Job summary
Band 6 Maternity Leave Cover Substance Misuse Nurse
We are looking for an experienced Senior Registered Nurse to join our established team, as a Substance Misuse Nurse based in the Emergency Department at Whiston Hospital.
The post holder should be able to manage a demanding service working with both internal and external stakeholders. You should have substantial training experience and facilitate training both internally and externally. Applicants must have experience of working in a hospital environment and managing patients autonomously.
The successful candidate will benefit from joining a forward thinking, friendly and effective team of dedicated individuals providing 5-star care to patients with alcohol and drug misuse.
The team offers extensive treatment planning for ED patients and undertakes reviews on our in-patient wards. Lifestyle advice and referral are undertaken by the team to prevent admission if not appropriate. Fibro scanning is an integral part of the service and referral process undertaken by this well-established team. The team are embedded in the culture and working of the Department and provide a 7-day 7-7 service.
Interviews for this position will take place week of 17th January 2025. They will be competency based, and applicants will be required to complete a presentation as part of this process.
Internal applicants who wish to be considered for secondment are required to seek permission from their current line manager before applying.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder will be expected to manage their own caseload (including admissions and discharges) of patients, in liaison with senior nurses, and work with minimal supervision.
- Allocate work to teams and individuals, including Admin Post holder, following direction from the Band 7.
- Undertake clinical supervision of nursing colleagues on an individual or group basis.
- Participate in and assist in the development of the Alcohol and Drug Misuse Regular Attenders Scheme in consultation with Community Services, ensuring that the pre-determined Alcohol Regular Attenders Cohort receives a robust service response within the hospital setting and that there is sufficient data sharing to enable partner agencies to provide holistic, integrated care. Liaise with outside agencies to develop multi agency care plans.
- Develop training packages in a variety of formats and facilitate training to hospital staff and outside agencies / patients / carers.
- Participate in the development of Volunteer/Peer Mentor Scheme within the hospital that supports the Alcohol Liaison Nursing Service and brings 'Visible Recovery' to the hospital setting.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To promote the screening of patients admitted to the Trust for alcohol related problems
- Undertake a pre-admission, asset-focussed, assessment, either at Triage or Comprehensive Assessment level depending on need, for all alcohol specific hospital attendees and for frequent attendees with alcohol specific conditions. For all adults misusing alcohol that scores more than 15 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) a comprehensive assessment will be required in line with NICE clinical guideline 115. The identification of need should be wider than substance misuse and cover all areas of physical, psychological and social functioning along with identification of co-occurring problems that may need particular attention, e.g. psychiatric co morbidity.
- Ensure that for all alcohol specific hospital admissions that have not been assessed pre-admission and for people who experience alcohol withdrawal in hospital post admission, an asset-focussed, assessment is carried out either at Triage or Comprehensive Assessment level depending on need, as described above.
- In conjunction with the service user, their career and family, as appropriate, develop a recovery orientated care plan that focuses on addressing the clients needs in the key outcome domains. The Alcohol Liaison Nursing Service shall be responsible for the co-ordination of that care plan whilst the service user remains in hospital and for ensuring that there is adequate planning in terms of on-going care, post discharge, to ensure that any treatment gains are maximised and that re-admissions are prevented. This includes robust risk management, identification of safeguarding issues (including identification of young carers) and ensuring there is sufficient liaison and link up with Community Based Services, GPs and referrers as per specified pathways. Activity should complement and enhance the work undertaken by the Integrated Discharge Team.
- Utilise screening tools to assess and interpret hazardous, harmful and dependent alcohol misuse/withdrawal states and offer appropriate intervention which may include brief intervention, extended brief interventions, clinical advice and support in relation to alcohol detoxification and the management of withdrawal states
- Prioritises health problems and intervenes appropriately, including initiation of effective emergency care.
- Refer for diagnostic tests as appropriate.
- Collect, collate, evaluate and report information whilst establishing and maintaining the highest standards of clinical documentation in your own practice.
- Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives e.g. provide highly complex, sensitive information acknowledging barriers to understanding
- Administer a range of medication according to Patient Group Directions and work towards Independent Prescriber status. Whilst acting at all times in accordance with Trust Policy & NMC Code of Conduct.
- Support the Band 7 in the development of prescribing protocols; patient group directions, and clinical management plans.
- Provide expert advice to staff within the hospital in relation to the care of individuals with alcohol misuse disorders, alternatives to admission and information regarding the availability of both community and hospital-based support functions.
- Provide clinical advice and support with regard to alcohol detoxification, patient safety and comfort and discharge planning, to all health care professionals in both primary and secondary care.
- Refer patients to other specialists for advice and treatment, including medical/surgical, psychiatric and maternity services.
