Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialist – Alcohol Care Team

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity available for you to join our dedicated team.

Alcohol consumption is a key single modifiable driver of demand for acute health services.  It accounts for up to 20% of emergency hospital admission, results in prolonged stays in hospital and sees patients frequently readmitted to hospital. Alcohol dependent patients often receive sub-optimal care and can pose significant challenges for non-specialist teams caring for them.

The aim of the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Alcohol Care Team is to :

• Reduce avoidable alcohol related hospital admissions by reducing health risk among patients who are alcohol dependent.
• Reduce the length of stay for inpatients by improving the management of patients undergoing withdrawal treatments.
• Provide appropriate, timely, meaningful education and support for those individuals who are presenting with alcohol related problems and for health professionals who are providing care to this cohort of patients.
• Facilitate integrated alcohol related care across the patients’ journey.
• Provide / signpost psychosocial intervention to support dependent drinkers to sustain abstinence following discharge.

Main duties of the job

• Deputise the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in the management of the service.
• Collect data for analysis and interpret in order to maintain the service in-accordance with locally and nationally agreed parameters. Liaise with Public Health England, local CCG and NHSE/I
• Provide clinical expertise in the management of alcohol withdrawal programmes liaising with clinical colleagues within the team and to the wider organisation, under indirect supervision of the Clinical Lead.
• To provide case identification, comprehensive alcohol assessments, specialist nursing and medical care planning, psychosocial interventions, and discharge planning
• Provide trust-wide education in relation to alcohol related health disorders, advice and treatments to patients and professionals
• To develop and maintain excellent working relationships with the link Consultant, other specialist nurses such as the Liver team, social workers, allied health professionals, mental health services and the wider team
• To work within local trust policies and standards of practice, national policies and guidance, and NMC codes of practice
• To assist the lead clinical Nurse Specialist with an aim to provide a 7-day service
• Deputise for the lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in attending meetings pertaining to the development / planning of the Alcohol Care Team in their absence.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

NMC registered Degree level qualification in Adult Nursing

Extensive experience in the management of  patients with alcohol related health concerns

IT literate, including data collection and interpretation

Dexterity to take part in the administration of medications through various routes

Communicating with a wide variety of people including patients, carers, medical staff and the public

Please see the attached Job Description for a detailed job description and a main responsibility proforma.