JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Alcohol Detox Support worker(awake overnight)

Salary Scale:SP24-SP28 £24,020-£26,962 (including London weighting)

Contract: 12-months fixed term – extension of contract dependent on funding

Hours: Monday-Sunday (37.5 hours per week – mainly waking nights)

Managerially responsible to: Alcohol Liaison Nurse Team Leader

Based at: 171 Park lane, N17 OHJ other Haringey community locations

Summary of Post:To work with people with alcohol related problems, in the community, and at HAGA service locations as part of the detoxification treatment and recovery plans.

The primary focus is in supporting individuals by staying with them overnight during detox and providing access to emergency or associated health interventions.

The role will involve a flexible range of tasks involving clients who may be drinking and potentially relapse.

It is first and foremost a mentoring role who can ensure that the requirement for access to appropriate assistance is viable as part of the detox process

1.Basic Objectives

1.1To support safe practice and completion of detoxification treatments for all relevant service users

1.2To provide on-site support and treatment (including overnight support) alongside nursing staff for service users required enhanced community detoxifications.

1.3To provide excellent written and verbal communication outlining work with detoxification service users

1.4To support engagement with ongoing psychosocial interventions and recovery activities for all detoxification service users

2.Main Duties and Responsibilities

2.1 To travel to various locations by public transport within the borough of Haringey, to make contact and build up relationships with alcohol treatment service users through assessment and during treatment interventions.

2.2 With the responsible nurse -to comprehensively assess the needs of the service user group, both in community settings and within their own homes, offering appropriate interventions as agreed with manager/team members and in line with outputs and outcomes agreed for the project.

2.3 With the responsible nurse – to ensure that joint assessments take place as required and interagency partnership working is prioritized.

2.4 Toadvocate on behalf of service users in obtaining assistance with housing, benefits, mental and physical health care and access to substance misuse treatment services at whichever tier is appropriate.

2.5 To assist service users in developing strategies, which improve self esteem, social skills and psychological wellbeing that supports their recovery from alcohol misuse.

2.6 To teach service users appropriate daily living skills to maintain well-being in the community.

2.7 To accompany service users to an appointment that adds value to reducing harm within their daily lives.

2.8To hold a caseload of ongoing service users, the numbers and intervention timescales to be agreed with and under guidance of line manager, and within the project parameters.

2.9To work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary prescribing services and encourage clients’ medication compliance, as well as advocating in case of concerns.

2.10To communicate regularly with volunteers via phone, emails, and appreciating their efforts.

3.Professional

3.1To follow the administrative procedures of HAGA

3.2Develop and maintain mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the work, in conjunction with

theLead Nurse.

3.3Keep up to date paperwork and/or database records of all work undertaken in the format of support plans and service user’s case notes. This will include evaluation forms from service users about their detox treatment relating to enhanced community detox project.

3.4Provide written and verbal reports for each overnight shift and conduct correspondence with the nurse or manager as required.

3.5To make client referrals as part of an integrated service.

3.6Ensure that all documentation required by funders and commissioners is completed accurately and within the timeframe requested.

3.7To collect statistical and monitoring information with particular focus on quality standards and in line with service level agreements.

3.8To adhere to Safeguarding of Children and Young People and Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures and report any concerns to your line manager/Deputy Director, sharing HAGA’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

3.9To ensure the maintenance of a high standard of Health and Safety at all times in line with both

HAGA procedure, and to report all accidents/incidents which take place both verbally to manager and on the standard forms.

3.10Ensure service user and organizational confidentiality as per agreed agency policy.

3.11To adhere to HAGA's Equal Opportunities Policy at all times, proactively ensuring that you are sensitive to the range of cultural, social and family backgrounds and to respect the varying needs of vulnerable adults/children and young people.

3.12Ensure that all work areas—both communal and personal—are kept clean and tidy.

3.13To be aware of and to adhere to HAGA's policies and procedures.

4.Personnel & Training

4.1To attend and contribute to internal and external meetings, and group and individual supervision as requested by line manager.

4.2To identify training needs and undertake "in-house" and external training as requested and approved by line manager.

4.3To develop one’s own professional growth with input from the Employment Development & Training Manager and in line with the HAGA policy.

4.4To ensure that all requests for leave and working arrangements are discussed with the line manager in advance, and report/certify all sickness as appropriate.

