University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Specialist Addiction Nurse (Assertive Outreach Addiction Team)

The closing date is 20 July 2025

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset has a proven track record in delivering care and treatment to patients presenting with alcohol attributable admissions and attendances, including its award-winning Assertive Outreach Alcohol Team linked to the trusts Addiction Care & Treatment Services (ACTS).

we are seeking to appoint an experienced lead specialist addiction nurse to provide leadership to our established community based Assertive Outreach Alcohol Team

The post holder will be required to be a registered nurse (mental health and/or adult) with an independent prescribing qualification (or willingness to undertake) and clinical experience working in a specialist alcohol (or substance misuse) service in a hospital and/or community setting.

You would be working as part of a healthcare team with a mixture of psychosocial and clinical interventions. There are many opportunities to develop new skills and this role is ideal for an experienced nurse seeking to broaden their knowledge and understanding of caring for high-risk adults often with complex needs who experience high intensity use of urgent and emergency care pathways.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of the Lead Specialist Addiction Nurse (Assertive Outreach Addiction Team) role is to be highly visible, provide effective, and accessible leadership to members of the ACTS Assertive Outreach Addiction Team, thereby ensuring the highest standards of patient care and evidenced based practice are delivered at all times. Responsible to the Head of Addiction Services, the role is to lead and contribute to the development of the core clinical team establishment and is responsible for the independent delivery of high-quality safe nursing care and good people management within a community setting. The post holder is expected to ensure responsibility of safe system of referral, treatment and eventual discharge of patients.Cross cover will be provided for the Lead Specialist Addiction Nurse (in-patient alcohol and drug) posts across both UHD sites to ensure adequate and safe leadership when required.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions at interview.

Please note if a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under relevant Trust or national terms and conditions.

Details

Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

153-ME04766

Job locations

Poole Hospital

Poole

BH152JB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see linked job description and personal specification.

The post holder will be an integral member of the services senior leadership team.

Informal enquires are encouraged to graeme.white@uhd.nhs.uk

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see linked job description and personal specification.

The post holder will be an integral member of the services senior leadership team.

Informal enquires are encouraged to graeme.white@uhd.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • registered nurse
  • Independent prescriber

Desirable

  • oPost graduate diploma/degree or equivalent qualification in Alcohol and Substance Misuse

Experience

Essential

  • oAssessment and management of problematic alcohol (& drug) users
  • oRisk assessment / management
  • oManaging staff

Desirable

  • oAudit and research

Knowledge

Essential

  • oAbility to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.
  • oKnowledge of mental health disorders as well as their relationship to physical disorders, or vice versa.
  • oCommunication skills to give and receive complex clinical details with patients, carers and colleagues in sensitive, potentially hostile situations.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • registered nurse
  • Independent prescriber

Desirable

  • oPost graduate diploma/degree or equivalent qualification in Alcohol and Substance Misuse

Experience

Essential

  • oAssessment and management of problematic alcohol (& drug) users
  • oRisk assessment / management
  • oManaging staff

Desirable

  • oAudit and research

Knowledge

Essential

  • oAbility to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively.
  • oKnowledge of mental health disorders as well as their relationship to physical disorders, or vice versa.
  • oCommunication skills to give and receive complex clinical details with patients, carers and colleagues in sensitive, potentially hostile situations.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Poole Hospital

Poole

BH152JB


Employer's website

https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Poole Hospital

Poole

BH152JB


Employer's website

https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Addiction Services

Graeme White

graeme.white@uhd.nhs.uk

03000192871

Details

Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

153-ME04766

Job locations

Poole Hospital

Poole

BH152JB


Supporting documents

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