- Provide advice and support to other health care professionals and external agencies including, social care teams, housing agencies, employment agencies, and criminal justice services.
- Provide support to families of patients with alcohol related problems.
- Provide clinical input and management within the Recovery Room overseeing patient care and co-ordinating the input of volunteer recovery mentors, psychiatric liaison etc.
- Actively promote Health education / promotion with individual patients and families as appropriate.
- Support the Band 7 to set up and run independent nurse led clinics alongside the Consultant Gastroenterology clinic, providing education, information and support for patients with Alcohol problems and their families. (Not in spec)
- Disseminate, appropriate test results/developments and progress relating to individual patients to their GP.
- Liaison with the non-statutory agencies and the alcohol and drug misuse services in the community.
- Liaison with specialist alcohol and drug treatment units.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Take responsibility for own professional development, competence and expertise and contribute towards the setting and achieving of objectives through the appraisal process, ensuring achievement of required competences.
- Teaching and training is a significant element of this role. The alcohol liaison nurse will be expected to facilitate the teaching and training both formally and informally to trust staff and external agencies
- Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified need, for colleagues for whom managerially responsible. This includes development of core competencies for team members in accordance with Drug & Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS) guidelines.
- Address specific health targets related to own area of practice through education.
- Ensure own compliance and with regard to mandatory training, including training in relation to Safeguarding.
- Participate in the evaluation, and development of the Services to ensure the Service meets patient and service requirements, quality standards and clinical developments.
- Contribute towards the on-going training and development of Hospital Staff and Community based clinicians through, literature review, case studies, clinical teaching etc.
- Participate in staff / departmental / governance meetings.
- Actively become involved in a formal Alcohol Specialist Nurse network, working collaboratively with peers in other health economy areas within the Northwest, thus providing a means of peer support, sharing and good practices, development of information resources and producing common guidelines and protocols.
- In conjunction with the Band 7, the Emergency Department and Gastroenterology Consultants Gastroenterology and community-based Tier 3 Substance Misuse Service Leads, develop a framework for the management and care of regular attenders to hospital for alcohol related harm and contribute towards treatment planning for complex cases.
- Promote peoples equality, diversity, rights and social inclusion.
- Facilitate data sharing between care agencies (within agreed protocols) with regard to safeguarding and optimising patient care.
- Develop and deliver (Identification & Brief Advice) IBA training to nursing staff at Whiston Hospital and training in relation to the identification of withdrawal states to both hospital staff and Community Based Services.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Utilise clinical practice to identify areas in need of research and audit and facilitate the undertaking of these projects.
- Participate in education and training of all grades of staff in order that the same high quality of care can be achieved and subsequently maintained as requested by the Practice Development Nurse This includes management of section 2 training and appraisals.
- To act as a resource for all staff in relation to Alcohol Related Harm.
- Seeks to develop new and advanced skills as directed by the Nurse Consultant and Clinical Director
- Act as a change agent in ensuring that the Think Family Agenda is embedded into service Provision and that awareness is raised amongst practitioners in relation to hidden harms such as neglect and domestic violence.
- Develop service capacity to facilitate the placement of pre-registration nursing students.
- Each registered nurse is accountable for his/her practice and in the exercise of professional accountability shall follow NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To promote the screening of patients admitted to the Trust for alcohol related problems
- Undertake a pre-admission, asset-focussed, assessment, either at Triage or Comprehensive Assessment level depending on need, for all alcohol specific hospital attendees and for frequent attendees with alcohol specific conditions. For all adults misusing alcohol that scores more than 15 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) a comprehensive assessment will be required in line with NICE clinical guideline 115. The identification of need should be wider than substance misuse and cover all areas of physical, psychological and social functioning along with identification of co-occurring problems that may need particular attention, e.g. psychiatric co morbidity.
- Ensure that for all alcohol specific hospital admissions that have not been assessed pre-admission and for people who experience alcohol withdrawal in hospital post admission, an asset-focussed, assessment is carried out either at Triage or Comprehensive Assessment level depending on need, as described above.
- In conjunction with the service user, their career and family, as appropriate, develop a recovery orientated care plan that focuses on addressing the clients needs in the key outcome domains. The Alcohol Liaison Nursing Service shall be responsible for the co-ordination of that care plan whilst the service user remains in hospital and for ensuring that there is adequate planning in terms of on-going care, post discharge, to ensure that any treatment gains are maximised and that re-admissions are prevented. This includes robust risk management, identification of safeguarding issues (including identification of young carers) and ensuring there is sufficient liaison and link up with Community Based Services, GPs and referrers as per specified pathways. Activity should complement and enhance the work undertaken by the Integrated Discharge Team.
