Job summary
The successful applicant will deliver services in line with Welsh Government Treatment Frameworks, NICE guidance (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), and other relevant professional standards and legislation. Kaleidoscope staff are expected to follow Operational Policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring that the care and treatment provided is safe, undertaken to a high standard and informed by up-to-date, evidence-based practice.
The post holder should enjoy face-to-face contact with people who have recognised that their use of substances has become problematic. They will have excellent communication skills, be able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, across agency cultures including those within statutory, private and voluntary sector partnerships. The post holder must be flexible and efficient within small locality teams, to ensure services are delivered equitably and with the service user at the heart of delivery.
Main duties of the job
- Administer methadone to clients accessing prescribing services, adhering strictly to dispensing procedures (SOPS).
- Supervise medication consumption by individuals accessing our prescribing services.
- Ensure administrative responsibilities, such as completing the daily dispensing log, are maintained according to legal and organisational requirements.
- Maintain an awareness of personal responsibilities in relation to medication administration.
- Perform other dispensary tasks as appropriate, such as keeping the area clean, organised, and sufficiently stocked with required items.
- Maintain full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions incorporating the use of computers when available and appropriate database maintenance.
- Ensure that telephone calls from outside agencies, clients and internal staff are dealt with promptly and courteously, transferring calls to appropriate personnel when necessary.
- Support reception and administration staff for visitors and service users.
- Ensure case notes and other statutory records are up to date and kept in accordance with Kaleidoscope policies and procedures/regional information sharing protocols.
- Update case management system with dose-missed daily.
- Ensure that work is underpinned by sound up to date knowledge of health promotion theory and making sure that initiatives are based on evidence of effectiveness.
About us
Kaleidoscope is a pioneering substance misuse treatment provider, offering evidence-based treatment and holistic support to individuals who access its services. Staff teams work collaboratively with partner agencies including G4S, Local Health Board, South Wales Police, HMPPS (Her Majesties Prison and Probation Service), PHW (Public Health Wales), and other third sector support agencies.
Clinical services include substitute prescribing for opiate dependence, harm reduction initiatives including the provision of take home Naloxone; family planning and sexual health screening; Blood Born Virus testing and referral on to specialist support.
Service users will be offered a full range of support in order to assist them in overcoming their substance misuse. Treatment will be individualised via personal recovery care planning and regular clinical assessment and reviews, and will seek to support service users to address their substance misuse as well as to raise motivation to address wider social and health issues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
The Health Care Assistant will:
- Administer methadone to clients accessing prescribing services, adhering strictly to dispensing procedures (SOPS).
- Supervise medication consumption by individuals accessing our prescribing services.
- Ensure administrative responsibilities, such as completing the daily dispensing log, are maintained according to legal and organisational requirements.
- Maintain an awareness of personal responsibilities in relation to medication administration.
- Perform other dispensary tasks as appropriate, such as keeping the area clean, organised, and sufficiently stocked with required items.
- Maintain full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions incorporating the use of computers when available and appropriate database maintenance.
- Ensure that telephone calls from outside agencies, clients and internal staff are dealt with promptly and courteously, transferring calls to appropriate personnel when necessary.
- Support reception and administration staff for visitors and service users.
- Ensure case notes and other statutory records are up to date and kept in accordance with Kaleidoscope policies and procedures/regional information sharing protocols.
- Update case management system with dose-missed daily.
- Ensure that work is underpinned by sound up to date knowledge of health promotion theory and making sure that initiatives are based on evidence of effectiveness.
- Provide support and cover colleagues delivering services when required.
- Participate in clinical audits, service reviews and the evaluation of service user satisfaction, implementing resulting recommendations, to improve and develop the service.
- Support the nursing teams health promotion initiatives and communicate any changes in need/circumstances to the appropriate people.
- Enable individuals to maintain and improve their knowledge to support the improvement of their health and wellbeing.
- Actively encourage service user involvement and feedback and ensure views are considered in informing the development of the service via co-production.
