Inpatient Detox Nurse

Job summary
Change Grow Live is one of the UKs leading health and social care charities and the Inpatient Detox 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.

Park House is a busy 18 bedded purpose-built detox unit recently updated using a Psychologically Informed Environment approach to enhance the experience of staff and those who use our service. We are looking for someone who can actively contribute to Park House, ensuring that we deliver a consistently excellent clinical service. As an Inpatient Detox Nurse, you will provide care to those undertaking medically managed detoxes. You will play a key part in developing and delivering our healthcare offer whilst working flexibly within the team to establish what is needed to have the most positive impact for people who come to Park House, their families, and the wider community.

We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and our permanent staff work to a shift pattern including days, nights, and weekends. It is essential that all nursing staff are physically able to participate in safe manual handling techniques as part of Park House duties, should the need arise.

Where: Park House Inpatient Detox Unit, Birmingham (This is a fully on-site position. Remote or hybrid working arrangements are not available for this role.)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, full time, 12.5 hr shifts across days and nights.

Main duties of the job
Salary: Pro rata (depending on experience)
Contract Type: Permanent

Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.

• Ensuring nursing treatment to residents is in line with national guidelines and local inpatient detox policies and protocols
• Providing education, health promotion and screening for blood borne viruses (BBV)
• Providing Hepatitis B vaccinations when indicated
• Working within integrated care and treatment pathways for individuals who are identified as being infected with BBV/s (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV)
• Caring for both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into residents treatment plans
• Undertaking phlebotomy, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting
• Maintaining accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation in line with the NMC Code of Conduct, NMC Guidelines on Medicines Management and the NMC Guidelines on record keeping and any relevant Change Grow Live policies
• Training staff and residents in the use of Naloxone
• Organising signposting to other services as required and ensure clear pathways into other treatment arenas as appropriate
• Utilising psychosocial in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in treatment services and ownership of recovery planning

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 responsibilities
Main purpose of the role
As directed by the Lead Nurse, the post-holder will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary team offering specialist clinical interventions to a cohort of residents at the service.

All nurses in this role will provide evidence-based care that is person centred, recovery focused and in line with national and organisational policies and procedures.

As this is a residential unit the care provided needs to be holistic and may encompass managing chronic long term health problems that may or may not be associated with their addiction.

It is important that as a nurse you strive to increase your knowledge and skills in all aspects of safe and effective care.

All members of staff are required to always act in accordance with CGL expectations of attitudes and behaviours. These attitudes and behaviours include, but are not limited to:

• Representing CGL in a professional manner on all occasions
• Striving to improve and share good practice, and work towards continuous improvement
• Maintaining and promoting effective communication and shared good practice across the organisation as a whole and externally
• Promoting mutual trust and respect as a guiding principle for all working relationships both internal and external
• Adopting a Co-operative approach to service delivery which draws on the strength, knowledge and expertise of all individuals including service users, staff and volunteers
• To be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults

Reporting relationships:
The role will report directly to the Lead Nurse. Reporting relationships may change

