Job summary
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and compassionate clinician to lead dual diagnosis (co-existing mental health and substance misuse) strategy and practice across the Forensic Directorate.
You will operationalise and continuously improve the Forensic Substance Misuse Strategy, setting standards, supporting staff capability and embedding evidence-based care across all forensic sites.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence practice at scale, shaping safe, recovery-focused care pathways for people with complex forensic and substance misuse needs.
Main duties of the job
- Provide expert clinical leadership for complex dual-diagnosis cases, including MDT formulation, assessment and evidence-based care planning.
- Ensure universal screening and comprehensive substance-use assessment across forensic inpatient and community settings.
- Lead safe prescribing and withdrawal management pathways in partnership with Pharmacy.
- Deliver specialist training, supervision and capability development for dual diagnosis leads/champions.
- Lead policies, SOPs and staff training relating to substance-related safety, searches and harm-reduction.
- Drive quality, governance and improvement through audits, QI projects, incident analysis and thematic learning.
- Strengthen partnership working with community substance misuse providers, MAPPA, police, probation and wider agencies.
- Lead data quality, KPI monitoring and reporting using EPJS and BI dashboards.
- Promote an inclusive, compassionate and psychologically safe team culture; line-manage or supervise dual diagnosis leads.
About us
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in relevant clinical subject e.g. RMN, RNLD, RGN, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Psychology and current live professional registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development particularly in relation to the development of knowledge and skills for working with people with dual diagnosis
- Clinical Supervision & Mentorship training
- Level 2 Pan-London Drug and Alcohol Training, or an equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- A qualification or training in a relevant area of practice eg. dual diagnosis, substance misuse, motivational interviewing, trauma informed practice, cognitive behavioural therapy
- Non-Medical Prescriber
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working with people with comorbid mental health and physical health issues who misuse substances in a range of clinical setting
- Experience of assessing the needs and strengths of people with mental illness and their families and holding a caseload of people with complex needs
- Delivering team teaching/training
- Experience of multi- disciplinary team working and working in partnership with a range of organisations
- Managing a caseload of people with complex needs
Desirable
- Delivery of level 2 dual diagnosis training (eg 'pan- London')
- Leading audit projects, research and other service evaluation projects
- Working clinically within a substance misuse team
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of the interactions between mental health problems and drug and alcohol use and the issues facing people trying to stabilise their situation
- Current and up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance relating to the client group eg DoH, PHE, NICE, MHA, Care Act, MCA
- Applied knowledge of the principles of risk assessment and risk management particularly in relation to harm minimization
- Using relevant tools and guidelines to facilitate comprehensive assessments of dual diagnosis clients and also planning, implementing and evaluating their care
- Ability to use and understand the supervision process
Desirable
- Ability to facilitate therapeutic groups and train others to do same
- Ability to work as part of a team offering support to those with different professional backgrounds.
- Ability to engage service users who are hard to reach
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in relevant clinical subject e.g. RMN, RNLD, RGN, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Psychology and current live professional registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development particularly in relation to the development of knowledge and skills for working with people with dual diagnosis
- Clinical Supervision & Mentorship training
- Level 2 Pan-London Drug and Alcohol Training, or an equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- A qualification or training in a relevant area of practice eg. dual diagnosis, substance misuse, motivational interviewing, trauma informed practice, cognitive behavioural therapy
- Non-Medical Prescriber
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working with people with comorbid mental health and physical health issues who misuse substances in a range of clinical setting
- Experience of assessing the needs and strengths of people with mental illness and their families and holding a caseload of people with complex needs
- Delivering team teaching/training
- Experience of multi- disciplinary team working and working in partnership with a range of organisations
- Managing a caseload of people with complex needs
Desirable
- Delivery of level 2 dual diagnosis training (eg 'pan- London')
- Leading audit projects, research and other service evaluation projects
- Working clinically within a substance misuse team
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of the interactions between mental health problems and drug and alcohol use and the issues facing people trying to stabilise their situation
- Current and up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance relating to the client group eg DoH, PHE, NICE, MHA, Care Act, MCA
- Applied knowledge of the principles of risk assessment and risk management particularly in relation to harm minimization
- Using relevant tools and guidelines to facilitate comprehensive assessments of dual diagnosis clients and also planning, implementing and evaluating their care
- Ability to use and understand the supervision process
Desirable
- Ability to facilitate therapeutic groups and train others to do same
- Ability to work as part of a team offering support to those with different professional backgrounds.
- Ability to engage service users who are hard to reach
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).
