North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Substance Use Practitioner

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are looking for individuals with experience of working in substance use settings to support the development and implementation of our substance use service to ensure patients who attend the trust with substance dependency are effectively managed and referred to local community providers where appropriate.

This is an exciting opportunity for experienced individuals to assess and manage an inpatient case load, provide specialist advice and enhance the wider hospital team's knowledge of substance use. The substance use practitioner will be a professional role model; advocating evidence based clinical practice in the area of substance dependency, working closely with the existing clinical team to promote the multi-disciplinary team approach with colleagues involved in the management and prevention of the physical and psychosocial adverse consequences of substance use. Substance use practitioners will engage in regional meetings to share local intelligence, and develop pathways of care with other specialist services within and outside of the trust.

The post holder will align with our established Alcohol Care Team, based at the University Hospital North Tees. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly to ensure that service needs are met.

Main duties of the job

Supporting in assessment and management of people with substance use and withdrawal and the physical, psychological and social complications of substance use and dependency.
Support patients where there may be physical or verbal violence or aggression towards the post holder.
Provide support and advice at Specialist Practitioner level, to the Consultant led clinical teams on wards and in the Emergency Departments
Develop treatment pathways for complex patients including comprehensive assessment and implementation of care plans designed to ensure the highest evidenced based care is delivered.
Identify the need for appropriate referral to substance use services within and outside the Trust and coordinate these referrals in an accountable, auditable way
Provide prescribing advice to prescribing colleagues for the appropriate management of substance use recommended by the Orange Book 2017 and NICE for use within substance use services.
Manage a caseload within agreed specification timescales ensuring safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children are paramount.
Be prepared to manage challenging behaviours through a trauma informed approach.
Monitor progress with patients, relatives and carers and the multi-professional team. Utilise reports and feedback to inform practice / service developments
Work with Urgent & Emergency Care frequent attenders to ensure safe discharges and appropriate treatment is reached.

About us

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.

We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"

Date posted

28 June 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£35,392 to £42,618 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

345-MED6377167

Job locations

University Hospital North Tees

Stockton

TS19 8PE

Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description attached

Clinical assessment of patients with substance use
Advice on prescribing of opioid substitution therapy (OST) where required and advocate for the use of the clinical guideline to support OST
Provision of brief advice and harm minimisation
Wound care advice
Onwards referrals to housing, safeguarding etc.
Support the testing of illicit substances, (see separate SOP linking in with Cleveland police)
Referral and liaison with community substance use providers
Referral and liaison with internal trust departments (e.g., pain time and psychiatry liaison)
Provide education and training to trust colleagues
Support data collection and evaluation of the substance use pathway

Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description attached

Clinical assessment of patients with substance use
Advice on prescribing of opioid substitution therapy (OST) where required and advocate for the use of the clinical guideline to support OST
Provision of brief advice and harm minimisation
Wound care advice
Onwards referrals to housing, safeguarding etc.
Support the testing of illicit substances, (see separate SOP linking in with Cleveland police)
Referral and liaison with community substance use providers
Referral and liaison with internal trust departments (e.g., pain time and psychiatry liaison)
Provide education and training to trust colleagues
Support data collection and evaluation of the substance use pathway

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

First degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience For example: RGN/ RMN/ RNLD or equivalent discipline such as social work, health and social care etc.

Desirable

Experience or further training in a relevant subject, e.g. Post - graduate Diploma in drugs and alcohol studies or equivalent

Experience

Essential

Experience of assessment and management of people with substance use and related problems

Desirable

Experience of working with partners and stakeholders across settings

Knowledge

Essential

Expert knowledge of the management of substance use and withdrawal

Desirable

Experience of providing education and training to colleagues

Skills

Essential

Ability to confidently provide advice and guidance to colleagues and respond appropriately to challenge

Desirable

Experience of use of audit processes

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

First degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience For example: RGN/ RMN/ RNLD or equivalent discipline such as social work, health and social care etc.

Desirable

Experience or further training in a relevant subject, e.g. Post - graduate Diploma in drugs and alcohol studies or equivalent

Experience

Essential

Experience of assessment and management of people with substance use and related problems

Desirable

Experience of working with partners and stakeholders across settings

Knowledge

Essential

Expert knowledge of the management of substance use and withdrawal

Desirable

Experience of providing education and training to colleagues

Skills

Essential

Ability to confidently provide advice and guidance to colleagues and respond appropriately to challenge

Desirable

Experience of use of audit processes

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).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital North Tees

Stockton

TS19 8PE

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital North Tees

Stockton

TS19 8PE

Employer's website

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