Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Assertive Outreach Substance Misuse Worker
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Job Overview
Band 6 Substance Misuse Qualified Worker (Assertive Outreach) – 0.4 WTE (2 days/week)
Community Mental Health Hubs – Kensington & Chelsea
Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)
Band 6 | 15 hours per week | Permanent
Are you a passionate, skilled clinician with expertise in substance misuse and a commitment to working creatively with people who find services hard to engage? Do you thrive in community-based roles where no two days are the same? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
CNWL is expanding its Assertive Outreach (AO) Function within the Community Mental Health Hubs, and we are recruiting a Band 6 Substance Misuse Qualified Worker to join our innovative, proactive team.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, or other Allied Health Professional with specialist experience in addictions to take on a highly rewarding, flexible, and impactful role.
Main duties of the job
- Hold a caseload (10–15) to enable high-frequency, flexible outreach
- Act as AO Keyworker, building strong, consistent therapeutic relationships
- Deliver specialist substance misuse interventions, including harm-minimisation, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention
- Complete comprehensive assessments (risk, mental state, substance use, social needs)
- Lead on care planning and safety planning
- Work assertively and creatively to maintain engagement – including home visits, community meetings, and flexible contact
- Provide clinical leadership to Band 4 AO Support Workers
- Liaise closely with REST, D&A services, crisis teams, third sector, inpatient wards, housing, and social care
- Support safe transition back to routine CMHH care
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys autonomy, problem-solving, and working with complexity in a supportive MDT environment.
We are looking for a clinician who is:
- Professionally registered (NMC, HCPC, SWE or equivalent)
- Experienced in substance misuse assessment and treatment pathways
- Skilled in working with people with severe mental illness and co-occurring conditions
- Confident in managing risk in community settings
- Able to work flexibly, assertively, and creatively
- Compassionate, trauma-informed, and non-judgemental
- A strong communicator and team player
Experience In Substance Misuse Is Essential.
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Working for our organisation
You will be in a friendly and supportive environment, where we encourage personal and professional development.
You will be based within the Community Mental Health Hub within a large multi-disciplinary team.
There is access to inhouse and Trust wide training to support you in developing clinical and leadership skills.
We have community mental health hubs based in the North (Woodfield Road) and South (Nightingale place) of the borough. The team will work across both sites dependent on need.
Please note: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship, unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. “Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and continuously held a Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024."
As such, if you don’t meet the Transitional Provision (above) we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom. If you believe you are eligible for sponsorship or already hold a valid right to work in the UK, please ensure you provide full details of your immigration status in the Pre-Screening Immigration section of your application form.
Please note role eligibility also depends on whether the role meets the salary threshold for the relevant occupational code (SOC CODE).
For further info please visit: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- Act as AO Keyworker for service users with co-occurring SMI and substance misuse, delivering assertive, flexible engagement in line with the AO stepped model.
- Complete specialist substance misuse assessments, including dependence severity, withdrawal risk, harm-minimisation needs, and treatment readiness.
- Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments, including mental state, risk, safeguarding, social needs, and physical health concerns related to substance use.
- Develop and lead on integrated care plans addressing both mental health and substance misuse needs.
- Deliver evidence-based substance misuse interventions, such as:
- Motivational interviewing
- Relapse prevention
- Harm-minimisation
- Psychoeducation
- Engagement with D&A services
- Provide clinical leadership and guidance to Band 4 AO Support Workers, including joint visits and case formulation. Liaise closely with REST, community D&A services, inpatient wards, third sector crisis teams, housing, and social care to coordinate care and manage risk.
- Maintain a “no discharge for DNA” approach, using persistent, creative engagement strategies.
- Support safe and timely transition back to routine CMHH care, ensuring structured handover and updated documentation.
- Participate in AO huddles, zoning meetings, MDT reviews, and joint visits with CMHH clinicians.
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Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Current NMC registration /or equivalent Allied Health Professional with current professional registration
- Evidence of further mental health courses attended/training
Desirable criteria
- Full driving license and use of a car for business purposes
Experience
Essential criteria
- Substantial Experience of working in the community mental health
- Experience of supervision of junior staff
- Experience of working with complex and high risk patients with SMI
- Experience of working with third sector organizations and collaborating with wider system stakeholders
- Working in a multi-disciplinary team including liaising senior managers and clinicians
- Experience of recording and monitoring data and clinical outcomes
Desirable criteria
- Experience in working with patients who have dual diagnosis/ patients who use drug and alcohol
- Demonstrable experience in safeguarding children /adult practice and procedures.
- Teaching and group facilitation experience.
- Working with other stakeholders. LA/ICB and inpatient staff.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Understands & promotes equality, diversity and human rights in accordance with legislation, policy and procedures
- Understanding of confidentiality in the workplace
Key Skills And Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to develop & maintain high standards of communication both orally and in writing with people about difficult matters & / in difficult situations
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent clinical judgment skills.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to prioritise & plan own workload to meet deadlines & competing demands
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