Job Description

Service

/ Northamptonshire

Job Title

/ Senior Practitioner

Hours

/ 37.5hrs

Base

/ TBC

Salary Range

/ CRI points 31-33

Reports to

/ Team Leader
Operating Principles / CRI has developed a number of operating principles that it believes are essential to providing effective and inspirational care and support for its service users. They should be viewed as overarching expectations for all roles at CRI.
All staff will contribute to the ongoing development of an ambitious, inspirational and outcome focussed culture at every level of service delivery.
All roles will tangibly contribute to provide hope, empowerment, choices and opportunities that promote people reaching their full potential as individuals and community members.
All service delivery will model the belief that we all have the potential to make positive changes and to lead meaningful and purposeful lives, as involved and contributing members of society.
Purpose of Job / The Senior Practitioner will be responsible for the line and operational management of a team of Recovery Workers providing intensive community support to deliver a bespoke package of care. The Senior Practitioner will ensure that substance users consistently receive high quality services that adhere to best practice guidelines and achieve high professional standards. The post-holder will be responsible for the performance management and on-going development of the service and staff, to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved.
The Senior Practitioner will be required to provide appropriate direction, supervision and appraisal of staff. Monitoring of data generated by the Project and reporting of information is required in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements.
The post-holder will be required to work flexibly across operational sites as required and work flexibly within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision. This may include some evening and weekend working
You will be expected to take responsibility for personal development, and participate in supervision and appraisal.

This is a standards-based job description that incorporates the National Occupational Standards relevant to the job, as well as DANOS and other National Occupational Standards such as CJNTO.

Key Activities

Unit Number and Title
AA1 / Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists
AA2 / Establish, sustain and disengage from relationships with individuals
AA3 / Enable individuals to find out more about and use services and facilities
AA4 / Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights
AA5 / Interact with individuals using telecommunications
AB1 / Support individuals when they are distressed
AB2 / Support individuals who are substance users
AB2.1 / Enable individuals to adopt safe practices associated with substance use
AB2.2 / Support individuals in reducing substance use
AB3 / Contribute to the prevention and management of abusive and aggressive behaviour
AB4 / Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse
AB5 / Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AC1 / Develop your own knowledge and practice
AC1.1 / Reflect on and evaluate your own values, priorities, interests and effectiveness
AC1.2 / Incorporate new knowledge into the development of your own practice
AC2 / Make use of supervision
AC3 / Contribute to the development of the knowledge and practice of others
AC4 / Support and challenge workers on specific aspects of their practice
AD1 / Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
AD2 / Facilitate learning through presentations and activities
AD3 / Facilitate group learning
AF1 / Carry out screening and referral assessment
AF2 / Carry out assessment to identify and prioritise needs and taking appropriate action
AG2 / Contribute to the development, provision and review of care programmes
AG3 / Assist in the transfer of individuals between agencies and services
AH4 / Support individuals to undertake and monitor their own health care
AI1 / Counsel individuals about their substance use using recognised theoretical models
AI2 / Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan
AK1 / Assist individuals to explore future employment, training and education opportunities
AK2 / Assist individuals to plan for future employment, training and education
AK3 / Enable individuals to access and retain housing
AK4 / Enable individuals to administer their financial affairs
BA3 / Contribute to the development of organisational policy and practice
BC2 / Manage activities to meet customer requirements
BD2 / Awareness of workplace policies relevant to work practices to ensure a healthy and safe environment is maintained
BD3 / Ensure own actions reduce risk to health and safety
BE2 / Provide information to support decision making
BF5 / Lead the work of teams and individuals to achieve their objectives
BF7 / Respond to poor performance in your team
BF10 / Contribute to the recruitment and placement of volunteers
BI1 / Develop productive working relationships
BI2 / Develop and sustain arrangement for joint working between workers and agencies
BI3 / Facilitate meetings

Person Specification

Essential criteria:

Good leadership skills

Experience of working within alcohol and or substance misuse services with a clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services

Maintaining professional boundaries and effective working with Criminal Justice agencies.

Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers including social care, welfare benefits, health and emergency accommodation

Ability to assess and care plan service users and formulate written reports as necessary

Community based support/outreach practices

Experience of contributing to project development

Experience of working in partnership with specialist and non specialist support providers.

Understanding and experience of providing community based support practices.

Extensive experience of working within substance misuse services.

Working knowledge of outcome and process targets.

And the ability to:

Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing

Respond flexibly to the demands of the post

Maintain professional boundaries

Work as a member of a team

Show a capacity to work alone and the ability to keep calm under pressure

Understand and have a commitment to the principles of equal opportunity and diversity

Employ a professional, empathetic and non-judgmental attitude towards service users

Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for service users

Desirable criteria:

Access to own transport

Motivational interviewing techniques

Knowledge of local services and geography

This post is subject to a DBS check at an enhanced level and Merseyside Police Vetting Procedures.

Amendments: This description accurately reflects the present position; it may be amended and reviewed. Any change will be made following a proper period of consultation.

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