4.5To attend supervision and debrief sessions with the community detoxification nurse at the end of sessions with any specific client you’ve been working with.

5.Liaison and Communication

5.1To communicate effectively with colleagues, and all other professionals and service users.

5.2To be available for advice and consultation to other statutory and voluntary agency staff,

and work cooperatively to develop effective responses.

6.Other

6.1To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and post as specified by your line manager.

This job description is subject to review by your line manager.

Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Core Competencies

1.Communication
HSC31 / Promote effective communication with, for and about individuals
2. Equality & Diversity
HSC234 / Ensure your own actions support the equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities of individuals.
3.Health, Safety & Security
HSC22 / Support the health and safety of yourself and individuals.
ENTO_WRV1 / Make sure your actions contribute to a positive and safe working culture.

4.Safeguard & protect individuals

HSC24 / Ensure your own actions support the care protection and well-being of individuals
AB3 / Contribute to the prevention/management of abusive/aggressive behaviour
HSC35 / Promote choice, well-being and the protection of all individuals
HCSD5 / Comply with legal requirements for patient/client confidentiality
GEN63 / Act within the limits of your competence and authority

Specific Competencies

1.Assessing and addressing individual’s needs
HSC233 / Relate to and interact with individuals
AB5 / Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AF1 / Carry out screening and referral assessment
AA1.2 / Refer individuals with indications of substance misuse to specialists.
AB2 / Support individuals who are substance misusers
AF2 / Carry out assessment to identify and prioritise needs
AG3 / Assist with the transfer of individuals between agencies/services
AH10 / Employ techniques to help individuals to adopt sensible drinking behaviour
AI1 / Counsel individuals regarding their substance misuse using recognized theoretical models
AI2 / Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan
AI1 / Counsel individuals regarding their substance misuse using recognized theoretical models
CHD HA3 / Provide support for individuals who express a wish to reduce their alcohol consumption
CHD HA4 / Monitor and evaluate individuals’ attempts to reduce their alcohol consumption
2.Education, and promotion/protection of public health
AD1 / Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
HSC35 / Promote choice, well-being and the protection of all individuals
AD1.1 / Identify individuals' knowledge and values about substances, their use and effects
AD1.2 / Increase individuals' knowledge and understanding of substances, their use and effects
3.Education and learning around health/Developing and sharing knowledge
HSC33 / Reflect on and develop your practice
GEN36 / Make use of supervision
BE4 / Supplying information for management control
M&LD1 / Develop productive working relationships with colleagues
HSC 23 / Develop your own knowledge and practice.
GEN 13 / Synthesise new knowledge into the development of your own practice.
HCS 241 / Contribute to the effectiveness of teams.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Person specification

All "essential" attributes listed below are essential for candidates to be considered for the role.

All candidates shortlisted will be expected to have at least some of the "desirable" attributes listed below

Area / Essential / Desirable
Education, qualifications, & training /
  • DANOS Competencies for Outreach/partnership working
/
  • NVQ level 3 in Health or Social care
  • Healthcare Diploma
  • Substance misuse diploma

Experience /
  • 2 years minimum experience working with individual with alcohol or substance misuse
  • Alcohol outreach in a variety of settings
/
  • Experience of supported Housing
  • Experience of Lone working
  • Experience of Alcohol Service Delivery

Skills /
  • Ability to conduct a basic health and safety risk assessment
  • Support planning
  • Writing of notes
  • Ability to demonstrate active listening skills
  • Ability to maintain professional boundaries
  • Ability to understand and work with, the issues that affect people with substance misuse problems
  • Planning and organization skills.
  • Understanding of recovery in context of substance misuse treatment
/
  • Lone Working
  • Risk Assessing
  • Report Writing
  • Record Keeping
  • Professional boundaries
  • Client Engagement Skills

IT /
  • Confidence and proficiency with software packages such as Access, Excel, Internet, PowerPoint, and email.
/
  • Illy’s carepath case management system

Other /
  • Understanding of equality and diversity.
  • Understanding of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
  • Willingness to develop new skills, undertake training and take on new challenges.

Attributes /
  • Ability to motivate others
  • Teamwork
  • Thoroughness
  • Ability to work on own Initiative
  • Creativity
  • Flexibility and on occasions willingness to work out of office hours, and conduct work in a range of settings