Role-specific responsibilities
Clinical Practice

• All interventions delivered must be recovery focused, integrated, effective, and delivered to a high standard
• To be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work and that of the team you are working with including the management of residents in your care
• Ensure nursing treatment to residents is in line with national guidelines and local inpatient detox policies and protocols
• Provide education, health promotion and screening for blood borne viruses (BBV). Provide Hepatitis B vaccinations when indicated
• 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)
• Undertake full clinical assessments and manage the health needs, planning, delivery, and evaluation of care
• Care for both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into residents treatment plans
• 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 of the current health status of service users prior to admission and the suitability for inpatient detoxification
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation in line with the NMC Code of Conduct, NMC Guidelines on Medicines Management and the NMC Guidelines on Record Keeping and any relevant change grow lives policies
• Contribute to CGLs Naloxone Strategy by training staff and residents in the use of Naloxone. Ensuring Naloxone is distributed to residents 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
• To accurately gather and interpret clinical information about residents, instigate appropriate remedial action and promptly record changes on CRiiS
• Understand and adhere to the legislation surrounding the use of patient group directives (PGDs)
• Utilise psychosocial in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in treatment services and ownership of recovery planning
• Have a clear understanding and adherence to the Controlled Drugs process in line with the Standard Operating Procedure for Controlled Drugs
• Be thorough and diligent in all drug administration and demonstrate a duty of candour in relation to any incidents relating to medicines management
• Ensure understanding and adherence to change grow lives infection control procedures through a clear understanding of enhanced requirements associated with a residential setting
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and be active in applying to your work situation, including maintaining own continuous professional development by keeping up to date in clinical practice, national guidelines and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into your work
• Have a clear understanding of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies which may be required to improve the safety of your work area. Including your prompt recording, recording any accidents, and ensuring the safe use of equipment. To risk assess all areas of your work including manual handling risks, know when and how to use the hoist, biohazards from body fluids, and managing anxious or upset residents or residents with mental health or cognitive dysfunctions
• Have a demonstratable ability to manage emergency situations by being proficient in intermediate life support and defibrillation plus carry out emergency anaphylactic and Naloxone administration as required until paramedic ambulance crew arrive, whilst maintaining the safety of all concerned
• Ensure residents involvement in the planning of their care to maximise engagement and retention

Communication

• Develop therapeutic alliances with people who have substance misuse problems and develop effective partnerships with them to support their individual recovery journeys, offering health promotion and harm reduction advice
• Communicate effectively within the referring Team and other partner agencies, prompting open and trusting relationships and develop effective communication pathways and partnerships
• Ensure that there is good communication of treatments offered, treatment progress and outcome of any investigations to referring service and other healthcare agencies, including GPs
• Maintain a current knowledge of appropriate interventions. Ensure that all 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

Delivering a Quality Service
The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that people who use substances 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

Leadership

• Provide clinical leadership within the service, including providing support, coaching and teaching to staff working at the service around harm reduction and BBV, covering both drug and alcohol service users

Team Working

• Contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved
• Working with colleagues in the service to design and deliver opiate and alcohol detoxification plans utilising a care co-ordinated approach to service user care

Risk Management

• Provide harm reduction advice and health promotion information to residents in the unit and awaiting admission
• Undertake risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans for residents in the unit and awaiting admission
• Utilise appropriate prevention techniques 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 service users are met within defined deadlines

The above is an outline of the post holders duties and responsibilities. It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time to meet the changing needs of CGL.

Staff will need to work flexibly across operational sites as required within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision.

This role works as part of a team to a shift pattern that includes nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Person Specification
Experience
Desirable

• Experience of contributing to project development
• Relevant recent experience of working within drug and alcohol treatment
• Experience of working with people with complex substance misuse and health concerns with an understanding of how this is reflected within an inpatient setting

Skills & Abilities
Desirable

• Ability to assess and recovery plan service users and formulate written reports, as necessary
• Maintain professional boundaries and work effectively with partnership agencies
• Demonstrate skills to undertake administrative duties
• Clinical auditing skills to inform evaluation of the service and identify areas for development
• Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing
• Respond flexibly to the demands of the post
• Show a capacity to work alone and the ability to keep calm under pressure
• Employ a professional, empathetic, and non-judgmental attitude towards service users and all stakeholders
• Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for service users
• A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services
• 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
• Knowledge of local services and geography
• Motivational interviewing techniques
• Sound and demonstrable knowledge of clinical prescribing issues
• Ability to travel between services

Qualifications
Essential

• First level registered nurse with recent relevant post qualification experience and a current PIN

Desirable

• Qualification(s) in substance misuse
• Trained in phlebotomy

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: Change Grow Live
Address: 15 Park Road South, Birmingham, B18 5QL, United Kingdom
Employer's website:

For questions about the job, contact: Rachael Jones, View email address on meeveem.com

Closing date: 16 November 2026

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