Clinical Specialist

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Clinical Specialist to manage individual client cases related to substance use. The role emphasizes excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as the ability to work autonomously. This position involves collaboration in a multi-disciplinary team to ensure high-quality patient care and adherence to organizational policies.

Benefits

Annual DBS check covered (with fees deducted from salary)

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of individual client case management responsibility.
• Experience of working with people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Extensive experience working with alcohol or drug users.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload ensuring high standards of clinical care.
• Lead within the service developing initiatives.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary research and audit projects.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Leadership Skills

Time Management

Motivational Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Education

Degree/Diploma Level Education Relevant to Substance Use

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate for the role of Clinical Specialist will have:

Professional qualification/evidence of relevant study to diploma level.
Supervision Skills.
Experience of individual client case management responsibility with substance users
Experience of motivational enhancement skills
Experience of brief treatment
Experience of participating/leading on audit
Experience of working with people with challenging behaviour.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Leadership and management skills.
Experience and ability to work on own initiative with well developed and effective time management skills.

Key Responsibilities.
• Ensure that organizational policies are strictly followed including in the delivery of patient care.
• In conjunction with other specialist and senior clinical staff, set, monitor and evaluate standards of care.
• Work as a team member, and flexible to the needs of the team.
• Take a lead role within the service developing initiatives related to this issue.
• Ensure accurate client records and information systems are maintained and evaluated.
• Manage a caseload of clients ensuring a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your management.
• Ensure that clinical practice accurately reflects the Partnership philosophy.
• Ensure that regard is given to the custom, values and spiritual beliefs of patients and colleagues.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary research and audit projects.
• Deliver and audit the practice of continuous risk assessments including safeguarding and Domestic Abuse
• Select and use appropriate therapeutic interventions with patients/clients/carers, including group interventions.
• Evaluate and audit interventions and ensure effective outcomes.
• Use clinical reasoning to assess acceptable levels of risk taking for clients who are unable to do this for themselves.
• Initiate and deliver appropriate training for professional colleagues and staff.
• Ensures maintenance of high standards of clinical practice within the service.
• Support the implementation of team objectives within the integrated team.
• To actively support the Team Managers, and act as positive role model to all staff.
• To ensure safe, effective and efficient services are delivered within the resources available
• To deputise for the Service Manager /Team Leaders in their absence, providing consistency of leadership.
• To deploy staff within the team to ensure safe and appropriate care is given.
• Collate accurate statistical information recording workload activity performance and manage accordingly.
• To assist Team Managers develop care pathways and treatment protocols.
• Monitor and review own practice against current research, standards and benchmarks and where necessary modify and improve practice to ensure the highest standards are maintained.
• To contribute to the evidence base as appropriate through dissemination of research and audit findings.
• Supports the implementation of Clinical Governance activities to ensure the service is of a high quality.
• Demonstrates own continuing professional development through knowledge of and implementation of the Appraisal process and competency framework as appropriate.
• Excellent communication skills with clients, carers, peers and others
• Caring and emphatic approach with well developed motivational/persuasive skills
• Professional supervision to the team and on occasions across the partnership and students
• To ensure effective communication with patients/clients/carers/members of the multidisciplinary team/outside agencies in order to provide effective clinical care.
• To keep accurate records within the multidisciplinary notes and to maintain appropriate statistical returns, including computerised data.
• To monitor records of staff to ensure appropriate care is given and accurate records maintained.
• Participates and leads team meetings, clinical and professional meetings as required.
• Providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, utilising developed skills in persuasion, negotiation and reassurance..
• Demonstrates a broad understanding of other professionals working boundaries and of the opportunities of integrated working.
• To ensure the safety of clients and staff at all times
• To ensure medical devices and equipment are appropriately managed, including staff training, maintenance and repairs.
• Required to take urine samples and sometimes blood samples.
• Accountable for own actions, rarely directly supervised.
• Able to delegate responsibilities in accordance with staff capabilities.
• The ability to assess clients with a range of substance use needs including mental health, psycho-social and criminal justice issues.
• Experience offering expert advice to a range of health and social care professionals
• Required to obtain and analyse information to inform packages of care
• Maintain Continuous Professional Development through development of Knowledge, Skills and Interventions (evidence based)
• To assist in ensuring that the clinical, educational and managerial needs of all staff are recognised, and where appropriate met.
• Appraisals for clinical staff, including completion of reports for relevant staff.
• Counsel junior members of staff on performance issues in agreement with the Team Managers.
• Organise and provide clinical teaching, supervision and appraisal for students and/or colleagues undertaking clinical placements, and on occasions provide education to partner agencies to support the overall aims of the service.

