Dual Diagnosis Senior Practitioner

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified individual to join our established and dynamic Op COURAGE Veterans Service as a Dual Diagnosis Senior Practitioner on a substantive appointment basis.

Op COURAGE, based at St Pancras Hospital, operates in a range of community settings to support consistent access to care and treatment. It is an NHS-led partnership alongside three Forces-friendly charities, Walking with the Wounded, Stoll and The Ripple Pond.

The Service delivers multidisciplinary care including a range of mental health and social interventions. These include trauma focused therapies, support with substance misuse, physical health, employment, accommodation, relationships and finances. We work closely with the wider NHS, statutory bodies, local authorities and the third sector, including armed forces charities, to ensure the appropriate support is in place for patients and their families.

For those in need of urgent care or an assertive outreach response, we offer proactive, at-home wrap-around treatment which aims to reduce unnecessary admission to hospital, as well as to provide psychological stabilisation, rehabilitation and support for those who care for veterans.

This is a newly created role for an experienced applicant, who will provide specialist liaison, advocacy and joined up treatment between Op COURAGE and substance misuse teams across the London region.

Main duties of the job

The post holder should be enthusiastic and experienced in managing complex caseloads, preferably with co morbidity of substance misuse and mental health issues. You will be responsible for developing robust pathways into local services, devising and implementing high quality packages of care, offering staff consultation, designing/implementing training to Trust and external organisations, as well as assisting the management team around operational, strategic and service development areas.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide specialist liaison between Op COURAGE and substance misuse teams across the London region.

Provide clinical guidance alongside lead clinicians across the Service where Dual Diagnosis is an element of the presentation.

To assertively engage with DD services in the veteran’s area, aiming to secure and support local treatment in the first instance.

Supporting the veteran to overcome any barriers to access that might exist in their area. Joint working with local DD services, where appropriate, to provide effective treatment.

• To manage a caseload of clients with complex needs and carry out comprehensive specialist assessments and provide time limited interventions for dual diagnosis patients that includes health promotion and harm minimisation, relapse prevention, detoxification and residential and community-based substance use treatment.

The Senior Practitioner will take the lead in identifying, consulting and arranging the provision of training to Op COURAGE staff as well as ensuring training is current and appropriate.

Please see full attached Job Description.