Community Addiction Nurse

Job summary
Addiction Nurses: empowered to make a real difference to people's lives.

We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic, highly motivated nurses to come and join us within an exciting, fast paced environment providing high quality addictions recovery treatment and care to a diverse & complex service user group.

If you are an experienced Band 6 nurse come and join our multi-disciplinary team, develop skills, knowledge and expertise in addiction specific assessments, care planning, treatment and support of people with drug and alcohol issues promoting their health, independence and recovery.

As a B6, following completion of your mentorship training, we could support you to become a Non-Medical Prescriber.

Previous applicants need not apply

Main duties of the job
As a qualified nurse in our busy Wandsworth Addictions services (WCDAS) you will hold a caseload of complex addiction service users, offering keyworking, comprehensive assessments, BBV testing and vaccination in addition to co-ordinating nurse led clinics for buvidal, community alcohol clinics, opiate substitution treatment and health promotion.

About us
RWCDAS work in a consortium partnership with We Are With You, St. Mungos, CDARS and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) with SLaM being the lead agency offering clinical oversight to all our pathways.

RWCDAS provide an evidence based, first-class range of drug and alcohol treatment options to residents of the two Boroughs. Our services are busy and dynamic, with a strong recovery focus. We currently operate a core site in Wandsworth and Richmond plus various satellites including primary care. We in-reach to local hospitals, offer street outreach, and work closely with local stakeholders including social care and mental health. We also have a comprehensive online offer.

We are growing an experienced network of volunteers and peer mentors to support treatment delivery and have a strong history of authentic service user involvement at all levels of our provision.

We champion Freedom to Speak Up locally, as well as actively ensuring an inclusive and anti-racist stance within the workplace and the work we do.

Job responsibilities
In addition to holding a complex caseload of service users who present with substance misuse, mental & physical health needs you will be running nurse led clinics, offering clinical advice to non qualified recovery workers and liaising with other external health and social care stakeholders to ensure the best possible care is offered to our service users.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Nursing Qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional development and training (band 6: relevant to substance misuse work and harm reduction activity)
• Willingness to work towards an NMP qualification if not yet achieved

Desirable

• Diploma or degree level qualification in addictions or related area of practice such as CBT, dual diagnosis, etc
• Non-Medical Prescriber
• Mentorship Qualifications and updates

Experience
Essential

• Experience and evidence of ability to produce formal written reports, presentations and draft policies for consultation A/I
• Experience of supervising staff or students A/I
• Experience of using word processing and database use as well as a willingness to improve existing skill base A/I
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team A/I
• Experience of liaison with statutory and non-statutory services A/I

Desirable

• Experience of working in the community A/I
• Experience of the management of clients with complex needs A/I
• Phlebotomy training A/I

Skills
Essential

• A thorough understanding of harm reduction in relation to injecting behaviour as well as safer sexual practices A/I
• Knowledge of potential physical, psycho-social problems among this client group and appropriate interventions to address them A/I
• Knowledge of crack/stimulant interventions A/I
• Knowledge of PIEDs interventions A/I
• Knowledge of NPS/"club drugs" interventions A/I
• Strong understanding of harm reduction, and relapse prevention in relation to substance misuse and planning recovery A/I
• An understanding of the current issues affecting substance misuse services A/I
• Effective assessment and engagement skills A/I
• Effective care planning skills A/I
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate with clients to influence positive outcomes A/I
• Ability to be flexible and thrive in a rapidly changing environment A/I
• Ability to organise and manage time effectively and work autonomously A/I
• Ability to work effectively with clients with drug/alcohol assessments prioritise referrals A/I
• Ability to effectively evaluate care using audit and outcome measurements A/I
• IT skills in relation to clinical notes and report writing A/I

Desirable

• Experience of and skills in delivering training A/I
• Experience of supervising/managing junior staff and students A/I

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.