- Collate data and contribute to service reports.
- Work within the parameters of NICE guidelines, NMC Professional Code of Conduct and Welsh Government core standards
- Complete drug screen testing (urine and oral fluid).
- Complete initial clinical assessments under nurse supervision and report assessment into prescribing medic review and nurse monitoring processes.
- Complete DBST (Dry Blood Spot Testing) Blood Born Virus Screening.
- Provide training and dispensing of Naloxone in line with PHW fatal and non-fatal drug poisoning prevention guidance.
- Administer Naloxone and CPR in the event of an emergency suspected overdose (fatal / nonfatal drug poisoning).
- Provide harm reduction advice including safer injecting advice and guidance in line with Needle Exchange (Needle Syringe Programme) policies and procedures.
- Be willing to participate in Outreach to service users homes/hostels
Following training and once assessed as competent be responsible for undertaking and recording patient observations, and where appropriate reporting to a registered nurse/professional of any observed change in the service users condition. The observation may include:
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Oxygen saturation
- Blood pressure
- Urine/Saliva testing
- Height and weight
- E.C.G
- Alco-meter
- BBV
Professional Development
- Maintain and develop personal expertise and knowledge by reading, networking and further training in order to develop professional competence and to contribute to the development of competence within the team
- Help with the induction and orientation of new staff, volunteers and students
- Ensure professional development by seeking regular supervision and annual appraisals.
- Effectively manage own time and prioritise workload, maintaining own administration and accurate personal records regarding travel, diary appointments, TOIL, and expenses incurred
Service Development
- Support the continued delivery of a high-quality service in line with the service specification and regional delivery plans.
- Contribute to the delivery of internal teaching and training programmes
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to further develop the service
This post has been identified as requiring the post holder to provide evidence of BBV immunisation status to carry out the role effectively. The role may require the post hold to undertake Dry Blood Spot Testing/ Substance Misuse Testing/ Working in Needle Exchange or is a clinical role and therefore Kaleidoscope wishes to ensure that staff are not at risk of infection or transmission of a disease that may affect their own or patient safety. Staff will therefore need to evidence their immunisation history, exemption, or non-responder on commencement of employment or at routine intervals at the request of the Organisation.
Alongside this you will need to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status; we strongly advise that both vaccinations, plus any booster vaccinations are received (unless you have reasonable grounds, e.g. you are medically exempt)
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
The Health Care Assistant will:
- Administer methadone to clients accessing prescribing services, adhering strictly to dispensing procedures (SOPS).
- Supervise medication consumption by individuals accessing our prescribing services.
- Ensure administrative responsibilities, such as completing the daily dispensing log, are maintained according to legal and organisational requirements.
- Maintain an awareness of personal responsibilities in relation to medication administration.
- Perform other dispensary tasks as appropriate, such as keeping the area clean, organised, and sufficiently stocked with required items.
- Maintain full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions incorporating the use of computers when available and appropriate database maintenance.
- Ensure that telephone calls from outside agencies, clients and internal staff are dealt with promptly and courteously, transferring calls to appropriate personnel when necessary.
- Support reception and administration staff for visitors and service users.
- Ensure case notes and other statutory records are up to date and kept in accordance with Kaleidoscope policies and procedures/regional information sharing protocols.
- Update case management system with dose-missed daily.
- Ensure that work is underpinned by sound up to date knowledge of health promotion theory and making sure that initiatives are based on evidence of effectiveness.
- Provide support and cover colleagues delivering services when required.
- Participate in clinical audits, service reviews and the evaluation of service user satisfaction, implementing resulting recommendations, to improve and develop the service.
- Support the nursing teams health promotion initiatives and communicate any changes in need/circumstances to the appropriate people.
- Enable individuals to maintain and improve their knowledge to support the improvement of their health and wellbeing.
- Actively encourage service user involvement and feedback and ensure views are considered in informing the development of the service via co-production.
