Job summary
Change Grow Live is one of the UKs leading health and social care charities and the Substance Misuse Nurse role is a varied one. You will be supporting people with multi-faceted issues related to the impact of substance use on their physical and mental health.
Nurses are an integral member of our multidisciplinary teams, offering specialist clinical interventions to people who use our services. 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.
At Change Grow Live we want to support you to recognise and achieve your goals:
We hold regular national nurse and HCA forums, and you will have regular 1:1s and appraisals
We actively support our nurses to revalidate with protected continuing professional development time, which totals up to 6 days per year
We also have a wide range of educational opportunities including free access to the RCNi learning platform and we pay for your NMC fee
We offer you the opportunity to use the government backed Apprenticeship Levy fund to develop nursing practice in line with your specific role
All our staff are encouraged to take a wellbeing hour every week and access personal well -being resources
Main duties of the job
Change Grow Live (CGL) is proud to support Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnerships vision of building safer, healthier communities through a compassionate, trauma-informed approach. The service prioritises rapid responses to non-fatal overdoses and offers clinical outreach to individuals affected by drug and alcohol use.
Commissioned to deliver community-based care, the teamcomprising a Lead Nurse, two Specialist Outreach Nurses, and two Outreach Support Workerswill operate across various locations in a highly visible, "boots on the ground" model. This includes targeted harm reduction support delivered via a mobile van in community hotspots.
The post holder will work under the direction of the Lead Nurse, providing healthcare and clinical interventions tailored to the needs of Renfrewshires drug and alcohol-using population. The role is full-time and delivered on a rota basis (Monday to Saturday), including evening and fortnightly Saturday shifts. Flexibility is essential, as hours and locations may adapt to local needs. Team members must be suitably qualified and experienced to deliver care, manage caseloads, and support access to mainstream health services and recovery resources.
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
Key Activities
The Specialist Nurse for the Alcohol & Drug Outreach Service will work in partnership with multi-agency professionals to meet the health needs of people experiencing drug and alcohol issues. This includes attending meetings, developing working relationships, and communicating effectively at all levels. They are responsible for maintaining their own safety and the safety of others, risk-assessing approaches to individuals, and ensuring all clinical activity is robustly and contemporaneously documented in line with organisational risk and lone working policies.
The nurse must ensure effective communication regarding treatments, progress, and outcomes with other healthcare agencies, including GPs. They will identify when individuals are not in contact with relevant services, such as GPs, mental health support, addictions services, or dentists, and support appropriate access. The role includes providing screening (e.g. blood spot testing for blood-borne viruses) and integrating care pathways for individuals infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV.
They will contribute to CGLs Naloxone Strategy by participating in and delivering training, distributing naloxone where appropriate. Patient feedback will be actively sought, and individuals will be encouraged to participate in planning and service delivery. The nurse may also develop local policies and clinical guidelines to support service delivery. Managing ones workload efficiently to allow time for clinical work, data reporting, and participation in meetings is expected.
Clinical Practice and Harm Reduction
The nurse will deliver specialist harm reduction interventions and advanced healthcare, including making high-level clinical decisions and initiating interventions independently. They will carry out holistic assessments addressing physical, mental health, addictions, safeguarding, housing, and social care needs. Outreach work involves carrying appropriate equipment to assess clinical risk and provide immediate care, including treatments such as wound dressings, while also signposting to mainstream services. Services may also be delivered via a harm reduction van.
Service User Engagement
They will develop therapeutic alliances using trauma-informed principles to build relationships and enable treatment. Acting as a health case manager for service users with high unmet needs, they will work toward outcome-based goals. Safeguarding concerns will be identified and addressed appropriately through referral and contribution to safeguarding plans. The role includes advocating in line with the Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use.
General Terms of Reference
The post holder will work flexibly across operational sites as needed and within agreed hours to meet service demands. They will seek to improve personal performance through training, supervision, and appraisal, and stay informed about developments in legislation and practice. They are expected to implement all CGL policies, contribute to a safe working environment, and undertake other duties as appropriate. Completion of annual Data Protection Training is also required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Activities
The Specialist Nurse for the Alcohol & Drug Outreach Service will work in partnership with multi-agency professionals to meet the health needs of people experiencing drug and alcohol issues. This includes attending meetings, developing working relationships, and communicating effectively at all levels. They are responsible for maintaining their own safety and the safety of others, risk-assessing approaches to individuals, and ensuring all clinical activity is robustly and contemporaneously documented in line with organisational risk and lone working policies.
The nurse must ensure effective communication regarding treatments, progress, and outcomes with other healthcare agencies, including GPs. They will identify when individuals are not in contact with relevant services, such as GPs, mental health support, addictions services, or dentists, and support appropriate access. The role includes providing screening (e.g. blood spot testing for blood-borne viruses) and integrating care pathways for individuals infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV.
They will contribute to CGLs Naloxone Strategy by participating in and delivering training, distributing naloxone where appropriate. Patient feedback will be actively sought, and individuals will be encouraged to participate in planning and service delivery. The nurse may also develop local policies and clinical guidelines to support service delivery. Managing ones workload efficiently to allow time for clinical work, data reporting, and participation in meetings is expected.
Clinical Practice and Harm Reduction
The nurse will deliver specialist harm reduction interventions and advanced healthcare, including making high-level clinical decisions and initiating interventions independently. They will carry out holistic assessments addressing physical, mental health, addictions, safeguarding, housing, and social care needs. Outreach work involves carrying appropriate equipment to assess clinical risk and provide immediate care, including treatments such as wound dressings, while also signposting to mainstream services. Services may also be delivered via a harm reduction van.
Service User Engagement
They will develop therapeutic alliances using trauma-informed principles to build relationships and enable treatment. Acting as a health case manager for service users with high unmet needs, they will work toward outcome-based goals. Safeguarding concerns will be identified and addressed appropriately through referral and contribution to safeguarding plans. The role includes advocating in line with the Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use.
General Terms of Reference
The post holder will work flexibly across operational sites as needed and within agreed hours to meet service demands. They will seek to improve personal performance through training, supervision, and appraisal, and stay informed about developments in legislation and practice. They are expected to implement all CGL policies, contribute to a safe working environment, and undertake other duties as appropriate. Completion of annual Data Protection Training is also required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First Level nursing qualification with a registered PIN.
- Full UK drivers license.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a clinical practitioner in an inclusion health setting.
- Broad knowledge and experience covering primary care, acute, mental health and addictions.
- Experience of independently managing a caseload.
Desirable
- Experience of being an autonomous practitioner making independent decisions.
- Possession of advanced assessment qualification minor illness / minor injury / chronic disease etc.
- Experience of directly delivering nurse led health outreach to people within the community.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First Level nursing qualification with a registered PIN.
- Full UK drivers license.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a clinical practitioner in an inclusion health setting.
- Broad knowledge and experience covering primary care, acute, mental health and addictions.
- Experience of independently managing a caseload.
Desirable
- Experience of being an autonomous practitioner making independent decisions.
- Possession of advanced assessment qualification minor illness / minor injury / chronic disease etc.
- Experience of directly delivering nurse led health outreach to people within the community.
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).
