About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified individual to join our established and dynamic Op COURAGE Veterans Service as a Dual Diagnosis Senior Practitioner on a substantive appointment basis.
Op COURAGE, based at St Pancras Hospital, operates in a range of community settings to support consistent access to care and treatment. It is an NHS-led partnership alongside three Forces-friendly charities, Walking with the Wounded, Stoll and The Ripple Pond.
The Service delivers multidisciplinary care including a range of mental health and social interventions. These include trauma focused therapies, support with substance misuse, physical health, employment, accommodation, relationships and finances. We work closely with the wider NHS, statutory bodies, local authorities and the third sector, including armed forces charities, to ensure the appropriate support is in place for patients and their families.
For those in need of urgent care or an assertive outreach response, we offer proactive, at-home wrap-around treatment which aims to reduce unnecessary admission to hospital, as well as to provide psychological stabilisation, rehabilitation and support for those who care for veterans.
This is a newly created role for an experienced applicant, who will provide specialist liaison, advocacy and joined up treatment between Op COURAGE and substance misuse teams across the London region.
Main duties of the job
The post holder should be enthusiastic and experienced in managing complex caseloads, preferably with co morbidity of substance misuse and mental health issues. You will be responsible for developing robust pathways into local services, devising and implementing high quality packages of care, offering staff consultation, designing/implementing training to Trust and external organisations, as well as assisting the management team around operational, strategic and service development areas.
About us
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.Our Five-Year Strategy:
We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.
In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Job description Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide specialist liaison between Op COURAGE and substance misuse teams across the London region.
Provide clinical guidance alongside lead clinicians across the Service where Dual Diagnosis is an element of the presentation.
To assertively engage with DD services in the veterans area, aiming to secure and support local treatment in the first instance.
Supporting the veteran to overcome any barriers to access that might exist in their area. Joint working with local DD services, where appropriate, to provide effective treatment.
To manage a caseload of clients with complex needs and carry out comprehensive specialist assessments and provide time limited interventions for dual diagnosis patients that includes health promotion and harm minimisation, relapse prevention, detoxification and residential and community-based substance use treatment.
The Senior Practitioner will take the lead in identifying, consulting and arranging the provision of training to Op COURAGE staff as well as ensuring training is current and appropriate.
Please see full attached Job Description.
Person Specification
EDUCATION Essential
Degree level qualification or relevant qualification in the field of substance misuse
Desirable
A leadership and management qualification Degree in addictions counselling, Dual Diagnosis, or Motivational Interviewing Validated Counselling Qualifications (BAC accredited). Validated CBT Qualifications (BABCP) Other Graduated level education, eg degree or post-grad studies in Psychology, PgDip or MSc in Dual Diagnosis
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE Essential
Extensive experience of working with those affected by substance misuse Experience of assessment of drug and alcohol users with complex needs. Evidence of case/care management for vulnerable and complex mental health and substance misuse problems within inpatient and community settings. Able to apply advanced understanding of physical, psychological and social needs of complex mental health and substance users Experience of key working with clients in substitute prescribing treatment Experience of complex case management in a community setting Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
Experience of managing issues which arise in a substance misuse service Experience of clinical audits Experience in line managing and supervising staff Able to carry out quality one to one and/or group supervision for other members of staff, volunteers, students and secondees. Provide leadership/ deputise for team leader/operational Manager in their absence and when requested. Some knowledge of working in liaison with GPs Experience of working in dual diagnosis service Experience in contributing to multi agency case/care management plans for service users with dual diagnosis presentations.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES Essential
A good working knowledge of the specific health risks that those affected by substance misuse are exposed to. An understanding of the principles and practice of harm minimisation, and a commitment to work within the harm reduction model of practice Demonstrate awareness of the Recovery Model and the ability to conduct strengths based assessment eliciting a client's recovery capital. Able to apply advanced understanding of physical, psychological and social needs of those affected by substance misuse and have complex mental health presentations Evidence of applying working knowledge of complex interactions in mental health and substance misuse Evidence of ability to develop, sustain and provide support to individuals with drug, alcohol and mental health needs. Able to apply advanced knowledge of complex poly substance misuse, therapeutic medication use, including complex interactions of poly pharmacology. Ability to establish working therapeutic relationships and maintain professional boundaries across multiple Hospital and Community settings. An understanding and knowledge of the main psychoactive drugs used by this client group, their effects and current treatments Ability to communicate complex and highly sensitive information to clients and other professionals in verbal and in written formats. A commitment to obtain an understanding of the theories and practices of safeguarding procedures for children and vulnerable adults. Basic knowledge of blood borne infection (BBV) and their impact on this client group. Develop multi agency case/care management plans for vulnerable and complex service user groups. Ability to design training programmes, educating others about substance use, health and social well-being in formal and informal settings Able to carry out advanced skills in the assessment and management of high risk service users challenging behaviours, and crisis situations Ability to work in sometimes highly distressing and emotional circumstances. Able to apply advanced understanding of equal opportunities, confidentiality and consent issues within this SU group. Ability to monitor and report on service activities requirements in line with PHE, and the Trust Understanding of Care Programme Approach.
Desirable
Able to apply advanced knowledge of Public Health directives and Dual Diagnosis Strategy including the impact on service delivery Demonstrate advanced skills in formulating assessment, risk and care management of dual diagnosis service users. Evidence of knowledge and application of Mental Health Act, Community Programme Approaches and Orange and NICE Guidelines, plus National Drug & Alcohol Strategy. Evidence of knowledge of good practice guidelines in Dual Diagnosis and implications on service delivery.
PERSONAL QUALITIES Essential
Ability to lead, motivate and develop staff Good communication skills, both verbal and written. To be able to communicate in English both verbally and written. Ability to provide up to date and accurate reports to inform service improvement Experience of using word processing and database, as well as willingness to improve existing skills. The ability to quickly respond to changing and unpredictable service user behaviour and manage situations accordingly. The ability to understand and implement Equal Opportunities Policy, at a level appropriate to the job. A non-judgmental approach to drug use and drug users. Able to prioritise daily tasks, workload and be reactive to unplanned changes in daily schedule, for self and others under supervision Able to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, coupled with the ability to share skills. Able to demonstrate flexibility and creativity when developing care packages. Willingness to handle body fluids, eg urine screening and body fluid spillages. Able to work flexibly according to the needs of the service
Desirable
Have a driving licence and own car
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name North London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Op COURAGE Veterans Service, 4th Floor, West Wing, St Pancras Hospital
4 St Pancras Way
London
NW1 0PE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)