Community Addictions Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Internal Only

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Ayr; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Ayrshire & Arran invites applications for an exciting Development Opportunity – Community Addiction Advanced Nurse Practitioner. Based at Ailsa Hospital in Ayr, this 36-hour-per-week fixed-term post runs until 31 March 2027 and offers involvement with the START team to enhance MAT provision and substance misuse care.

You will work with prescribers, lead clinical development, and contribute to safer, integrated health and social care delivery for service users.

Qualifications

• First Level Registered Nurse.
• Post-registration experience essential.
• Masters level modules in advanced practice, clinical assessment and non-medical prescribing essential.
• Leadership skills essential.
• Strong communication skills (oral and written) required.
• Ability to work in a complex environment and make decisions.

Responsibilities

• Support development of service delivery and access to OST/MAT standards.
• Collaborate with Senior Management Team and prescribers.
• Ensure high-quality clinical care for individuals with substance misuse.

Skills

Post-registration experience

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Motivation in complex environments

Clinical decision making

Education

First Level Registered Nurse

Masters level modules in advanced practice

Job description

Note that this post is only open to internal staff of NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

NHS Scotland

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Who We Are

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland.

In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran, we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.

To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website - NHS Ayrshire & Arran - Home (nhsaaa.net).

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

Position

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Development Opportunity– Community Addiction Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Hours

36 hours per week, Monday to Friday
This post is offered on a fixed term until 31.03.2027

What You Will Do

As a Community Addictions Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) within START based at Ailsa Hospital you will work alongside the Senior Management Team and prescribers (Consultant Psychiatrist’s, Specialist Doctor, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, GP Prescriber and Pharmacist Prescriber) to support the development of service delivery, increase availability and access to Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) medication and to meet the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standard recommendations for MAT standard 7. With a broad expert knowledge base of addiction related treatment and interventions and evidence clinical competence to support the wider integrated health and social care teams, you will ensure a high standard of clinical care of those individuals with substance misuse, in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and health and safety legislation.

Knowledge, Training And/or Experience Required To Do The Job

• First Level Registered Nurse.
• Ability to demonstrate comprehensive post registration experience is essential.
• Expert in-depth comprehensive knowledge and experience in the field of Drug and Alcohol is essential incorporating a range of cognitive, behavioural strategies to enhance lifestyle change.
• A degree/diploma or the ability to demonstrate equivalent experience is essential
• Evidence of continuing professional development – has undertaken masters level modules in advanced practice, clinical assessment and non-medical prescribing is essential.
• Demonstrable leadership skills are essential.
• Exhibit a high degree of motivation and ability to work in complex environment is essential.
• Superior communication skills (oral and written) and proven skills in delegation, decision making, problem solving, planning and prioritising is essential.

UK Driving Licence

A car licence is essential to this role.

Right to Work / Certificates of Sponsorship

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.
It is essential that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored before submitting your application form.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. When considering if a post meets the salary threshold for sponsorship, please note the salary advertised is based on a full-time contract and must be pro-rated for part-time positions. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks.
Please visit here for further information.
We are unable to provide sponsorship for Band 2 posts or bank contracts.