Administration and systems.
• As a treatment system, patient notes are considered health care records and are therefore subject to enhanced scrutiny. Record keeping must not only adhere to Nottingham Recovery Network's record keeping policy, but also national guidance on health care records (NMC)
• To ensure that all administration duties connected with Nottingham Recovery Network and framework programs are carried out
• To ensure that key performance indicators are met as stipulated by the service level agreement and to achieve specified targets as set by the team leader.
• To operate record keeping and monitoring procedures in accordance with contract requirements. This will involve the recording of individual activity in accordance with agreed data collection systems. Responsible for submitting accurate and timely NDTMS data.
• To work to company targets and performance measurement requirements.

Other Duties
• To carry out all work in accordance with the philosophy and ethos of NRN Partnership
• To carry out all work in accordance with the NRN/ NHCT policies and procedures and code of conduct
• To ensure all Health & Safety procedures are adhered to
• To ensure Equal Opportunities is maintained and promoted
• To present a professional image and act as an ambassador for NHCT and Nottingham Recovery Network at all times
• To keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice relevant to services for substance users.
• Such other duties as the management may from time to time reasonably require

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• degree / diploma level education relevant to substance use

Desirable criteria

• qualification in social work/ nursing /OT or similar related qualification.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of utilising psychosocial interventions (e.g. motivational interviewing, CBT) to initiate change
• Extensive experience of working with alcohol or drug users in a similar role
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of providing supervision to junior staff
• Experience of working with people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with those experiencing SMD
• Experience of harm reduction/relapse prevention and other PSI models

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Understanding of drugs and their effects and of available treatment options for clients with substance use problems
• Knowledge of safeguarding adults and children and relevant legislation
• Knowledge of the issues facing substance users and the ability to assess, care plan and key work individuals

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of the application of the Mental Health Act and Mental capacity Act
• Understanding of mental health and issues facing SMD populations

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to work both autonomously and within a team and to liaise effectively with other agencies.
• Ability to work within professional boundaries
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to provide and receive complex sensitive or contentious information where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathy or reassurance skills are required. To keep calm under pressure.
• Have a drive for excellence and be self motivated and confident.
• To have a strong commitment to team working, respect and shared goals
• Ability to maintain a non-judgemental approach with service users that use substances and may involved in criminal justice system
• Ability to assess and care plan with service users including risk assessment and formulate written reports as necessary

Additional Information

• We reserve the right to close the post early once we have received a sufficient number of applicants.
• The Trust believes in treating everyone with dignity and respect and encourages applications from all sectors of the community. We guarantee an interview to candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum essential criteria.
• In submitting an application form, you authorise Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you. This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post. Should you require any further information please refer our Privacy Policy shown on the Trust website, please click here for more information.
• For eligible posts, DBS disclosures are mandatory before commencement of employment. If you are in a position that is deemed a regulated adult and/or child care role, you will not be able to start your employment until we have received a satisfactory DBS Disclosure. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Convictions which would otherwise be considered as 'spent' will also be checked as part of an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Spec (PDF, 400.4KB)
• Colleague Benefits (PDF, 16.1MB)
• About Nottinghamshire Healthcare (PDF, 1.5MB)