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East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Alcohol Support Nurse

The closing date is 04 February 2026

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Job summary

Alcohol causes a wide range of conditions and is a contributing factor causing harm, accidents, violence and self-harm in patients. Over 1.1 million hospital admissions each year have alcohol as a casual factor (NHS, 2019). Dependent drinkers are at the highest risk of alcohol related conditions.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Alcohol Care Team based in Ipswich Hospital. The Alcohol Care Team (ACT) primarily provide specialist expertise and interventions for alcohol dependent patients, and those presenting with acute intoxication or other alcohol related complications, attending ED or admitted as an inpatient.

The Alcohol Specialist Nurse will work within the team with community alcohol services, dual diagnosis, safeguarding and multiple other specialities to provide holistic, individualised care.

The role is very diverse; you could find yourself working either in ED or on the inpatient wards within the hospital. You would also be running outpatient face to face alcohol support clinics and managing a caseload.

If you would like to join our ACT and have a real passion to support this complex and vulnerable patient group, we would like to hear from you.

The posts are at Band 6, both full time and part time and will be based on a seven-day service, with lone working at the weekend.

Main duties of the job

As an Alcohol Specialist Nurse you will provide a comprehensive alcohol assessment, identify alcohol dependence and withdrawal, manage detoxification regimes, contribute to care planning, provide psychosocial interventions and an MDT approach, plan safe discharge and referral to community services.

You will be responsible for overseeing the withdrawal process from alcohol and work with patients who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and other issues that may arise during this time.

You will provide support and counselling to help patients through their recovery process. This will include helping them find treatment programs or services that will aid in their long-term sobriety, supporting them with housing, finances, safeguarding, mental health and domestic abuse.

You will provide support and education to clinical staff teaching them how to identify and treat withdrawal symptoms and how to provide brief interventions to the patient for alcohol support.

The ACT also facilitate nurse led outpatient clinics to manage the holistic treatment for patients in recovery from their alcohol dependency and for those patients who require surveillance for their stable liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Details

Date posted

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

11 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

432-HR1188-25

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Relevant post registration experience, at Band 5 or above, in patients with alcohol misuse and gastroenterology nursing speciality
  • A proven ability of prioritizing/triaging a workload and working autonomously
  • Understanding of evidence based practice
  • Ability to work independently and use initiative
  • Experience of teaching
  • Ability to support and influence change

Desirable

  • Clinical audit and research
  • Leadership and management
  • Service development
  • Experience in working in addiction
  • Non-medical prescribing

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current NMC registration
  • BSc (Hons) in related subject or undertaking a degree pathway
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

  • Specialist qualification in addiction/alcohol abuse or ACT competencies

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the Recovery pathways
  • Understanding of addiction
  • Understanding of liver disease
  • Competent computer skills

Desirable

  • ACT competencies or other qualification in addiction
  • RCN Liver competencies
  • Liver post graduate module

Skills

Essential

  • Reliable and conscientious with a professional yet empathetic approach to patients/families
  • Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations
  • Organisation and negotiation skills
  • Ability to motivate self and others
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Good time management skills

Desirable

  • Research skills
  • Teaching/assessment and presentation skills
  • Leadership and motivational skills
  • Ability to use database systems and Microsoft applications
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Relevant post registration experience, at Band 5 or above, in patients with alcohol misuse and gastroenterology nursing speciality
  • A proven ability of prioritizing/triaging a workload and working autonomously
  • Understanding of evidence based practice
  • Ability to work independently and use initiative
  • Experience of teaching
  • Ability to support and influence change

Desirable

  • Clinical audit and research
  • Leadership and management
  • Service development
  • Experience in working in addiction
  • Non-medical prescribing

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current NMC registration
  • BSc (Hons) in related subject or undertaking a degree pathway
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

  • Specialist qualification in addiction/alcohol abuse or ACT competencies

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the Recovery pathways
  • Understanding of addiction
  • Understanding of liver disease
  • Competent computer skills

Desirable

  • ACT competencies or other qualification in addiction
  • RCN Liver competencies
  • Liver post graduate module

Skills

Essential

  • Reliable and conscientious with a professional yet empathetic approach to patients/families
  • Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations
  • Organisation and negotiation skills
  • Ability to motivate self and others
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Good time management skills

Desirable

  • Research skills
  • Teaching/assessment and presentation skills
  • Leadership and motivational skills
  • Ability to use database systems and Microsoft applications

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).

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Alcohol Care Team Lead

Elisabeth Thompson

elisabeth.thompson@esneft.nhs.uk

07912488179

Details

Date posted

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

11 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

432-HR1188-25

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Supporting documents

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