Job summary
Do you want to make a difference? Do you want to work in an environment where you can use your clinical skills and your creativity to achieve the best for people?
Here is your opportunity to be part of the nursing team and support our multidisciplinary team.
We are looking for a GP Shared Care Substance Misuse Nurse to join our Brighton and Hove team. The successful candidate will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, offering specialist clinical interventions to people who use our services.
In our services no two days are the same. Every person who comes into our service is treated as an individual, so understanding the importance of a whole person approach along with being curious, a good listener, a clinically robust practitioner and having a flexible approach are essential skills.
Our teams are multi-disciplinary, they consist of a service manager, consultant psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, health care assistants, recovery staff, volunteers, administrators, and peer mentors, all focused on bringing the individuals using our services the best possible support & interventions.
Main duties of the job
Work with the Shared Care GP to support service users to achieve sustainable recovery.
Carry out regular case reviews with the Shared Care GP and facilitate service user prescribing reviews with the GP (as directed by the GP.)
Communicate with local GPSs where applicable in relation to substance misuse treatment in Primary Care.
Provide support to assist community detoxifications, working with GPs to ensure that service users have access to adequate resources.
Work closely with other members of the primary care practice team as appropriate to ensure holistic healthcare needs of the service user are met.
In conjunction with medical staff support substitute prescribing regimes improving the wellbeing and meaningful activity of service users.
Working in partnership with community Pharmacists, ensuring clear communication pathways in relation to supervised consumption arrangements, engagement/presentation and medication collection.
Promote sexual health awareness, provide advice and information on protective factors and reducing risks and offer screening in association with the practice Nurse.
Offer advice and support to service users for BBV testing and ensure appropriate signposting to additional support and services if needed.
To act as a Pain Management Lead working alongside GPs prescribing pain management medications to review/adapt practice. Supported by Change Grow Live Consultant Psychiatrist.
About us
Believe in people
At Change Grow Live, above all else we believe in people. It's the one thing that acts as a foundation for all our work.
If you use our services: we understand what you're going through. We won't judge. We believe you can make positive changes in your life.
If you work or volunteer for us: we believe in your potential. We believe you can do brilliant, life-changing work.
Our mission and vision
Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.
The vision we're working towards is to develop, deliver and share a whole person approach that changes society.
We believe that having diverse people working as part of our team makes us the organisation that we are.
We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and to make Change Grow Live a great place to work.
The safety of vulnerable children, young people and adults is our absolute priority. We will support you in your role to make sure that you are equipped to support the safety of people who use our services and those around them, to the highest standard possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main purpose of the role
- Improve choice and control for individuals who may be rough sleeping , homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Support access to health care and promote the social inclusion of people who are homeless or rough sleeping.
- Work in an assertive outreach capacity to improve physical and mental wellbeing of service users who are hard to reach.
- Develop local referral routes to improve access to healthcare services, removing barriers to healthcare for service users by identifying and addressing gaps in local areas.
- Flexible, creative, and innovative approach to reducing health inequalities for street based service users.
- Work in conjunction with health, social care, housing, other public and voluntary sector providers to ensure a holistic approach is taken to improve the health and wellbeing of the service user.
- Deliver healthcare interventions including screening, medical reviews, BBV tests, wound care
- Identify and refer of individuals with substance-misuse issues into assessment and structured treatment
- Proactively engage with hard to reach groups through Street Outreach and liaison with Outreach Teams and Hostel staff
- Increase the knowledge & understanding of hostel/homeless staff to support the management of residents health with a focus on harm-reduction issues
Role-specific responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- To use nursing skills and knowledge to carry out physical and psycho-social assessments for the homeless population
- To provide clinical / therapeutic treatments based on best possible evidence that will improve health outcomes for the homeless population.
- To undertake non-medical prescribing and to ensure that other duties in relation to medicines management meet required professional and Trust standards
- Provide screening for blood borne viruses (BBV), through dry blood spot testing.
- Work within and consolidate integrated care and treatment pathways for individuals who are identified as being infected with BBV/s (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV).
- To work in partnership with other community teams/voluntary organisations in order to ensure the seamless delivery of care to the homeless population
- To act as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness, supporting the individuals own choices regarding their care whilst promoting independence and self-care.