- Utilise screening tools to assess and interpret hazardous, harmful and dependent alcohol misuse/withdrawal states and offer appropriate intervention which may include brief intervention, extended brief interventions, clinical advice and support in relation to alcohol detoxification and the management of withdrawal states
- Prioritises health problems and intervenes appropriately, including initiation of effective emergency care.
- Refer for diagnostic tests as appropriate.
- Collect, collate, evaluate and report information whilst establishing and maintaining the highest standards of clinical documentation in your own practice.
- Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives e.g. provide highly complex, sensitive information acknowledging barriers to understanding
- Administer a range of medication according to Patient Group Directions and work towards Independent Prescriber status. Whilst acting at all times in accordance with Trust Policy & NMC Code of Conduct.
- Support the Band 7 in the development of prescribing protocols; patient group directions, and clinical management plans.
- Provide expert advice to staff within the hospital in relation to the care of individuals with alcohol misuse disorders, alternatives to admission and information regarding the availability of both community and hospital-based support functions.
- Provide clinical advice and support with regard to alcohol detoxification, patient safety and comfort and discharge planning, to all health care professionals in both primary and secondary care.
- Refer patients to other specialists for advice and treatment, including medical/surgical, psychiatric and maternity services.
- Provide advice and support to other health care professionals and external agencies including, social care teams, housing agencies, employment agencies, and criminal justice services.
- Provide support to families of patients with alcohol related problems.
- Provide clinical input and management within the Recovery Room overseeing patient care and co-ordinating the input of volunteer recovery mentors, psychiatric liaison etc.
- Actively promote Health education / promotion with individual patients and families as appropriate.
- Support the Band 7 to set up and run independent nurse led clinics alongside the Consultant Gastroenterology clinic, providing education, information and support for patients with Alcohol problems and their families. (Not in spec)
- Disseminate, appropriate test results/developments and progress relating to individual patients to their GP.
- Liaison with the non-statutory agencies and the alcohol and drug misuse services in the community.
- Liaison with specialist alcohol and drug treatment units.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Take responsibility for own professional development, competence and expertise and contribute towards the setting and achieving of objectives through the appraisal process, ensuring achievement of required competences.
- Teaching and training is a significant element of this role. The alcohol liaison nurse will be expected to facilitate the teaching and training both formally and informally to trust staff and external agencies
- Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified need, for colleagues for whom managerially responsible. This includes development of core competencies for team members in accordance with Drug & Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS) guidelines.
- Address specific health targets related to own area of practice through education.
- Ensure own compliance and with regard to mandatory training, including training in relation to Safeguarding.
- Participate in the evaluation, and development of the Services to ensure the Service meets patient and service requirements, quality standards and clinical developments.
- Contribute towards the on-going training and development of Hospital Staff and Community based clinicians through, literature review, case studies, clinical teaching etc.
- Participate in staff / departmental / governance meetings.
- Actively become involved in a formal Alcohol Specialist Nurse network, working collaboratively with peers in other health economy areas within the Northwest, thus providing a means of peer support, sharing and good practices, development of information resources and producing common guidelines and protocols.
- In conjunction with the Band 7, the Emergency Department and Gastroenterology Consultants Gastroenterology and community-based Tier 3 Substance Misuse Service Leads, develop a framework for the management and care of regular attenders to hospital for alcohol related harm and contribute towards treatment planning for complex cases.
- Promote peoples equality, diversity, rights and social inclusion.
- Facilitate data sharing between care agencies (within agreed protocols) with regard to safeguarding and optimising patient care.
- Develop and deliver (Identification & Brief Advice) IBA training to nursing staff at Whiston Hospital and training in relation to the identification of withdrawal states to both hospital staff and Community Based Services.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Utilise clinical practice to identify areas in need of research and audit and facilitate the undertaking of these projects.
- Participate in education and training of all grades of staff in order that the same high quality of care can be achieved and subsequently maintained as requested by the Practice Development Nurse This includes management of section 2 training and appraisals.
- To act as a resource for all staff in relation to Alcohol Related Harm.
- Seeks to develop new and advanced skills as directed by the Nurse Consultant and Clinical Director
- Act as a change agent in ensuring that the Think Family Agenda is embedded into service Provision and that awareness is raised amongst practitioners in relation to hidden harms such as neglect and domestic violence.
- Develop service capacity to facilitate the placement of pre-registration nursing students.