- Collate data and contribute to service reports.
- Work within the parameters of NICE guidelines, NMC Professional Code of Conduct and Welsh Government core standards
- Complete drug screen testing (urine and oral fluid).
- Complete initial clinical assessments under nurse supervision and report assessment into prescribing medic review and nurse monitoring processes.
- Complete DBST (Dry Blood Spot Testing) Blood Born Virus Screening.
- Provide training and dispensing of Naloxone in line with PHW fatal and non-fatal drug poisoning prevention guidance.
- Administer Naloxone and CPR in the event of an emergency suspected overdose (fatal / nonfatal drug poisoning).
- Provide harm reduction advice including safer injecting advice and guidance in line with Needle Exchange (Needle Syringe Programme) policies and procedures.
- Be willing to participate in Outreach to service users homes/hostels
Following training and once assessed as competent be responsible for undertaking and recording patient observations, and where appropriate reporting to a registered nurse/professional of any observed change in the service users condition. The observation may include:
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Oxygen saturation
- Blood pressure
- Urine/Saliva testing
- Height and weight
- E.C.G
- Alco-meter
- BBV
Professional Development
- Maintain and develop personal expertise and knowledge by reading, networking and further training in order to develop professional competence and to contribute to the development of competence within the team
- Help with the induction and orientation of new staff, volunteers and students
- Ensure professional development by seeking regular supervision and annual appraisals.
- Effectively manage own time and prioritise workload, maintaining own administration and accurate personal records regarding travel, diary appointments, TOIL, and expenses incurred
Service Development
- Support the continued delivery of a high-quality service in line with the service specification and regional delivery plans.
- Contribute to the delivery of internal teaching and training programmes
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to further develop the service
This post has been identified as requiring the post holder to provide evidence of BBV immunisation status to carry out the role effectively. The role may require the post hold to undertake Dry Blood Spot Testing/ Substance Misuse Testing/ Working in Needle Exchange or is a clinical role and therefore Kaleidoscope wishes to ensure that staff are not at risk of infection or transmission of a disease that may affect their own or patient safety. Staff will therefore need to evidence their immunisation history, exemption, or non-responder on commencement of employment or at routine intervals at the request of the Organisation.
Alongside this you will need to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status; we strongly advise that both vaccinations, plus any booster vaccinations are received (unless you have reasonable grounds, e.g. you are medically exempt)
Person Specification
Competancies
Essential
- Compliance: An insightful evidencebased approach to professional
- development and personal practice,
- including a commitment to clinical
- governance/quality assurance.
- Leadership: Demonstrable ability to
- help with the induction and orientation
- of new staff, volunteers and students.
- Teamwork: Ability to build and develop
- relationships within the service, strategic
- partners and other external parties/
- organisations; able to resolve conflict.
- Personal Drive: Able to manage own
- time and work autonomously; ability to
- work on own initiative (under direction)
- and enthusiasm, under pressure
- Communication: Excellent written,
- verbal and presentation skills. Good facilitation/negotiation
- skills and a commitment to working in
- partnership with other agencies.
- Commercial Awareness: A flexible
- approach to working in a developing
- service and a willingness to assist in its
- improvement and awareness of
- efficiencies.
- Customer Focus: A pro-active attitude
- regarding service user involvement.
- Planning and Organising:
- Demonstrable experience of managing
- tasks and deadlines; able to resolve
- conflicting priorities whilst
- demonstrating responsible time
- management and efficacy of prioritising
- workload. Thorough with attention to
- detail
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge and
- demonstrable competencies in
- relation to substance misuse,
- dependency, and detoxification
Role Specific Requirements
Essential
- Excellent IT skills: competency in
- Microsoft Word, Email, Excel, PowerPoint
- and use of internet browsers.
- Prepared to undertake enhanced
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- vetting.
- Flexibility to work at multiple locations
- and flexible working hours.
