Low Threshold Drug & Alcohol Outreach Worker

Extern; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A community outreach organization is seeking a Low Threshold Drug & Alcohol Outreach Worker in Ballymena. The role involves managing a caseload of service users, conducting assessments, and implementing harm reduction strategies. Candidates should have a Level 3 qualification in a relevant field or equivalent experience. The position offers a competitive salary and requires a full driving license. Application via email is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Level 3 Qualification in a relevant field/subject i.e. Substance misuse.
• 2 years recent, relevant experience of harm reduction work with drug and alcohol users.
• 6 months substantial experience of harm reduction work with drug and alcohol users.

Responsibilities

• Manage a fluid caseload of low threshold service users with drug and alcohol problems.
• Undertake assessments and support plans for service users.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory and Extern health and safety requirements.

Skills

Substance misuse knowledge

Communication skills

Intervention strategies

IT proficiency

Education

Level 3 Qualification in relevant field

Job description

Low Threshold Drug & Alcohol Outreach Worker

The Low threshold Harm Reduction Drug and Alcohol Services are designed to provide a responsive Service within a low threshold context, to people who have drug and alcohol issues. This work involves direct interventions in the community, developmental work and the daily management of a caseload. Specifically, working from a low threshold, harm reduction model, the Drug and Alcohol Worker will provide professional, pragmatic and holistic assessment, care planning and structured interventions relating to drug and alcohol use across the Northern Trust area.

The post-holder will be responsible for their contribution to the delivery of a quality Service within EXTERN’s Drug and Alcohol Services Programme, by using an assertive outreach approach to engagement and support for service users. This post will involve working with a fluid caseload of service users with drug and alcohol issues as well as support with other areas e.g. housing, finances, health and family relationships.

Responsibilities

• Work and manage a fluid caseload of low threshold service users who have drug and alcohol related problems and other complex needs and work in partnership with colleagues / other agencies to provide a quality harm reduction service.
• Undertake assessments and support plans for service users, specifically in relation to reducing harm caused by alcohol and drug use.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory and Extern health and safety requirements, including the identification and management of risk.
• Assist the Project Manager to develop and implement service user involvement within the low threshold services provided.
• Be responsible for own practice ensuring compliance with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and Extern Policies and Procedures.
• Use Extern’s Escalation procedure and On Call system in accordance with Organisational and Service procedure ensuring timely and accurate compilation of Significant Incident reports.
• Share concerns, service users’ issues and staffing issues in a professional manner and seek support through supervision, liaison with colleagues and manager.
• Ensure all documentation and Service User recording is completed to a professional Standard, using Extern’s recording systems and database.
• Liaise with a wide range of agencies, professionals, services etc. to ensure appropriate information sharing, recognising confidentiality issues, advocating for service users and maximising service user engagement opportunities.
• Contribute to the creation of a positive working environment by developing open, honest and effective relationships with other Team members, Service Users and others within and external to the Service.
• Represent Extern responsibly and productively in formal and informal settings, both internally and externally.
• Contribute to the provision of necessary statistical data as required by Extern and Commissioners.
• Provide information in a timely manner to the Programme Manager to ensure contract monitoring and reporting compliance.
• Provide a high quality of intervention, assessment, planning and implementation of low threshold harm reduction interventions with a range of service users with complex and multiple needs, within the low threshold services.
• Undertake and partake in harm reduction strategies including needle exchange services, naloxone use, and community services.
• Maintain knowledge of legislative changes, research, training and new developments relevant to Extern’s work to inform and enable Service improvement.
• Ensure the effective management, use, maintenance and security of physical resources in relation to own and other’s work.
• Engage in mandatory Service and Organisational training and use learning and development policies to identify needs and ensure these are effectively implemented to develop self and staff.
• Assist service to train service users and others in low threshold harm reduction related areas.
• Ensure all Extern safeguarding and child protection protocols are implemented in all aspects of the work.
• Report all safeguarding and child protection issues through the appropriate mechanisms.
• Prepare appropriately for supervision sessions as per line management direction.
• Responsible for engaging in the supervisory process as a Supervisee.
• Complete induction training prior to service user engagement.
• Attend mandatory training as and when required including Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding.
• Maintain own training record for auditing purposes.
• Carry out any other duties reasonably requested by the organisation.

Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of a Level 3 Qualification in a relevant field/subject i.e Substance misuse.
• Or in the absence of the qualification requirement, 2 years recent, relevant experience of harm reduction work with drug and alcohol users.
• 6 months substantial experience of harm reduction work with drug and alcohol users.
• Full driving licence valid for use in UK and Ireland and access to use of a car, with appropriate business insurance.
• Ability to use I.T. systems Microsoft Word, Excel, email and input information to a service user data base.
• Experience of service user development strategies.
• Experience of networking with voluntary and community groups.
• Knowledge of the stepped care model of service delivery.

Salary: £25,614 - £31,325 per annum