To assess need for health improvement interventions for people using drugs or alcohol, in order to identify healthcare needs and prioritise support via the most appropriate service elements for that service user.
- The Health Improvement Nurse will provide appropriate vaccination and testing within the service with support, advice and referral in relation to harm reduction interventions with keyworkers and service users.
- To supply Naloxone to appropriate service users either as part of care package or as a harm reduction intervention.
- To work closely with keyworkers, GPs, DHcFT Medical Prescribers, INMP, NMP, Pharmacists and Consultant Psychiatrists to ensure that clients receive an effective and co-ordinated response to their needs in accordance with local guidance and DHcFT policies.
- To provide harm-reduction advice and health information to service users. This can include needle exchange and advice on safer injecting, advice on healthy eating and provision of smoking cessation support.
- To undertake clinical tests with service users including drug tests, BBV tests, LFT and ECGs in line with DHcFT policy and procedure. To work alongside keyworkers and prescribers to incorporate test results into risk assessments and care plans
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Worked with service users with substance misuse issues
Desirable
- Multidisciplinary working
Skills
Essential
- Experience of providing harm reduction interventions
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Worked with service users with substance misuse issues
Desirable
- Multidisciplinary working
Skills
Essential
- Experience of providing harm reduction interventions
Desirable
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).
