Substance Misuse Recovery Worker

Mildmay Mission Hospital; Royal Borough of Greenwich; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Methodist Church in Britain is seeking a healthcare professional for a six-month post supporting inpatients on a substance misuse recovery programme. The role emphasises one-to-one assessment, psychosocial interventions, care planning and risk management within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include discharge planning, group sessions where appropriate, coaching and motivational interviewing, and promoting dignity and wellbeing for patients.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in a relevant subject, minimum diploma level.
• Level 3 qualification in substance misuse or health and social care.
• Knowledge and experience of housing or resettlement.

Responsibilities

• Assess inpatients one-to-one for substance misuse history, meeting most patients on admission.
• Provide psychosocial interventions and develop and implement care plans for patients with substance misuse histories.
• Carry out individualised risk assessments and risk strategies in line with policy.
• Respond to and report incidents, liaising with colleagues to minimise risk.
• Key work patients, liaising with internal and external colleagues on progress and discharge needs.
• Take part in discharge planning and make onward referrals to external substance misuse services.
• Attend multidisciplinary team and discharge planning meetings and complete MDT reports.
• Advise and support colleagues on substance misuse and the patient group to reduce misconceptions.

Skills

Substance misuse knowledge

Care planning

Group facilitation

Coaching & motivational interviewing

Verbal and written communication

Time management

Education

Diploma level qualification

Level 3 qualification in substance misuse or health and social care

Knowledge of housing or resettlement

Job description

This six-month post supports inpatients on Mildmay Mission Hospital's HIV, homeless and substance misuse recovery programme. The core work is one-to-one assessment, psychosocial interventions and care planning, alongside risk management and discharge referrals. The post sits within a multidisciplinary team, and the post-holder advises colleagues and may run group sessions. Fit depends on substance misuse service experience and a Level 3 qualification in substance misuse or health and social care.

What the job involves

• Assess inpatients one-to-one for substance misuse history, meeting most patients on admission
• Provide psychosocial interventions and develop and implement care plans for patients with substance misuse histories
• Carry out individualised risk assessments and risk strategies in line with policy, reviewing risk continuously
• Respond to and report incidents, liaising with colleagues to minimise risk
• Key work patients, liaising with internal and external colleagues on progress and discharge needs
• Take part in discharge planning and make onward referrals to external substance misuse services
• Attend multidisciplinary team and discharge planning meetings and complete MDT reports, continuing care assessments and referrals
• Advise and support colleagues on substance misuse and the patient group to reduce misconceptions
• Promote harm reduction and recovery, encouraging patients to access substance misuse services
• Use coaching and motivational interviewing techniques with patients
• Involve patients in care planning, reflecting their choices and preferences and promoting dignity and wellbeing
• Liaise with families, partners or next of kin where the patient has consented

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in a relevant subject, minimum diploma level
• Level 3 qualification in substance misuse or health and social care
• Knowledge and experience of housing or resettlement

Experience

• Care planning
• Working within substance misuse services
• Managing a caseload
• Working with vulnerable adults
• Working within a multidisciplinary team
• Facilitating group sessions

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of substances, their effects, addiction and substance misuse
• Understanding of recovery and the wider issues facing substance misusers, including social care, welfare benefits, health and accommodation
• Knowledge of therapeutic interventions, harm reduction, and suicide and self-harm awareness
• Coaching, motivational interviewing and person-centred working
• Good verbal and written communication and effective IT skills
• Time management, prioritising workload and working under pressure, independently and in a team

Nice to have

• Experience of working with homeless services
• Counselling qualification