Co-occurring Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs Specialist Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

An expert practitioner, the post holder is a source of expert advice to clinicians, allied health care professionals, service users and their carer's, providing specialist interventions to patients

You will assess patients with substance misuse needs and provide specialist advice and guidance relating to their management, care and onward pathways within the Bexley Wellbeing Hub, Bexley CMHTs and stakeholder organisations.

The post holder will lead the provision of care to patients with substance misuse problems and those identified as having substance misuse comorbidities from the point of entry into the Bexley Wellbeing Hub and Bexley CMHTs including provision of a:

• Quality services based on evidence-based practice
• The post holder will have an ability to reach complex and critical judgements and have decision making skills to satisfy the expectations and demands of the role
• The post holder will deliver and direct others to provide a range of evidence-based interventions for service users.
• The post holder will be required to take an active role in training and development both within their team and the establishments in general

Duties / Responsibilities

Clinical

To engage in specialist substance misuse and mental health assessment within the Bexley Wellbeing Hub and Bexley CMHTs, identifying levels of need, establishing care and treatment pathways and where required facilitating timely referral and access to community substance partners and secondary level mental health services.

To engage service users in personalised 1:1 psycho-social interventions to promote recovery and develop enhanced self-management skills, promoting both abstinence and harm reduction pathways.

To co-facilitate and support the delivery of substance focused recovery groups, working creatively to sustain engagement and regularly reviewing programmes to incorporate best practice.

To work in conjunction with a range of both Bexley Wellbeing Hub, Bexley CMHTs and broader partner agencies, to deliver robust joined up care for service users who experience co-occurring difficulties.

To be an accessible resource across the Hub, secondary mental health services and associated services, providing specialist substance knowledge, training, and actively promoting concepts of integrated access and support for clients who may be misusing substances and experiencing mental health challenges.

To encourage and promote service users broader engagement with physical health and well-being themes, signposting and referring to other health professionals as appropriate, utilising exiting pathways and creating and developing new pathways where required.

To develop partner services understanding of the impact of social and cultural diversity on patients and their carers experiences of mental illness and substance use, and the services that provide care and treatment.

Communication

Form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture, as well as perceptions on views on their use of substances.

To support and guide individuals and groups of service users in the use of therapeutic activity to promote recovery and develop self-resilience.

To report effectively to The Bexley Wellbeing Hub, Bexley CMHTs and the Oxleas Bexley Directorate on service user performance and progress, contributing to regular reports on individual and team activity and outcomes.

To establish and develop excellent working relationships with external substance services, working collaboratively to problem solve and enhance and develop pathways of communication and client service user access.

To develop Oxleas teams and partner services understanding of the often-complex interplay between mental health and substance use, and the wider impact on other areas such as physical health and homelessness.

Documentation

To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards within all the organisations the post holder may be located within.

Leadership, supervision and appraisal

In line with Oxleas NHS Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and appraisal.

Training staff and students

To participate in the delivery of on-going COMHAD related training, disseminating, and sharing information and skills with staff and students working within both The Hub and wider services and partner agencies

To participate in relevant training opportunities when they arise.

Service development and delivery

To ensure that areas are well maintained, kept and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials

To provide treatment in an environment where security and safety procedures must be strictly adhered to and to ensure that any legal restrictions associated with the mental health act are incorporated into activity provision

Professional Development

To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor. To keep a record of your training and development activities.

Clinical governance, quality, standards

To participate in clinical governance and quality improvements projects.

Research and Development

As part of the COMHAD Practitioner group, incorporate up-to-date substance management techniques and positive practice ideas into yours and The Hubs daily programme of personalised and group interventions.

To participate in the audit and evaluation of activities as agreed with your supervisor.

Training and Development

To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by the Trust.

To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual appraisal.

To undertake personal development as identified in Personal Development Plan (PDP).

To support the training, personal development and appraisal of any staff that may be under the supervision of the Specialist Practitioner role.

General

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures, and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality of Information.

The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the work that they undertake is conducted in a manner which is safe to themselves and others, and for adhering to the advice and instructions on Health and Safety matters given by Manager(s). If post holders consider that a hazard to Health and Safety exists, it is their responsibility to report this to their manager(s).

The post holder is expected to comply with the appropriate Code(s) of Conduct associated with this post.

It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trusts environmental impact by recycling wherever possible, switching off lights, computer monitors and equipment when not in use, minimising water usage and reporting faults promptly and promoting the Trusts sustainability commitments and vision.

Oxleas Foundation Mental Health NHS Trust operates a no smoking policy. The Trust has been smoke free since 01 January 2006.

Terms and Conditions

The post holder is subject to the terms and conditions of OXLEAS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST. This Job description gives an outline of the post and is subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, complex and contentious presenting ideas with clarity in a persuasive and influential style, for a variety of audiences.
• Ability to manage change and develop innovative ways of working.
• Ability to work effectively and autonomously
• Skills in assessing and treating young people with complex substance related needs

Knowledge

Essential

• Working knowledge of appropriate legislation relating to working aged adults and substance use/misuse

Experience

Essential

• Experience of multi-professional collaboration including working in partnership with other statutory and voluntary organisations.
• Working knowledge of current issues/agendas facing COMHAD care provision
• Working experience in supporting people with COMHAD

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Erith Centre

Park Crescent

Bexleyheath

DA8 3EE

Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)