Job Description/Person Specification
Assertive Outreach Substance Misuse Worker
- starting salary range £18,160 - £21,277PA FTE dependent on experience; to commence ASAP
Job Purpose
Elmore is a subcontractor for the drug and alcohol services across Oxfordshire (the prime provider for the contract is Turning Point). Elmore provides Assertive Outreach Substance Misuse workers attached to Turning Points’ Oxford and Banbury hubs. The workers will work jointly in Elmore and Turning Point teams to support complex clients engage with drug and alcohol services, and make positive change in their lives. This will include clients with a dual diagnosis of substance misuse needs and mental health problems. This is a fixed-term role to the end of March 2018 (with the possibility of a 2-year extension).
Main Responsibilities
· The workers role is to aim to increase clients’ motivation to address their substance needs, and engage with Turning Point services. Workers will work with clients holistically –including support to access other non-substance misuse services, as well as direct assistance (e.g. with benefits/housing)
· Workers will assess potential clients (referrals) and make recommendations about suitability for this project, as well as for the other Elmore teams and the main Turning Point services
· Workers will actively manage and update clients’ risks in line with Elmore’s (and Turning Point’s) risk assessment policies and procedures
· Workers will act as an advocate for their clients to ensure that their voices are heard
· Clients will all have drug and/or alcohol needs and be difficult to engage, as well as a variety of other issues to make them particularly complex; this will likely include mental health, but could also be homelessness, finances, physical health, learning disabilities, offending histories, child protection/safeguarding, or sex workers
· Workers will be responsible for keeping clear and accurate records on their clients, and will complete relevant monitoring to fulfil contractual needs
· Workers will hold cases of 15 clients at any time (plus referrals); this is intentionally a small caseload, to enable workers to assertively and creatively engage with their clients
· Any other duty as assigned by the line manager, commensurate with the post.
Team
· This role will be part of a team of 3 assertive outreach workers at Elmore, and will sit alongside Turning Point hub staff
· Workers will work within the team approach across Elmore and Turning Point as part of a multi-disciplinary team (including social workers, OTs, nurses, and psychiatrists)
· Workers will take part in joint training sessions with Turning Point and Elmore
· Workers will attend and participate in both Elmore and Turning Point team meetings on a weekly basis
· The worker will be based jointly at the offices of Elmore and Turning Point
· Core hours are currently Monday – Friday 0900 – 1700
· Workers will actively promote and look to facilitate engagement of complex clients, both within Elmore and Turning Point services, and also other organisations generally
·
Organisational
· The Elmore workers will be line managed by an Elmore manager and will actively participate in clinical supervision (every 6 weeks) and developmental supervision (every 8 weeks)
· Workers will work within the policies and procedures of Elmore and Turning Point
· To work proactively with Turning Point (and all other relevant organisations) to continuously strive to improve substance misuse provision in Oxfordshire
Personal development
· Workers will need keep up to date with relevant legislation that might affect their clients (including substance misuse, mental health, benefits, housing and criminal justice)
· Workers will attend and complete relevant training needed to successfully carry out the role as agreed by their line manager
External
· Workers will attend and represent Elmore and Turning Point at external networking meetings
· Workers will attend multi-agency meetings regarding clients; for example child protection meetings, mental health review meetings, and problem solving meetings
· Workers will actively promote Elmore and Turning Point to clients, professionals, the public, and stakeholders
Person Specification
At least 2 years’ experience of working with individuals with drug and/or alcohol needs, in any setting (e.g. community, detox, rehab) / X
At least 18 months’ experience of working in the community with people who have support needs related to mental health problems, homelessness, offending behaviour, antisocial behaviour, teenage pregnancy, child protection or challenging/ bizarre behaviour / X
A relevant professional qualification (e.g. Social Work, OT, nursing) / X
Experience of working with individuals with a dual diagnosis of substance misuse and mental health needs / X
A clear understanding of the issues faced by people with substance misuse support needs, particularly those which might arise when dealing with clients in a community setting / X
Knowledge of appropriate services that clients may need support to access / X
Experience of working with people who are difficult to engage / X
Experience of working in an assertive way with complex clients / X
Relevant training related to the role, such as Motivational Interviewing techniques / X
An understanding of relevant legislation that affects clients including housing, mental health, and welfare reforms / X
To proactively risk assess and adhere to risk procedures / X
To have experience of working in line with the recovery approach / X
To have a good understanding of safeguarding and what may constitute “abuse” / X
Experience of working as part of a team / X
Experience of working as part of a multiagency and/or multidisciplinary team / X
The ability to keep accurate casework/database records, and maintain filing systems / X
The ability to work within financial policies and procedures / X
To be IT literate (including use of Word, Excel, Outlook, Access) / X
A good understanding of the principles of equality and diversity outlined in the Equality Act (2010) / X
Experience of working independently and managing own case load / X
The ability to work autonomously in line with policies and procedures / X
The ability to be flexible and adapt to change / X
Registered Charity No. 1090616
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