- To consistently champion the principles of self-care and patient empowerment.
- Undertake phlebotomy, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting.
- Use blood results to support the assessment the current health status of service users, the need for specialist medical referral and the suitability for community detoxification.
- Where indicated, refer for specialist inpatient services (including detoxification) and liaise with hospital and inpatient unit staff.
- To contribute to CGL Naloxone Strategy by training staff and service users in the use of naloxone. Ensuring naloxone is distributed to service users at every opportunity.
- Offer wound care assessment and basic wound dressing to service users. Organise signposting to other services as required, and ensure clear pathways into other treatment arenas as appropriate.
Communication
- Develop therapeutic alliances with the homeless population and develop effective partnerships with them to support their individual health needs, offering health promotion and harm reduction advice.
- Ensure that there is good communication of treatments offered, treatment progress and outcome of any investigations to other healthcare agencies, including GPs.
- Adhere to Patient Group Directions and ensure requirements on updating are maintained.
- Maintain a current knowledge of appropriate interventions. Ensure that all NMC revalidation requirements are being met and communicated to line manager.
- Develop and provide health education, regarding problematic alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug detoxification.
- Attend meetings appropriate to the development and maintenance of the role in agreement with and under the direction of the lead nurse.
- To proactively develop and maintain close working relationships with homeless health GPs Practices, Ambulance Service, district nurses, community matrons, General Practice staff, acute Trusts To communicate effectively at all levels, with a variety of health and social care professionals, users and carers.
Delivering a quality service
- The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that the homeless population consistently receive high quality services that adhere to the best practice guidelines and to the highest professional standards.
- Ensure that procedures are constantly reviewed to promote best practice and evidenced based practice in accordance with UK Guidelines on Clinical Management, NICE guidance, and CGL clinical protocols and procedures. To participate in, and when appropriate take the lead on, the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, guidelines and integrated care pathways, and service re-design for the homeless health service
Leadership
- Provide clinical leadership within the service, including providing support, coaching and teaching to staff working at the service around homelessness, harm reduction and BBV interventions.
- To proactively participate on the initiation and implementation of changes within the homeless health service, including the challenging of professional and organisational boundaries, which will improve clinical outcomes, and meet the needs of the homeless health
Team Working
- To take part in assessing the suitability for transfer of clients to Shared Care services within the community.
- To work with others to ensure service users within the homeless population have timely access to safe and effective prescribing for community detoxification from substances, across operational sites.
- Contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved.
Risk Management
- Provide harm reduction advice to injecting service users, providing information and equipment and ensure all equipment is disposed of safely.
- Undertake risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans for service users engaged in the service.
- Utilise appropriate prevention techniques in order to reduce substance misuse related harm and to aid in the prevention of multiple physical harms caused by drugs and alcohol.
Managing information
- Record and input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements.
- Ensure that all data requirements in relation to clients are met within defined deadlines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main purpose of the role
- Improve choice and control for individuals who may be rough sleeping , homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Support access to health care and promote the social inclusion of people who are homeless or rough sleeping.
- Work in an assertive outreach capacity to improve physical and mental wellbeing of service users who are hard to reach.
- Develop local referral routes to improve access to healthcare services, removing barriers to healthcare for service users by identifying and addressing gaps in local areas.
- Flexible, creative, and innovative approach to reducing health inequalities for street based service users.
- Work in conjunction with health, social care, housing, other public and voluntary sector providers to ensure a holistic approach is taken to improve the health and wellbeing of the service user.
- Deliver healthcare interventions including screening, medical reviews, BBV tests, wound care
- Identify and refer of individuals with substance-misuse issues into assessment and structured treatment
- Proactively engage with hard to reach groups through Street Outreach and liaison with Outreach Teams and Hostel staff
- Increase the knowledge & understanding of hostel/homeless staff to support the management of residents health with a focus on harm-reduction issues
Role-specific responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- To use nursing skills and knowledge to carry out physical and psycho-social assessments for the homeless population
- To provide clinical / therapeutic treatments based on best possible evidence that will improve health outcomes for the homeless population.
