Harm Reduction Coordinator

NHS Jobs; Southampton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Inclusion service is recruiting a Harm Reduction Coordinator to lead evidence-based interventions across community, centre-based and outreach settings in Southampton.

The post holder will engage people facing homelessness and complex needs, manage a small caseload and support access to health, housing, safeguarding and treatment pathways, while guiding staff and volunteers and contributing to service planning and quality improvement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering harm reduction interventions for drugs and alcohol.
• Experience with people facing homelessness or complex needs.
• Knowledge of risk management and working in challenging environments.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver harm reduction support across community, centre-based and outreach settings; manage staff, volunteers and a small caseload.
• Introduce and sustain access to health, housing, safeguarding and treatment services; contribute to service development and training.

Skills

Harm reduction

Risk management

Lone working

Overdose prevention

BBV awareness

Education

Foundation Degree / HNC

Job description

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

The Harm Reduction Coordinator will coordinate and deliver evidence-based drug and alcohol harm reduction interventions across Southampton, working in community, centre-based and outreach settings.

The post holder will engage people who may be experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping, complex needs or barriers to treatment; manage a small, intensive caseload; and support access to wider health, housing, safeguarding and treatment pathways.

The role also provides day-to-day guidance and oversight to healthcare support workers, harm reduction assistants, volunteers and peer supporters, while contributing to service planning, risk management, quality improvement, training and partnership working.

Working closely with clinical and system leads and external agencies, the post holder will promote safe, innovative and consistently high-quality harm reduction practice.

Main duties of the job

The Harm Reduction Coordinator will lead the coordination and delivery of evidence-based drug and alcohol harm reduction interventions throughout Southampton, operating across community, centre-based and outreach environments.

The post holder will work with individuals who may face homelessness, rough sleeping, complex needs or difficulties accessing treatment. Responsibilities will include managing a small, high-intensity caseload and facilitating access to appropriate health, housing, safeguarding and treatment services.

The role will also provide day-to-day direction and support to healthcare support workers, harm reduction assistants, volunteers and peer supporters, alongside contributing to service development, risk management, quality improvement, training and collaborative partnership working. In close collaboration with clinical and system leaders and partner organisations, the post holder will champion safe, innovative and consistently high-quality harm reduction practice.

About us

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Inclusion service offers psychological and drug & alcohol services, in the community, and in prisons, and has contracts across the country.

As an organisation we serve a population of 1.5 million and currently employ around 9000 members of staff.

We have a wide range of exciting opportunities for people looking to work in a truly integrated NHS organisation. By joining MPFT you will become part of a team who are empowered and supported to deliver care in a way which is consistent with our values:

• Putting people at the heart of what we do
• Empowering people to improve care and wellbeing
• Delivering better health, better care in partnership

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Job responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver evidence-based drug and alcohol harm reduction support across community, centre-based and outreach settings, particularly for people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or complex needs.
• The role aims to reduce harm, improve health outcomes and support engagement with treatment and wider support services, while promoting high-quality and innovative harm reduction practice.

Main responsibilities:

• Deliver harm reduction interventions and outreach; coordinate staff, volunteers and peer supporters; manage a small caseload; assess and escalate risks; connect service users with treatment and support; work with partner agencies; provide training; and maintain accurate records, stock and performance data.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Foundation Degree / HNC in related field which may include counselling, social work, nursing, psychology Or Equivalent level of work experience

Experience

• Significant experience working with people who use drugs and alcohol.
• Experience in delivering harm reduction interventions for a range of substances including drugs and alcohol.
• Experience in working with people with complex needs (e.g. rough sleeping, mental health, trauma).

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Skills in managing risk, lone working, and working in challenging environments.
• Strong understanding of harm reduction approaches for drugs and alcohol.
• Knowledge of BBVs, safer injecting, overdose prevention, and safer drinking strategies.

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.