County Durham Drug & Alcohol Nurse | Spectrum Community Health CIC

Spectrum Community Health CIC; South Shields; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health organization located in South Shields is seeking a dedicated alcohol nurse to work within the Adult Recovery Service. The role involves independent prescribing and collaborating with various health services to support patient recovery from substance misuse. The ideal candidate should be a registered nurse with strong assessment skills and knowledge of detox protocols. This position offers a vibrant work environment and up to 33 days of annual leave.

Benefits

Access to NHS Pension

Annual leave on your Birthday

Welcome payment for some posts

Training and Development opportunities

Flexible Working

Up to 33 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with experience in substance misuse or mental health.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple health services.
• Knowledge of detox protocols and therapies.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessment of clients’ prescribing needs and contribute in recovery care planning.
• Provide independent prescribing for substance misuse clients.
• Communicate treatment and recovery plans to clients and related professionals.
• Support and motivate clients through their recovery journey.
• Work with acute services to deliver treatment modalities.

Skills

Clinical assessment skills

Independent prescribing

Knowledge of substance misuse

Client-centered communication

Education

Registered Nurse qualification

Job description

Overview

We have an opportunity through reinvestment moneys from OHID to engage a band 6 alcohol nurse within the South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service (STARS). The post will work closely with the acute services and our Recovery Worker to promote access to alcohol treatments. They will act as a clinical link to the ACT service in the acute setting to ensure that we see better compliance with transfer to community services and continuation of detox prescribing. The post will both develop and support community alcohol detoxifications so that our Service Users have access to their goals of both reduced drinking and abstinence. The role will liaise with primary care and acute services to promote the reduction in alcohol related issues and raise awareness among professionals and the public. We see the role supporting acute service to identify those service users already in treatment with STARS whilst taking an advocate role to engage new SU to the service. There will be a training element to the role to heighten Recovery Workers knowledge and skills around alcohol and enable early access to community detoxification plans. Lead on community detox planning once the SU has engaged with the alcohol pathway. Provide health and wellbeing assessment in the alcohol pathway to highlight early need of access to detox or inpatient detox. They will need a reasonable knowledge of opiate prescribing and be a breast of current substances of abuse and trends.

Responsibilities

1. Undertake assessment of clients’ prescribing needs and contribute in recovery care planning.
2. To provide independent prescribing for substance misuse clients in line with a recovery plan.
3. To communicate treatment and recovery plans to the service user, carer and relevant professionals.
4. To ensure clients receive regular medical reviews in accordance with the joint case management review procedure for the integrated treatment system.
5. To support and help motivate clients through all stages of their individual recovery journey.
6. Contribute to the maintenance of client clinical databases and / or written clinical journal.
7. Work in conjunction with acute services and GPs in developing and delivering prescribing treatment modalities for clients.
8. Prescribe cost effectively and according to best practice and practice policy.
9. Be familiar with and adhere to in-house and statutory service guidelines.
10. Deliver health promotion and harm reduction interventions in a client-centred manner.

Additional Information

BE THE DIFFERENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Join our team

We’re looking for passionate individuals to join our diverse and innovative team.

Whether you are starting out in your healthcare journey or are an experienced healthcare professional looking for a new challenge we’ve got a role for you!

• Access to NHS Pension
• Annual leave on your Birthday
• Welcome payment for some posts
• Refer a friend scheme
• Training and Development opportunities
• Flexible Working
• Access to Employee Assistance and Health and Wellbeing programmes
• Up to 33 days annual leave

Spectrum Community Health CIC provides a range of award-winning healthcare services on behalf of the NHS, Local Authority Public Health services, and other partners across substance misuse, sexual health, and health and justice settings. As a not-for-profit social enterprise and Community Interest Company our focus is centred on people – our patients, service users, staff and partners.

We have an ambition to become a truly lived experience inclusive employer, changing how we approach staff experience and value personal stories our colleagues bring with them.

We welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who belong to LGBTQIA+ Community, people with a disability, neurodivergent applicants and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

For further information regarding the advertised role, please see attached job description and person specification.

This advert closes on Wednesday 24 Sep 2025