Job summary
We are recruiting for Dual Diagnosis Homeless Outreach Practitioner.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the award winning START Homeless Outreach Teams as an advanced practitioner, extending our service offer into Lewisham.
This is a borough based clinical role which focuses on providing a new pathway for individuals experiencing rough sleeping, mental ill health and substance use. This role is part of an ongoing pilot for Lewisham aimed at improving access to care for homeless clients, gathering data on service use and challenges and providing support to existing agencies working with this group in the borough.
Main duties of the job
1.To provide expertise and contribute to dual diagnosis within evidence-based practise for people rough sleeping in Lewisham
2.To provide specialist assessment and clinical formulation to rough sleeping clients with complex mental health needs and co-occurring substance misuse using a trauma informed outreach approach
3.To provide outreach clinics at the 999 Club and other settings as agreed
4.To provide complex case management and addressing Safeguarding for a small group of individuals who cannot be supported by third sector, CMHT or CGL alone
5.To lead the development of a robust and seamless pathway into care for homeless service users in the primary care group and are rough sleepers by effective collaborative planning and advocacy with local homeless, mental health and substance use services.
6.To work as an autonomous professional within guidelines of the relevant professional body and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work.
7.To facilitate carers/family members' involvement in assessment and care planning where appropriate and ensure they are offered information about support groups
8.To participate in the monitoring and review of any serious incidents that involve homeless dual diagnosis cases as appropriate
9.Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
About us
Benefits:
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It's important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
Counselling services
Wellbeing events
Long service awards
Cycle to work scheme
Season ticket loan
Childcare vouchers
Staff restaurants
We look forward to receiving your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role also aims to improve capability and knowledge for homeless people within existing Lewisham community provision, by advice, advocacy, role modelling and direct complex case management.
Central to this approach is a focus on inclusive health practice for people who are often not accessing treatment due to needs across several areas. This will require an outreach, trauma informed style of delivery and a willingness to work in collaboration with other homeless and 3rd sector colleagues to create seamless care pathways across the system.
They will engage with continuing CPD across dual diagnosis and homelessness best practice and promote a system understanding of the ways that rough sleeping and substance use can impact on recovery, wellbeing, safeguarding and physical health.
The post holder requires highly advanced communication and influencing skills as they will be required to work collaboratively with key stakeholders across professional and organisational boundaries, within and outside of the Trust. They will be able to skilfully and sensitively communicate highly complex and sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues and galvanise support of staff and services within and outside the Trust.
The post holder will maintain regular contact with colleagues. This will include the team leaders, nurses, doctors and allied health professionals within the team. They will communicate regularly with the START Homeless Outreach CSL, other dual diagnosis practitioners in Lewisham and keep abreast of developments in the evidence base and changes in services provision.
The post holder will liaise, communicate effectively and update the CSL (START) on a frequent basis to feedback progress and highlight any areas of focus or concern.
The post Holder will maintain regular contact with other clinicians within the trust and other statutory/non statutory services including 999 Club, street outreach, Rough Sleeping Coordinator, GP homeless health service, inpatient wards, Community Mental Health Recovery and Support Teams, Home Treatment Team, GP Practices and Local A&E psychiatric liaison services.
They will regularly collaborate with partner agencies involved in the care of people experiencing homelessness and promote information sharing and joint working.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role also aims to improve capability and knowledge for homeless people within existing Lewisham community provision, by advice, advocacy, role modelling and direct complex case management.
Central to this approach is a focus on inclusive health practice for people who are often not accessing treatment due to needs across several areas. This will require an outreach, trauma informed style of delivery and a willingness to work in collaboration with other homeless and 3rd sector colleagues to create seamless care pathways across the system.
They will engage with continuing CPD across dual diagnosis and homelessness best practice and promote a system understanding of the ways that rough sleeping and substance use can impact on recovery, wellbeing, safeguarding and physical health.
The post holder requires highly advanced communication and influencing skills as they will be required to work collaboratively with key stakeholders across professional and organisational boundaries, within and outside of the Trust. They will be able to skilfully and sensitively communicate highly complex and sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues and galvanise support of staff and services within and outside the Trust.
The post holder will maintain regular contact with colleagues. This will include the team leaders, nurses, doctors and allied health professionals within the team. They will communicate regularly with the START Homeless Outreach CSL, other dual diagnosis practitioners in Lewisham and keep abreast of developments in the evidence base and changes in services provision.
The post holder will liaise, communicate effectively and update the CSL (START) on a frequent basis to feedback progress and highlight any areas of focus or concern.
The post Holder will maintain regular contact with other clinicians within the trust and other statutory/non statutory services including 999 Club, street outreach, Rough Sleeping Coordinator, GP homeless health service, inpatient wards, Community Mental Health Recovery and Support Teams, Home Treatment Team, GP Practices and Local A&E psychiatric liaison services.
They will regularly collaborate with partner agencies involved in the care of people experiencing homelessness and promote information sharing and joint working.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a professional qualification i.e. Nursing/SW/OT
- Evidence of training in Dual Diagnosis
Desirable
- Non - medical prescriber
- formal qualification in therapies i.e CBT
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with co-morbid mental health and substance misuse problems
- Experience of managing complex caseload
- Experience of Quality improvement
Desirable
- Delivery of Level 2 dual diagnosis training (e.g., 'pan-London')
- Working clinically within a homeless or substance use team
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Understanding of experiences faced by homeless service users with dual diagnosis and their families
- Understanding of and ability to complete comprehensive assessments of homeless dual diagnosis clients
Desirable
- Knowledge of quality standards & policy regarding current Dual Diagnosis and Homelessness best practice guidance
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold a professional qualification i.e. Nursing/SW/OT
- Evidence of training in Dual Diagnosis
Desirable
- Non - medical prescriber
- formal qualification in therapies i.e CBT
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with co-morbid mental health and substance misuse problems
- Experience of managing complex caseload
- Experience of Quality improvement
Desirable
- Delivery of Level 2 dual diagnosis training (e.g., 'pan-London')
- Working clinically within a homeless or substance use team
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Understanding of experiences faced by homeless service users with dual diagnosis and their families
- Understanding of and ability to complete comprehensive assessments of homeless dual diagnosis clients
Desirable
- Knowledge of quality standards & policy regarding current Dual Diagnosis and Homelessness best practice guidance
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).
