Dual Diagnosis Practitioner – Forensic Offender Services

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and compassionate clinician to lead dual diagnosis (co‑existing mental health and substance misuse) strategy and practice across the Forensic Directorate.

You will operationalise and continuously improve the Forensic Substance Misuse Strategy, setting standards, supporting staff capability and embedding evidence‑based care across all forensic sites.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence practice at scale, shaping safe, recovery‑focused care pathways for people with complex forensic and substance misuse needs.

Main duties of the job

• Provide expert clinical leadership for complex dual‑diagnosis cases, including MDT formulation, assessment and evidence‑based care planning.
• Ensure universal screening and comprehensive substance‑use assessment across forensic inpatient and community settings.
• Lead safe prescribing and withdrawal management pathways in partnership with Pharmacy.
• Deliver specialist training, supervision and capability development for dual diagnosis leads/champions.
• Lead policies, SOPs and staff training relating to substance‑related safety, searches and harm‑reduction.
• Drive quality, governance and improvement through audits, QI projects, incident analysis and thematic learning.
• Strengthen partnership working with community substance misuse providers, MAPPA, police, probation and wider agencies.
• Lead data quality, KPI monitoring and reporting using EPJS and BI dashboards.
• Promote an inclusive, compassionate and psychologically safe team culture; line‑manage or supervise dual diagnosis leads.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.