Dual Diagnosis Practitioner

Job overview

The post holder will work as a dual diagnosis/substance misuse nurse specialist within the Mental  Health Liaison Team (MHLT) at University Hospital Lewisham to provide dual diagnosis/substance  misuse expertise and facilitate co-ordinated service delivery for people aged 18+ with suspected coexisting mental health and substance misuse issues. The post holder will help address many of the  co-morbid drug/substance misuse related issues that can, in some circumstances, lead to delay in  assessment times. The post holder will promote high standards of assessment and treatment of people of anyone aged  18+, including older adults, with suspected or co-existing mental health and substance misuse  problems, based on the best available evidence, within the expected response times set out for  urgent referrals from the ED and inpatient wards. The post holder will forge strong inter-agency alliances. The post holder will need to work with colleagues in the MHLTs to help achieve the expected  outcomes expected outcomes set out by NHS England including - Reduce the number of frequent attenders presenting to A&E/MHLT - Reduce the number of hospital admissions of Frequent Attenders - Increase engagement of service users with substance misuse services - Increase knowledge and skills of the MHLT and acute trust colleagues working with people  with DD

Main duties of the job

The post holder will lead on developing collaborative plans with service users who attend A&E on a  frequent basis with suspected co-existing mental health and substance misuse issues The post holder will lead on providing expert dual diagnosis knowledge to the MHLT/Acute Trust and  to key stakeholders involved. The post holder will lead the development and delivery of dual diagnosis practice in the MHLT in line  with national best practice guidance, NICE and DoH guidance, and Trust policy in consultation with  senior dual diagnosis colleagues. The post holder will work with colleagues to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in  working with people with dual diagnosis. The post holder will support the development of excellent relationships with SLaM teams and  partner agencies to promote effective collaborative working and seamless care pathways.

The post holder will liaise, communicate effectively and update the Team Leader accordingly for the  MHLT on a frequent basis to feedback progress and highlight any areas of focus or concern in  relation to substance issues inclusive of poor practice, unhelpful staff attitudes and behaviour and  omissions of care. The post holder will work closely with all members of the MDT to increase professional working  knowledge of substance misuse within the liaison setting. This includes assessment, treatment,  management and evaluation of care for service users who present with substance misuse issues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Provide clinical expertise and support in assessment, care planning and the delivery and  evaluation of interventions to people with co-morbid mental health, physical health and  substance misuse problems Implement systems to ensure that all service users are being assessed for alcohol and  drug use as part of a comprehensive assessment and information is recorded using the  appropriate tools on EPJS (the Trust electronic data record system) and within the Acute  trust’s notes system, in line with Trust standards  Implement an outpatient clinic that allows service users to attend for further assessment  and engagement following presentation to accident and emergency or discharge from  inpatient care at St Thomas’  Promote the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the assessment, care and  discharge processes, both at initial presentation and for longer term  liaison/communication  Ensure that all service users with dual diagnosis are offered health education information,  information about local substance misuse services and self-help/mutual aid groups to  enable them to make informed choices about their on-going care/treatment  Lead development of, and support liaison with, local substance misuse services to  promote effective engagement/transfer of care when appropriate  Facilitate carers/family members’ involvement in assessment and care planning where  appropriate and ensure they are offered information about substance misuse support  groups  Seek regular clinical supervision to ensure own continuous professional development and  keeping up to date with any advances in the field  Support reviews of any Serious Incident in relation to dual diagnosis cases as appropriate  To deputise for the MHLT Team Leader in their absence