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Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic person who has experience of working with people with substance use problems and/or experience of working with complex mental health presentations in a community, inpatient, or forensic setting. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experience working with third sector/charity substance misuse organisations, and those who are representative of the diverse population we serve.
The post holder will be part of a dynamic clinical team across the medium and low secure inpatient service working with service users with forensic histories and severe and enduring mental health problems. The primary role of the post holder will be to offer assessment and intervention to forensic service users who have difficulties with substance use who are in our inpatient services. The post holder will also provide consultation to other professionals across the clinical teams to enable them to understand and manage the risks and needs associated with service users' substance misuse. The post holder will be embedded within the forensic directorate’s Drug and Alcohol Service, a multi-disciplinary, specialist team, with access to rich supervision and CPD opportunities.
Main duties of the job
- Under supervision, to undertake specialist assessment and formulation of forensic service users’ substance use problems.
- Under supervision, to deliver psychosocial interventions for substance use in both individual and group format.
- To provide consultation, support, and advice in relation to substance misuse issues to the forensic service, including ward multidisciplinary teams and relevant health professionals and other agencies as appropriate.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 1 year’s clinical employment within a forensic service, substance misuse team or dual diagnosis team
- Clinical risk assessment and management of vulnerable service user groups
- Working with service users with co-existing mental health and substance use problems
- Experience of developing and delivering training to multidisciplinary audiences
- Clinical practice that is aligned with the principles of Trauma Informed Care
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the principles and practice of Trauma Informed Care, and of how trauma relates to both substance misuse and mental
- To apply recovery values and principles in day to day work.
- To empower service users to draw from their strengths and assets, and identify solutions
- Ability to implement local policy and procedure
- Ability to manage incidents of verbal and physical aggression
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Undergraduate degree/diploma or equivalent years of experience would also be considered
- Professional Qualification e.g. Nursing, Social Work, or Counselling.
- Evidence of professional development
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker with East London NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £38,488 - £46,852 per annum Inc HCAs. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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