Substance Misuse Practitioner

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Sheerness; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Sheerness seeks a Band 6 nurse to provide specialized substance misuse care within a prison setting. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, offering support across various healthcare services. Ideal candidates should have experience in mental health settings and be prepared for National Security Vetting. This role promises a dynamic and collaborative work environment, with continuous support and training.

Qualifications

• Experience with substance misuse and mental health patients preferred.
• Willingness to undergo National Security Vetting for prison work.
• Ability to work within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized care to offenders with substance misuse issues.
• Deliver interventions at primary and secondary care levels.
• Conduct assessments and manage caseloads effectively.

Skills

Substance misuse care

Mental health expertise

Clinical management

Therapeutic interventions

Education

Registered Nurse qualification (Band 6)

Job description

Overview

You will join our established team of nurses across the prison and will be part of a multidisciplinary team supporting Primary Care services including First Night in Custody screening, secondary screening, nurse clinics, long term condition management, health promotion; Inpatient Unit; Emergency Response and Substance Misuse nursing services. You will be supported by our friendly team of healthcare staff in an environment where no two days are the same.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist substance misuse care to offenders and work as part of an integrated and multi-disciplinary health service, which may include in-reach services, reception duties, resource centre services, dual diagnosis management and primary care nursing.
• Deliver a range of specialist interventions at primary and secondary care level, including referral management, screening assessment, triage and evidence-based interventions.
• One-to-one and group-work facilitation; assertive outreach interventions; managing a mixed and challenging caseload.
• Contribute to alternatives to the need for inpatient admission and, where necessary, assist with early discharge from in-patient services through substance misuse management clinical interventions and complex case management arrangements, resulting in continuity of care for an offender on ordinary location.
• Perform robust assessment, screening and interventions to offenders with substance misuse concerns; ensure waiting times, assessments and interventions are delivered promptly and contribute to service performance targets.
• Ensure integrated and collaborative working with other specialist services, including continuity of care and through-the-gate liaison; work with CMHTs to ensure appropriate information sharing and CPA as necessary.
• Provide comprehensive and timely reports and mental health expertise to MAPPA, police, probation services, solicitors and court liaison teams as directed.
• Provide supervision to junior staff and receive supervision as directed (line management and clinical).
• Participate in resource centre services, delivering group therapy and specialist activities under the direction of the team leader.
• Work in a psychologically minded way with offenders to achieve agreed goals and quality health outcomes.
• Be aware of the financial impact of decisions (no direct budgetary responsibility).
• Collaborate with prison and Serco staff, including participation in sentence planning, resettlement, safer custody and ACCT processes.
• Develop and take on a specialist lead role as appropriate and provide peer support and training; contribute to support, advice, consultation and training for other prison departments.
• Operate within skilled multidisciplinary teams, manage a single referral pathway, and undertake training to maximise uptake of screening, health promotion and prevention activity, including vaccinations.
• Ensure a named care co-ordinator for every patient with complex needs, adopting a proactive, evidence-based approach to clinical interventions, health promotion/prevention activity, and management of acute and long-term conditions using a stepped care model.
• Develop a single, integrated care plan and regularly review individualised care; conduct comprehensive risk assessments and care plans in a needs-led review cycle.
• Tailor care coordination criteria and MDT meetings for patients with complex needs to the establishment; undertake training in evidence-based CBT approaches to enhance care delivery.
• Support patients to manage their health at every stage, from oral health to long-term conditions; embed health promotion in every aspect of the service.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Band 6 nurse from a wide variety of backgrounds. Experience of working with patients with substance misuse and mental health issues, or experience within a prison environment would be an advantage, but not essential as full support and training will be provided.
• Be willing to undertake National Security Vetting to work in a Prison Setting; this will be completed as part of pre-employment checks through Oxleas and the prison vetting team.
• Provide required documentation: proof of right to work, proof of ID (including one photographic ID), proof of address; non-UK passport holders must have correct right-to-work documentation and a Home Office Share code; address history for 5 years; where applicable, police certificates or overseas checks as English translations where required.
• Be prepared for a police certificate process as described by government guidance; follow guidance on overseas checks if you have resided abroad.
• Be aware of inclusive recruitment practices; Oxleas is committed to an inclusive workplace and supports disability-related interview adjustments under the Disability Confident Scheme.
• If adjustments are needed for interviews, inform the appointing manager when scheduling; contact the hiring manager with any questions about the role or process.

Additional Information

Important Sponsorship Information: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services, operating across multiple sites and settings in the South of England. Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families, guided by our values: We’re Kind, We’re Fair, We Listen, We Care.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. If you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. We encourage openness about needs to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience; information provided regarding disability or adjustments is treated in confidence and shared only with colleagues supporting this request.