- Develop and maintain the competencies
- needed to undertake the role of a Health
- Care Assistant in accordance with
- guidelines which incorporates and
- respects differences in gender, sexuality,
- ethnicity, religion, culture and disability,
- including being accountable and
- responsible for own professional practice,
- and within organisational policy and
- procedures.
- Valid UK driving licence, and use of car
- licensed for business use is essential
- The post holder will have responsibility for
- promoting and safeguarding the welfare of
- vulnerable adults/ children (as appropriate)
- where the employee has responsibility or
- contact with the vulnerable person
Qualifications
Essential
- English and Maths GCSEs or equivalent.
Desirable
- Relevant Pharmacy qualification
- NVQ in substance misuse.
- NVQ in health and social care or equivalent
- Training in Anaphylaxis and BBV
- Wound care
- Venepuncture
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a busy environment.
- Able to use own initiative with direction.
Desirable
- Previous experience in similar role.
- Working within a clinical setting.
- Specialist knowledge concerning prescribing for substance misuse/pharmaceutical studies.
- Awareness of current developments and legislation for substance
- misuse.
- Knowledge of a range of clinical interventions such as Methadone or Buprenorphine prescribing, drug screens, blood pressure monitoring, and alcohol screening
Person Specification
Competancies
Essential
- Compliance: An insightful evidencebased approach to professional
- development and personal practice,
- including a commitment to clinical
- governance/quality assurance.
- Leadership: Demonstrable ability to
- help with the induction and orientation
- of new staff, volunteers and students.
- Teamwork: Ability to build and develop
- relationships within the service, strategic
- partners and other external parties/
- organisations; able to resolve conflict.
- Personal Drive: Able to manage own
- time and work autonomously; ability to
- work on own initiative (under direction)
- and enthusiasm, under pressure
- Communication: Excellent written,
- verbal and presentation skills. Good facilitation/negotiation
- skills and a commitment to working in
- partnership with other agencies.
- Commercial Awareness: A flexible
- approach to working in a developing
- service and a willingness to assist in its
- improvement and awareness of
- efficiencies.
- Customer Focus: A pro-active attitude
- regarding service user involvement.
- Planning and Organising:
- Demonstrable experience of managing
- tasks and deadlines; able to resolve
- conflicting priorities whilst
- demonstrating responsible time
- management and efficacy of prioritising
- workload. Thorough with attention to
- detail
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge and
- demonstrable competencies in
- relation to substance misuse,
- dependency, and detoxification
Role Specific Requirements
Essential
- Excellent IT skills: competency in
- Microsoft Word, Email, Excel, PowerPoint
- and use of internet browsers.
- Prepared to undertake enhanced
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- vetting.
- Flexibility to work at multiple locations
- and flexible working hours.
- Develop and maintain the competencies
- needed to undertake the role of a Health
- Care Assistant in accordance with
- guidelines which incorporates and
- respects differences in gender, sexuality,
- ethnicity, religion, culture and disability,
- including being accountable and
- responsible for own professional practice,
- and within organisational policy and
- procedures.
- Valid UK driving licence, and use of car
- licensed for business use is essential
- The post holder will have responsibility for
- promoting and safeguarding the welfare of
- vulnerable adults/ children (as appropriate)
- where the employee has responsibility or
- contact with the vulnerable person
Qualifications
Essential
- English and Maths GCSEs or equivalent.
Desirable
- Relevant Pharmacy qualification
- NVQ in substance misuse.
- NVQ in health and social care or equivalent
- Training in Anaphylaxis and BBV
- Wound care
- Venepuncture
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a busy environment.
- Able to use own initiative with direction.
Desirable
- Previous experience in similar role.
- Working within a clinical setting.
- Specialist knowledge concerning prescribing for substance misuse/pharmaceutical studies.
- Awareness of current developments and legislation for substance
- misuse.
- Knowledge of a range of clinical interventions such as Methadone or Buprenorphine prescribing, drug screens, blood pressure monitoring, and alcohol screening
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.
