Clinical Nurse Specialist (Addictions)

Job Overview

The Addictions Directorate within CNWL Foundation Trust is a large, well-established provider which offers a wide range of specialist NHS drug and alcohol treatment interventions to the diverse and multicultural populations in Central and North West London. Our drug and alcohol services include community services, A&E liaison services, Peripatetic nurses, Family Therapy, a National Problem Gambling Service, and a Club Drug Clinic.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic, and experienced nurse to join our team. If you have a passion for delivering high-quality expert care in Addictions, then we want you to join our team in the heart of Hounslow.

Main Duties of the Job

• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team as the Keyworker responsible for the delivery of high standards of nursing care to clients assessed and admitted according to their clinical needs, and in accordance with up-to-date evidence-based practice and relevant Trust clinical protocol and policies.
• To assess continuously the psychological, emotional, social, and rehabilitative needs of own clients/patients, taking into account the needs of family, local community, and developing systematic plans for care and evaluation of treatment plans.
• To be able to assess and case manage clients who inject drugs, in particular assessing injection sites and be conversant with the precepts of harm reduction.

Working for Our Organisation

Our substance use services are dedicated to helping reduce the harm caused by substance use; helping people overcome their dependency on substances, and helping clients and their families rebuild their lives and enable recovery. We are committed to working in partnership with other providers and service users in local systems of treatment and recovery.

CNWL is committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based treatment options and is a learning organisation which promotes staff competence and training and values clinical governance, audit, and research. We are linked with Imperial College, University of London, and are committed to evaluating our services and developing new and innovative approaches.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

Clinical Duties:

• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team in the management and treatment provision of the specialist service to people with problematic use of novel psychoactive substances with associated problem drink and drug use attending the service/unit, including harm minimisation approaches, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, care planning, individual intervention, health assessments, education, and detoxification programmes, pre and post-test BBV’s counselling and vaccination, and group work.
• To manage FP10 Printing of Controlled Drugs for the service, i.e., preparing and printing of prescriptions.
• To provide case management and direct clinical care to a defined number of complex clients including clients dual diagnosed with mental health and physical health issues, concurrent with substance misuse problems, as agreed with the Service Manager. This includes assessment, care planning, and providing specialist nursing care.
• To use agreed and established Treatment Outcome Monitoring Tools (TOP) and any other relevant quality measures.
• To contribute to the development, provision, and review of care plans.
• To counsel individuals about their substance use and related behaviours, using motivational interviewing, relapse management, and other evidence-based interventions.
• To provide clinical advice and support to other colleagues within the health care setting and to other agencies concerned with substance misuse.
• To be responsible for the safe and effective storage and administration of drugs, exercising responsibility for the custody and maintenance of statutory records of such drugs in accordance with the Trust Policies/Procedures on the supply and carriage of drugs in the community.
• To ensure full risk assessments and risk management is delivered effectively.
• To undertake dry blood spot testing for BBV and urinalysis when required.
• To screen clients at risk of, or affected by, blood-borne diseases and to plan and agree service responses according to needs.
• To provide education and to assertively promote Hepatitis B vaccination for clients who are at risk of contracting the virus.
• To administer Hepatitis B vaccination in accordance with CNWL Medicine Policies and Protocols.
• To provide pre and post-test discussion to clients screened for blood-borne viruses in accordance with CNWL guidelines.
• To ensure the CNWL Hepatitis care plan is used for all clients.
• To collaborate with the individual Statutory, Non-Statutory teams, GPs, Primary Care Services, Virology, Chemical Pathology, and Liver/Gastroenterology Departments, and provide expert care without direct medical supervision, using clinical guidance documents and patient group directions as agreed by the Trust.
• To assist in the transfer of individuals between the service and Hepatology/Gastroenterology and other relevant agencies.
• To be familiar with the Trust and local Resuscitation, Infection Control, and Needle Stick Injury Policies and Procedures.
• To attend mandatory yearly updates on CPR and Anaphylaxis training.
• To ensure an understanding and implementation of clinical governance.
• The post holder will work within CNWL’s Child Protection Policy and in partnership within all agencies responsible for ensuring compliance with the local Safeguarding Children’s Board working practices.
• To prepare reports and attend client meetings such as professional network meetings, Child Protection Case Conferences, and Core Group meetings as required.
• To plan and agree service responses which meet the individual need and circumstances of clients at risk of, or affected by, substance misuse during pregnancy.
• To recognise the professional duty of care to protect where clients present a risk to themselves or others, and comply with statutory requirements regarding Safeguarding Children, Child Protection, including the Children Act 1989 and Hidden Harm guidelines.
• To assess risk behaviours of clients, provide information and implications of any risks identified on health and social well-being, and work with clients to address and modify risk behaviours to promote positive changes.