Substance Misuse Practitioner

Catch22; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Catch22 is seeking a Substance Misuse Practitioner in Leatherhead to work with Mindworks Surrey. This role focuses on providing targeted support for young people facing substance misuse challenges, ensuring effective assessment and care planning while promoting collaboration with various agencies. Flexibility is essential, including the opportunity for homeworking and diverse working hours.

Benefits

Training and development opportunities

Support for care experienced individuals

Flexibility in working hours including homeworking

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in youth work studies, counselling or health and social care.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and harm reduction.
• Experience of working with young people.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist substance misuse interventions for young people.
• Conduct assessments and create care plans.
• Liaise with partner agencies to coordinate care.

Skills

Youth work

Counseling

Substance misuse knowledge

Group work

Education

Relevant qualification in youth work or health and social care

Job description

Company Description

Catch22exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our'3Ps'.

Weachievethis in two ways. Firstly, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we useour knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help.With the heart of a charityand the mindset of a business,we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Young People and Families

OurYoung People and Families (YPF) hubprovides early intervention, targeted and specialist support services to those in crisis, leaving care, missing from home or with substance misuse or mental health problems. Our services support people no matter what their situation – and have demonstrated a high success rate.

This is a partnership role with Mindworks Surrey.

Job Description

This role will be a Countywide permanent post; the post holder will be working in partnership with Mindworks Surrey, the new emotional wellbeing and mental health service for children and young people. This role has been created to develop and embed links/pathway between services, working directly with children and young people accessing Mindworks Surrey. Catch22 will co-ordinate/oversee the partnership work. Catch22 SYPSMS and the organisational experience and skill can support the post holder and serve to enhance delivery.

The post holder will complement existing services within Mindworks Surrey, offering an initial triage service and assessment for young people referred up to the age of 18 years, either through direct contact with children and young people, or with professionals, parents, and carers.

The post holder will ensure that these children and young people are offered the opportunity to have their substance misuse needs assessed and an agreed care plan developed to improve their health and wellbeing outcomes. This may be provided in the Mindworks Surrey service bases, their home, school, or other community setting.

The post holder will directly contribute to the positive working environment within the multi-agency team. They will require a high degree of professional autonomy and self-management.

The post holder will act as an ambassador and link between Catch22 Surrey Young People’s Substance Misuse Service and Mindworks Surrey, promoting awareness of each and sharing good practice between them.

In partnership with Mindworks Surrey, the Substance Misuse Practitioner will:
Provide appropriate specialist and targeted young people’s substance misuse interventions to a pre-defined case load of children and young people (C&YP) who are accessing services within Mindworks Surrey, including working with looked after children, care leavers and those who have been adopted or living with family members under Special Guardianship Order. C&YP will be referred, by means of effective assessment, care planning and risk management.

Support identified children and young people through referral/assessment and where appropriate support them to access:

• Catch22 SYPSMS
• Prescribing services
• Appropriate health services including, sexual health and BBV services
• Any other service to meet the young person’s individual needs and achieve positive outcomes.

Utilise skills flexibly to enable interventions to take place in appropriate settings such as client’s home, schools, or other settings.

Maintain records within Catch22 SYPSMS case management system/s, and share relevant information with professionals, ensuring information is accurate and up to date for future reference and complies with the Data Protection Act.

Records, activities and outcomes are documented in a timely manner to meet with Catch22 service standards and requirements.

Develop, monitor, evaluate and report on care plans, YPOR’S risk assessments and outcomes throughout the young person’s treatment journey, providing appropriate care and support for individuals accessing the service.

Provide guidance, support and onward referral as appropriate for children and young people of Parent/s who are misusing substances. Encourage and signpost Parent/s with substance misuse issues to adult services.

Adhere to partnership working protocols with other agencies and promote effective dialogue, referral and care pathways between agencies, families and schools.

To liaise effectively with local partner organisations and other relevant agencies to deliver a holistic package of care; this may include attending multi agency meetings. Ensure effective referrals, care and risk management, as well as ease of transition and referral for young people.

Participate in the delivery of substance misuse training to Mindworks Surrey staff, informing them of relevant developments and changes in young people’s substance misuse, both nationally and locally.

Provide consultancy and guidance on substance misuse issues to colleagues.

Participate in regular formal supervision/peer supervision with the Catch22 supervisor and attend monthly group supervision with Catch22.

Be a proactive member of the service and team, attending meetings and training events as required.

Ensure that the service promotes and reflects equality of opportunity and diversity at all levels.

Maintain and update professional knowledge and competencies ensuring that you are up-to date on all relevant Catch22 policies and procedures, and are working in line with local and governmental frameworks such as Public Health England, Safeguarding etc.

Comply with Catch22 and Mindworks Surrey Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Carry out other relevant duties, as required.

To have use of a vehicle, with up-to-date licence, MOT and Business Insurance,

To be able to work flexibly including some weekend and regular evening work one/two days a week, to meet the needs of the client group.

Full Job Description

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in either youth work studies, counselling qualification and/or skills, health and social care, or equivalent
• Understanding of relevant children and young people policies.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and associated risks and harms.
• Experience of working with young people and providing harm reduction interventions.
• Broad knowledge of working with young people in group and one-to-one settings.
• Skilled at delivering one to one interventions and group work to young people.

Additional Information

Salary:Up to £27,000- dependent on knowledge skills, and experience
Hours of Work: 37hours per week
Contract:Permanent
Flexibility:Opportunities for flexible homeworking available (main office is in Leatherhead)

*This role requires an up to date driving licence, access to a vehicle,MOT and business insurance.
*You may be required to work out of hours, including evenings and weekends where necessary, in addition to travel around Surrey on a daily basis, and occasional travel around the UK.
*Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check required.

Catch22 is committed to staff recruitment and retention and offers a range of training, learning and development opportunities. Your continuous professional development is as important to us as it is to you.

Catch22 is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice will be followed and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

If you are applying for this role and are care experienced/care leaver, Catch22 offers a mentor to assist with the application process. Please contact [e-mail] if you would like to find out more about this support. This information will not be passed to the team recruiting for this position. For more information about the Propel Programme and a guide for candidates who wish to join the programme, please see here. You can also watch an animation on the programme here.