- To undertake non-medical prescribing and to ensure that other duties in relation to medicines management meet required professional and Trust standards
- Provide screening for blood borne viruses (BBV), through dry blood spot testing.
- Work within and consolidate integrated care and treatment pathways for individuals who are identified as being infected with BBV/s (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV).
- To work in partnership with other community teams/voluntary organisations in order to ensure the seamless delivery of care to the homeless population
- To act as an advocate for people experiencing homelessness, supporting the individuals own choices regarding their care whilst promoting independence and self-care.
- To consistently champion the principles of self-care and patient empowerment.
- Undertake phlebotomy, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting.
- Use blood results to support the assessment the current health status of service users, the need for specialist medical referral and the suitability for community detoxification.
- Where indicated, refer for specialist inpatient services (including detoxification) and liaise with hospital and inpatient unit staff.
- To contribute to CGL Naloxone Strategy by training staff and service users in the use of naloxone. Ensuring naloxone is distributed to service users at every opportunity.
- Offer wound care assessment and basic wound dressing to service users. Organise signposting to other services as required, and ensure clear pathways into other treatment arenas as appropriate.
Communication
- Develop therapeutic alliances with the homeless population and develop effective partnerships with them to support their individual health needs, offering health promotion and harm reduction advice.
- Ensure that there is good communication of treatments offered, treatment progress and outcome of any investigations to other healthcare agencies, including GPs.
- Adhere to Patient Group Directions and ensure requirements on updating are maintained.
- Maintain a current knowledge of appropriate interventions. Ensure that all NMC revalidation requirements are being met and communicated to line manager.
- Develop and provide health education, regarding problematic alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug detoxification.
- Attend meetings appropriate to the development and maintenance of the role in agreement with and under the direction of the lead nurse.
- To proactively develop and maintain close working relationships with homeless health GPs Practices, Ambulance Service, district nurses, community matrons, General Practice staff, acute Trusts To communicate effectively at all levels, with a variety of health and social care professionals, users and carers.
Delivering a quality service
- The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that the homeless population consistently receive high quality services that adhere to the best practice guidelines and to the highest professional standards.
- Ensure that procedures are constantly reviewed to promote best practice and evidenced based practice in accordance with UK Guidelines on Clinical Management, NICE guidance, and CGL clinical protocols and procedures. To participate in, and when appropriate take the lead on, the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, guidelines and integrated care pathways, and service re-design for the homeless health service
Leadership
- Provide clinical leadership within the service, including providing support, coaching and teaching to staff working at the service around homelessness, harm reduction and BBV interventions.
- To proactively participate on the initiation and implementation of changes within the homeless health service, including the challenging of professional and organisational boundaries, which will improve clinical outcomes, and meet the needs of the homeless health
Team Working
- To take part in assessing the suitability for transfer of clients to Shared Care services within the community.
- To work with others to ensure service users within the homeless population have timely access to safe and effective prescribing for community detoxification from substances, across operational sites.
- Contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved.
Risk Management
- Provide harm reduction advice to injecting service users, providing information and equipment and ensure all equipment is disposed of safely.
- Undertake risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans for service users engaged in the service.
- Utilise appropriate prevention techniques in order to reduce substance misuse related harm and to aid in the prevention of multiple physical harms caused by drugs and alcohol.
Managing information
- Record and input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements.
- Ensure that all data requirements in relation to clients are met within defined deadlines.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant recent experience of working within drug and alcohol treatment and/or homeless services. Experience of contributing to project development.
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered nurse with recent relevant post qualification experience and a current PIN. A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services. Sound and demonstrable knowledge of clinical prescribing issues. Sound and demonstrable knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion interventions. Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers including appropriate medical interventions, social care and health issues. Qualification(s) in substance misuse.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant recent experience of working within drug and alcohol treatment and/or homeless services. Experience of contributing to project development.
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered nurse with recent relevant post qualification experience and a current PIN. A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services. Sound and demonstrable knowledge of clinical prescribing issues. Sound and demonstrable knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion interventions. Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers including appropriate medical interventions, social care and health issues. Qualification(s) in substance misuse.
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).
