We are recruiting an experienced Dual Diagnosis Practitioner to support staff in our Lambeth South West Focussed Support Team in the South West Living Well Centre in Streatham. This is part of an exciting new development to improve collaborative working across the system, the role will contribute to the expansion of community mental health services as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.
Focussed Support service offer medium to longer term mental health care to residents in the Borough of Lambeth aged 18 and over regardless of diagnosis using the Care Programme Approach. We are a part of the Lambeth Alliance, and we have a close interface with a variety of SLaM services, other statutory organisations (inc. social care) and voluntary sector.
The Lambeth Living Well Network (LWN) Alliance brings together Certitude, Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group, Lambeth Council, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Thames Reach organisations to deliver an innovative way of providing mental health support for those who need it in the Lambeth Borough; a fully integrated and coordinated mental health system which focuses on people’s strengths and supports their whole health and wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as a dual diagnosis specialist within the LWNA, offering support and advice to Living Well Centre and other teams to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in working with people who present with co-morbid mental health and substance misuse problems. They will provide ongoing specialist support and guidance to colleagues to enable staff to work effectively with people with complex needs.
The post holder will promote the assessment of individuals who have co-occurring mental health and substance misuse issues; linking people into appropriate support services; and case manage people with a severe and enduring mental illness. The post holder will encourage a person-centred and strengths-based approach to support. They will provide support to people in line with the clinical pathways and best practice within the LWNA and substance misuse services, this will include motivational interventions to enable people to engage with services and encourage change behaviour
The post holder will provide supervision, consultation and expert advice to team members from all professional backgrounds, in order to facilitate high quality, comprehensive and prompt dual diagnosis assessments and interventions. They will work collaboratively with colleagues and services leaders to agree and implement dual diagnosis plans that address the development and sustenance of high quality practice in within the service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- To provide expertise and contribute to dual diagnosis being systematically identified and responded to in a timely, evidence-based manner
- To deliver highly specialist information, advice, assessment, clinical formulation, caseload management, recovery and harm reduction, signposting and support with harm minimization to clients with complex mental health needs and co-occurring substance misuse
- Actively work with substance misuse, Living Well Centre and other teams. This will include in-reaching to supported housing/care home providers to prevent placement breakdown. Provide consultancy and training to promote integrated working between substance misuse, mental health and other services
- Promote the active involvement of people with dual diagnosis issues and assist people to identify their strengths, personal interests and goals and support them to access and participate in activities of their choice
- To undertake time-limited treatment specific work with people whose care is co-ordinated by
- other members of staff in LWNA teams. To include appropriate substance misuse, interventions within care plans of those with co-occurring substance dependence and mental health need devising systematic plans for care; implementing this plan; coordinating the input of others and evaluating its effectiveness. Also engage with homeless teams and services to offer advice and support
- Improve the support available to people who are vulnerable to poorer mental health outcomes as a result of substance misuse in line with statutory guidance. Also improve physical health and wellbeing outcomes for such people
- To implement systems to ensure all service users are being assessed for alcohol and drug use as part of a comprehensive assessment and information is recorded in line with Trust standards
- To lead the development of, and support liaison with local substance misuse services to promote effective collaborative planning and transfer of care where appropriate
- To work as an autonomous professional within guidelines of the relevant professional body and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work.
- To facilitate carers/family members involvement in assessment and care planning where appropriate and ensure they are offered information about support groups
- To participate in the monitoring and review of any serious incidents that involve dual diagnosis cases as appropriate
- To attend reviews, case conferences, network meetings, ward and community based multi-disciplinary meetings. Understand the Care Act and participate in safeguarding processes
- Help reduce episodes of crisis and assist people to access services which can offer alternatives to crisis support including peer support
Training and Developmental:
- To act as a dual diagnosis resource for the service, accessing and disseminating up to date information on guidance, research/audit and promoting implementation of same.
- Enhance awareness of dual diagnosis issues, challenges and services available across Lambeth
- To provide supervision and development opportunities to other clinicians as required
- To identify training needs and design and deliver bespoke dual diagnosis training for individuals and teams.
- To contribute to the design and delivery of Trust wide dual diagnosis training and provide post-training support and supervision to individuals and teams
- To support the service, deliver on key targets and data collection efforts that enhance evidence based practice.
- To work collaboratively with team managers to inform the supervision, appraisal and development of other team members personal development plans.
- To provide cover for clinical and operational leads as per service need and requirement
- Foster excellent working relationships across the LWNA, Addictions Services and community services. To actively work towards the development of improved interfaces between all services that work with people who have a co-occurring substance dependence and mental health needs
- To participate in the recruitment, support and development of staff as required.
- To contribute in the engagement of service users and carers in the planning and development of services.
- Positively promote and support connections with local communities through developing and maintaining extensive knowledge and links within Lambeth and wider areas and actively support people to access these resources, including digital resources
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- To contribute to the development of services through initiating, undertaking and supervising service evaluation and audit, and supporting teams to use findings to inform service development
- To provide advice and supervision to other staff undertaking audit and research within the service.
- To use DATIX effectively and support teams to develop skills in this area to enhance data collection and up to date reporting of incidents relating to substance misuse
- To keep up-to-date with policy and practice developments in substance misuse, mental health and dual diagnosis and to disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles
- To ensure that services provided are acceptable and accessible to the diverse communities that make up the local population.
- Ensure that the LWNAs statutory responsibilities and policies/procedures are carried out in relation to individuals on the caseload, their families and carers
Personal Development:
- To ensure that own continuing professional development is in line with professional registration requirements and Trust PDP and appraisal framework.
- To maintain appropriate documentation to comply with professional registration.
- To manage own time independently and effectively and follow a model of reflective practice, questioning and assessing own performance and reviewing with clinical supervisor or line manager.
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision according to the statutory regulation requirements of your profession and the Trust Supervision and Appraisal Policies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in relevant clinical subject e.g. RMN, RNLD, RGN, Occupational Therapy, Social Work and current live professional registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development particularly in relation to the development of knowledge and skills for working with people with dual diagnosis
- Clinical Supervision training
Desirable
- A qualification or training in a relevant area of practice eg. dual diagnosis, substance misuse, motivational interviewing, trauma informed practice, cognitive behavioural therapy
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of working with people with comorbid mental health and physical health issues who misuse substances in a range of clinical setting
- Experience of assessing the needs and strengths of people with mental illness and their families and holding a caseload of people with complex needs
- Delivering team teaching/training
- Helping to develop other colleagues and providing critical and constructive feedback
- Experience of multi- disciplinary team working and working in partnership with a range of organisations
Desirable
- Delivery of level 2 dual diagnosis training (eg ‘pan- London’)
- Leading audit projects other service evaluation projects
- Working clinically within a substance misuse team
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of the interactions between mental health problems and drug and alcohol use and the issues facing people trying to stabilise their situation
- Current and up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance relating to the client group eg DoH, PHE, NICE, MHA, Care Act, MCA
- Applied knowledge of the principles of risk assessment and risk management particularly in relation to harm minimization
- Using relevant tools and guidelines to facilitate comprehensive assessments of dual diagnosis clients and also planning, implementing and evaluating their care
- Ability to use and understand the supervision process
Desirable
- Ability to facilitate therapeutic groups and train others to do same
- Ability to work as part of a team offering support to those with different professional backgrounds.
- Ability to engage service users who are hard to reach
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.
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).
Closing Date: 01 April 2025
