Substance Misuse Practitioner - till 31.03.26

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Substance Misuse Practitioner will be an integral member of the Alcohol Care Team, which provides care and treatment for patients with drug & alcohol misuse issues across the hospital environment. Working closely with the Alcohol Care Team, the Substance Misuse Practitioner will assess the needs of the individual patient and deliver appropriate psychosocial interventions.

The Substance Misuse Practitioner will provide training to employees on screening, brief interventions and harm minimisation. They will support the Alcohol Care Team in developing and delivering education to Trust employees in the speciality of drug & alcohol misuse.

The practitioner will be flexible to meet the needs of the team and will demonstrate knowledge, expertise and passion in working within the speciality of alcohol misuse.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

To have knowledge of the impact excessive drug & alcohol consumption has on physical health, mental health and social issues and to use this knowledge to fully assess patients.

To provide brief interventions, psychosocial interventions, harm minimisation and motivational interviewing as appropriate.

To screen patients to identify those at risk from substance related health and social problems and those whose health is being damaged by these.

To liaise with community services on a regular basis to ensure continuity of care for all patients.

To undertake individual case management to provide immediate and on-going support to those patients who are unsuitable or unwilling to engage in community services.

To develop therapeutic relationships with clients

To support other members in the Alcohol Team in the care and management of intoxicated patients and patients in acute withdrawal.

To make accurate assessments of the risk patients pose to themselves and others and take necessary action within Trust safeguarding guidelines.

To educate patients and their families on related harms and deliver brief advice.

To provide health education and health promotion to clients, either individually or in groups.

To adhere to the Trust equality, diversity and inclusion policy.

To escalate any concerns to the Lead CNS in a timely manner.

To display excellent verbal and written communication skills and be computer literate.

To keep timely and accurate records of interventions and outcome activity and use this in decision making, using the Trusts policies, procedures and electronic recording and data collection system.

To signpost into other services and integrate care with other providers of health services

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience in working with clients with substance misuse issues.
• Experience of working within an acute hospital or community drugs service
• Experience, knowledge and awareness of patient care need, e.g. patient monitoring
• Experience of dealing with members of the public

Desirable

• Experience of working in the NHS

Skills

Essential

• Basic IT skills
• Good verbal and written command of English
• Numeracy skills (demonstrated through qualifications or experience)
• Ability to plan organise own and delegated workload and work under pressure in a busy environment in a professional manner
• Aware of own strengths and limitations/levels of competence
• Record keeping and documentation
• Ability to respond to changes in patient condition
• Ability to work as a team member
• Motivation, reliability and ability to work as part of a team
• Flexibility and adaptability

Knowledge

Essential

• Understands the limits of the job role. Has the ability to recognise situations that require reporting and demonstrates the ability to escalate to a senior person where appropriate
• Ability to carry out and report on observations/ tests
• Knowledge in delivering of psychosocial interventions including brief interventions
• Knowledge of the impact substance misuse can have on physical health, mental health and social issues.

Desirable

• Good understanding of health care relevant to the potential client group

Qualifications

Essential

• Care Certificate (or willingness to undertake)
• Minimum NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or in Care

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bradford Royal Infirmary

Duckworth Lane

Bradford

BD9 6RJ

Employer's website

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