Job summary
Join our new Assertive Outreach Team as a Band 6 Substance Misuse Nurse and help shape a new, dynamic service for adults with complex mental health and substance use needs. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference for those who find it difficult to access services and engage with treatment.
You'll work in partnership with patients, families, and local health and social care partners to develop care and recovery plans that empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. If you're passionate about integrated, person-centred care and thrive on challenge, we want to hear from you. Be part of a team that values compassion, innovation, and evidence-based practice, and help build a service that truly changes lives.
Main duties of the job
You will be required to travel independently around the county and will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have the use of a vehicle. Unfortunately, public transport will not provide enough reliable transportation to enable you to meet the needs of the service. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website.
- As a Substance Misuse Nurse, you'll provide clinical expertise to the Assertive Outreach Team, working collaboratively with patients, carers, and partner agencies. You'll assess, plan, and implement care, focusing on harm minimisation and reduction of substance use, and deliver specialist interventions tailored to individual needs.
- The role involves care coordination, risk management, and supporting recovery, always promoting safety and wellbeing. You'll contribute to service development, quality improvement, and research, ensuring the service remains innovative and responsive. Commitment to professional development, integrated working, and equality is essential.
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- To undertake assessment and treatment of individuals and their families/carers accessing the service with complex mental health presentations, including those patients presenting with unhealthy alcohol and/ or substance use including those with higher levels of risk.
- To use evidence-based evaluation tools for alcohol use assessments (AUDIT, SADQ).
- To use alcohol and drug diaries to support harm minimisation and reduction of substance use as part of the patients care plan.
- To develop alongside the patients, their care plan.
- To offer specialist professional assessment and advice where required.
- To assess and manage on going risks as identified during the assessment, ensuring that this is done in collaboration with the patients and carers.
- To regularly review risk factors and make change to the management of them as necessary.
- To work using assertive outreach approaches to engage the patients and their families.
- To refer to and liaise with specialist drug and alcohol services.
- To ensure an inclusive and trauma aware approach with the patients, carers and family.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- To undertake assessment and treatment of individuals and their families/carers accessing the service with complex mental health presentations, including those patients presenting with unhealthy alcohol and/ or substance use including those with higher levels of risk.
- To use evidence-based evaluation tools for alcohol use assessments (AUDIT, SADQ).
- To use alcohol and drug diaries to support harm minimisation and reduction of substance use as part of the patients care plan.
- To develop alongside the patients, their care plan.
- To offer specialist professional assessment and advice where required.
- To assess and manage on going risks as identified during the assessment, ensuring that this is done in collaboration with the patients and carers.
- To regularly review risk factors and make change to the management of them as necessary.
- To work using assertive outreach approaches to engage the patients and their families.
- To refer to and liaise with specialist drug and alcohol services.
- To ensure an inclusive and trauma aware approach with the patients, carers and family.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with current registration [mental health/LD/Adult], appropriate to the job role.
- Educated to a degree level relevant to the work area or equivalent substantial working experience with the designated client group
- Experience of working in a clinical drug and alcohol service
Desirable
- Teaching/cert, psychology degree level
- RQF certificate - understanding substance misuse - Level 3
Experience
Essential
- Significant post qualifying experience in working with those presenting with serious mental illness and substance use
- Experience of working alongside people with complex mental health problems in the designated care group.
- Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems.
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health issues.
- Lived experience of cooccurring conditions
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Desirable
- Develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Ability to use manual handling techniques
- Energy to work with complex patients, working within the community, patients' homes and people of all ages
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently around the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
- Team working
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with current registration [mental health/LD/Adult], appropriate to the job role.
- Educated to a degree level relevant to the work area or equivalent substantial working experience with the designated client group
- Experience of working in a clinical drug and alcohol service
Desirable
- Teaching/cert, psychology degree level
- RQF certificate - understanding substance misuse - Level 3
Experience
Essential
- Significant post qualifying experience in working with those presenting with serious mental illness and substance use
- Experience of working alongside people with complex mental health problems in the designated care group.
- Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems.
Desirable
- Lived experience of mental health issues.
- Lived experience of cooccurring conditions
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Desirable
- Develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Ability to use manual handling techniques
- Energy to work with complex patients, working within the community, patients' homes and people of all ages
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently around the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
- Team working
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).
