Community Addiction’s Nurse

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Job Purpose:

To co-ordinate recovery focused care packages for a defined caseload of clients with substance misuse issues. These clients may be situated in the core services, satellite clinics or primary care and will have multiple needs that require a high level of input both from the multidisciplinary team and the wider professional network. Care packages will include delivering a combination of physical health, harm reduction, psychosocial and recovery interventions to assist the clients in meeting their needs and developing their own recovery capital.

As a nurse the post holder will be expected to provide physical health and harm reduction interventions for all clients in treatment. They will take the lead on and develop specific specialist areas, protocols, provide mentoring and supervision to recovery workers and students. They will, be actively involved in any research that is undertaken and work closely with the rest of the team to ensure efficient and safe operation of the service on a daily basis.

Main duties of the job

To carry out comprehensive individual assessments, of clients, physical, psychological, mental health, forensic and social needs. Which is the basis for the clients individualised recovery plan

To be responsible for the clinical care of a defined caseload of clients on an individual basis with complex drug/alcohol related problems

To oversee and lead on allocated areas (medication management, BBVs, rough sleepers, women’s health, community alcohol detoxes etc)

To be involved in the development and monitoring of standards of care, clinical audit, research and outcomes

To regularly review Recovery plans with clients and ensure that goals are SMART .

To ensure that all activity and information is entered in the clinical note system, relevant service databases and within time frames specified. To comply fully with all NTDMS and trust data requirements

To dispense medication, administer vaccinations, injections and undertake testing. To deliver physical health screening and interventions as relevant to the client’s needs

To develop positive working relationships and advocate for clients with a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations.

To be involved in the development and implementation of new practice, policies and guidelines

To be involved in the day to day running of the service ensuring that all clients’ needs are met and act-up for senior staff where required.

Person Specification

Qualifications,

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) in Nursing certificate or Diploma in Nursing with post qualification experience which would include direct clinical experience working with and delivering treatment to people with substance misuse related problems.
  • Post qualification professional development and training relevant to substance misuse work (ITEP, MI and solution focused training are desirable)

Desirable

  • Degree level qualification in nursing
  • Non-medical prescriber
  • Diploma or degree in addictions or related area of practice

Experience

Essential

  • Experience and evidence of ability to produce formal written reports, presentations and draft policies for consultation
  • Experience of supervising staff and students
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of liaison with statutory and non-statutory services
  • Experience of the management of clients with substance use complex needs

Desirable

  • experience of working in community services
  • Experience of delivering training to external partners

knowledge

Essential

  • A thorough understanding of and evidence of utilising this in the areas of harm reduction interventions to reduce risk related to substance misuse including injecting behaviour, overdose, BBV’s, smoking, steroids, NPS, safer sexual practices etc.
  • Knowledge of pharmacological interventions extensively used in the treatment of substance and alcohol dependency.
  • Knowledge of and experience of implementation of relevant psychosocial interventions that are utilised to support clients in their recovery and sustaining abstinence
  • Knowledge of safeguarding procedures, responsibilities and actions required to ensure relevant actions are taken when it is suspected that a client, children, and/or carers have been exposed to harm or abuse.

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • An enquiring mind that is willing to question, challenge situations and seek support where required.
  • An understanding of the current trends and national issues affecting substance misuse services and their delivery.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 12 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.