We are seeking a Substance Misuse Practitioner (Adults) with Additional Responsibilities to join our team, which delivers drug & alcohol treatment & recovery services in Solihull.
Job Summary
Practitioners will provide advice, assessment, brief interventions, structured interventions, and group programmes to drug, alcohol, gambling, and family service users.
Practitioners are expected to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the theoretical models of addiction and behaviour change.
Practitioners will promote knowledge and understanding of drug, alcohol, gambling and family issues by developing and delivering training and awareness to partner agency staff, external professionals, local services and the wider public.
This Practitioner role will hold additional lead responsibility within the SIAS partnership for overseeing harm reduction and needle exchange provision across the service. The practitioner will ensure that all staff within SIAS and community pharmacies signed up to the Needle Exchange scheme are appropriately trained on an annual basis to deliver safe and efficient harm reduction and needle exchange interventions. The practitioner will act as a harm reduction link worker between SIAS and local pharmacies/agencies and will provide up to date advice, information and guidance to both staff, professionals and clients around harm reduction and use/delivery of needle exchange programmes.
Practitioners are expected to be flexible with work patterns to meet the requirements of the service. This may include some evening and weekend work.
Practitioners are expected to travel as part of their role and should be willing to work from various locations as required by the service. As well as working from Welcome offices, practitioners will be expected to work from alternative premises including, primary care settings, outreach settings, criminal justice settings, youth settings and partner satellite offices.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide advice, screening, brief and comprehensive assessments to individuals, families or couples.
2. Provide brief and longer term structured interventions.
3. Develop care plans and ensure they are implemented and reviewed with the client(s) and outcomes are monitored.
4. Provide case management and ensure integrated pathways within the Solihull Integrated Addiction Service (SIAS) partnership.
5. Provide advice and structured support for others affected by drug, alcohol or gambling misuse.
6. Organise and facilitate group programmes, support groups and activities and encourage positive engagement.
7. Plan and agree service responses which meet individual’s identified needs and circumstances.
8. Maintain accurate, complete and timely records and data.
9. Liaise with agencies, professionals and groups as appropriate.
10. Allocate and oversee the work of support workers, providing mentoring support and guidance as necessary.
11. Develop and deliver training and awareness sessions to identified partners and other groups as required.
12. Promote choice, wellbeing and the protection of all individuals.
13. Be responsible for maintaining your own professional knowledge and competence.
14. Take part in promoting the service, liaise with relevant agencies and help generate appropriate referrals.
15. Ensure you are aware of Welcome and SIAS policies and procedures and other relevant guidance and that all aspects of the service are carried out in line with these.
16. Make efficient use of supervision and positively engage with learning and development opportunities.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Take the lead on harm reduction initiatives and communication on behalf of the SIAS Partnership.
2. Take the lead on the provision of cost-effective Needle Exchange services, including supplies and Clinical Waste collection from SIAS and participating community pharmacies; offer appropriate training and support to community pharmacies and SIAS staff.
3. Work towards the target of reducing drug and alcohol related deaths in Solihull.
This is not intended to be an exclusive list and other duties may be required consistent with the overall purpose of the role.
Benefits:
* 5% employer contribution to pension
* Life insurance
* On-site parking
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience
Professional qualification in mental health/social/youth and community care, eg NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies.
or
Demonstrable experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ level 3 Health and Social Care.
Knowledge and Experience
1. Significant experience of individual client work in an addictions or social care setting with adults and or young people.
2. Significant knowledge and experience of working with challenging behaviour.
3. Significant knowledge and understanding of drug and alcohol misuse, and the effects on the user and wider family.
4. Experience of working in the substance misuse sector.
5. An understanding of the principles of and policies on client confidentiality and appropriate sharing of information.
6. An understanding and knowledge of Safeguarding in relation to child protection and vulnerable adults.
Skills and Abilities
1. A high level of verbal and written communication skills, with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds.
2. Ability to proactively engage and establish rapport with service users and use a range of techniques to maintain engagement in services.
3. Ability to undertake assessment of need and levels of risk, and establish effective management plans to address risk and promote behaviour change.
4. Ability to produce reports to a standard that is acceptable to a range of both internal and external audiences.
5. Ability to maintain accurate and detailed service user records and record data in a timely manner to meet service standards.
6. Ability to use data management systems for effective recording and monitoring of performance and data.
7. Excellent IT skills and knowledge of using IT software in a working environment including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Access.
8. High level of organisational and planning skills, with the ability to effectively prioritise, plan and manage own workload.
9. Ability to work on own initiative but also contribute as part of a team.
10. Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
Other
1. Absence of an alcohol or substance misuse problem for at least two years.
2. Postholder must live within a reasonable and accessible distance to the service.
3. Conform to standards of dress, which reflects a professional service.
4. Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.
5. Willing and able to travel on behalf of Welcome, as required. Full driving license and own vehicle is essential.
6. No criminal record that prevents work with the client group or which would impact on ability to perform in the role or harm the reputation of Welcome.
Job Type: Permanent
Pay: £25,000.00 per year
Schedule:
* Monday to Friday
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 01/12/2024
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