- Each registered nurse is accountable for his/her practice and in the exercise of professional accountability shall follow NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (General or Mental Health)
- Post registration qualification or equivalent hospital experience in related fields of alcohol and or substance misuse
- Evidence of continuing professional development (i.e. academic pathway)
- IV Drug Administration Certificate or Competencies
Desirable
- Registered Independent Nurse Prescriber (v300)
- ECDL Qualification or equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration nursing experience
- Substantial experience in specialist field in hospital and community settings at Band 6 or equivalent grade
- Experience of work with people who have alcohol and substance misuse related problems and clear awareness of current issues in this field, including patient and risk assessment
- Participated in service development and implementation of change. Experience of audit
- Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policy/best practice relating to Specialist area
Desirable
- Experience of transient elastography assessment and interpretation of haematology
- Previous experience as an Alcohol Liaison Specialist Nurse or Substance Misuse Specialist Nurse in both hospital and community settings
- Experience of developing new innovative alcohol and substance misuse initiatives
- Experience of liaison between Primary and Secondary Care settings
- Knowledge of local needs in relation to Alcohol Harm and associated strategies
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently under extreme pressure
- Alcohol/ Substance Misuse related work Counselling skills
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Data collection, collation, and analysis skills
- IT Skills
- Presentation skills
- Report writing and research skills
- Project management skills
- Problem solving skills, including evaluation
- Ability to risk assess, and make professionally autonomous decisions
- Ability to disseminate knowledge and skills through formal training sessions, motivational interviewing and person-centred counselling
- Able to display the following competencies in line with Nationally Recognised standards, including The Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS; Skills for Health (2002) and Skills for Care: oAre competent to identify harmful drinking and alcohol dependence and are able to utilise validated screening tools oAre competent to identify substance misuse and associated harms oAre competent to provide an assessment of need and identify risk (including risk to self and others, taking domestic violence into consideration from both a victim and a perpetrator perspective). oHave the knowledge and skills to motivate service users to make appropriate changes and achieve a more positive lifestyle oAre competent to identify psychiatric co-morbidity, throughout the course of assessment and treatment. Suicidal ideation needs to be assessed and actively managed as part of the overall risk management process oPossess skills and knowledge of a variety of therapeutic interventions suitable for delivery across the spectrum of harm, including recognition and management of withdrawal states, the process of detoxification and pharmacological support oHave care planning skills oHave sufficient knowledge and understanding of responsibilities in relation to child protection and safeguarding (children & adults)
Other
Essential
- Flexible approach to shift working and unsociable hours cover
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (General or Mental Health)
- Post registration qualification or equivalent hospital experience in related fields of alcohol and or substance misuse
- Evidence of continuing professional development (i.e. academic pathway)
- IV Drug Administration Certificate or Competencies
Desirable
- Registered Independent Nurse Prescriber (v300)
- ECDL Qualification or equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration nursing experience
- Substantial experience in specialist field in hospital and community settings at Band 6 or equivalent grade
- Experience of work with people who have alcohol and substance misuse related problems and clear awareness of current issues in this field, including patient and risk assessment
- Participated in service development and implementation of change. Experience of audit
- Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policy/best practice relating to Specialist area
Desirable
- Experience of transient elastography assessment and interpretation of haematology
- Previous experience as an Alcohol Liaison Specialist Nurse or Substance Misuse Specialist Nurse in both hospital and community settings
- Experience of developing new innovative alcohol and substance misuse initiatives
- Experience of liaison between Primary and Secondary Care settings
- Knowledge of local needs in relation to Alcohol Harm and associated strategies
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently under extreme pressure
- Alcohol/ Substance Misuse related work Counselling skills
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Data collection, collation, and analysis skills
- IT Skills
- Presentation skills
- Report writing and research skills
- Project management skills
- Problem solving skills, including evaluation
- Ability to risk assess, and make professionally autonomous decisions
- Ability to disseminate knowledge and skills through formal training sessions, motivational interviewing and person-centred counselling
- Able to display the following competencies in line with Nationally Recognised standards, including The Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS; Skills for Health (2002) and Skills for Care: oAre competent to identify harmful drinking and alcohol dependence and are able to utilise validated screening tools oAre competent to identify substance misuse and associated harms oAre competent to provide an assessment of need and identify risk (including risk to self and others, taking domestic violence into consideration from both a victim and a perpetrator perspective). oHave the knowledge and skills to motivate service users to make appropriate changes and achieve a more positive lifestyle oAre competent to identify psychiatric co-morbidity, throughout the course of assessment and treatment. Suicidal ideation needs to be assessed and actively managed as part of the overall risk management process oPossess skills and knowledge of a variety of therapeutic interventions suitable for delivery across the spectrum of harm, including recognition and management of withdrawal states, the process of detoxification and pharmacological support oHave care planning skills oHave sufficient knowledge and understanding of responsibilities in relation to child protection and safeguarding (children & adults)
Other
Essential
- Flexible approach to shift working and unsociable hours cover
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
