As a Band 7 Adult Nurse working as a Drug and Alcohol Hospital Practitioner, you will play a key role in providing expert care across a range of acute hospital settings, including Accident & Emergency (A&E), inpatient wards, and outpatient clinics. You will assess, manage, and support individuals who present with substance misuse issues, using your knowledge of how drugs and alcohol impact the body and contribute to both short- and long-term health complications.
This role will primarily be based at Luton & Dunstable Hospital. Currently, there are two drug and alcohol recovery workers based in the hospital; this specialist role will be new to the service.
Main duties of the job
Your role will require an understanding of addiction, its physiological and psychological effects, and the principles of trauma-informed care. You will be responsible for delivering personalised care plans, which will involve supporting individuals through withdrawal, managing overdose situations, and assisting with rehabilitation and recovery, all while ensuring safe and effective pharmacological interventions.
Collaboration will be key, as you work closely with multidisciplinary hospital teams, including medical staff, social workers, and mental health professionals, to ensure comprehensive care for individuals with complex needs. In addition, you will engage with community drug and alcohol services to provide seamless, ongoing support and facilitate the discharge process. Your ability to work effectively across both hospital and community settings will ensure that patients receive continuous care that meets their physical, emotional, and social needs.
As a leader within the team, you will also mentor and guide junior drug and alcohol staff, sharing your expertise and promoting best practices in drug and alcohol care. You will be committed to developing your own skills and ensuring that care delivery is in line with the latest evidence-based practices, national standards, and hospital protocols. This role demands a compassionate, patient-centred approach, as well as the ability to navigate complex situations with sensitivity and professionalism.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities: Drug and Alcohol Hospital liaison Practitioner
1.
Patient Assessment and Care Planning:
Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients presenting with drug and alcohol-related issues across acute hospital settings (A&E, inpatient, and outpatient). Develop individualised care plans based on assessment findings, considering the physical, psychological, and social aspects of substance misuse. Monitor and manage patients experiencing alcohol or drug withdrawal, overdose, or acute intoxication, ensuring safe and appropriate interventions.
2.
Autonomous Clinical Decision-Making: Make clinical decisions related to the care and treatment of individuals with substance use disorders, working independently when necessary and escalating to senior medical staff as appropriate. Recommend and administer medications for detoxification, withdrawal management, and overdose reversal, ensuring safe practices in line with hospital protocols.
3.
Trauma-Informed Care: Deliver care in a compassionate, trauma-informed manner, recognising the complex relationship between addiction and past trauma, and adapting approaches to suit individual patient needs. Provide psychological support and advocate for patients, ensuring their voices are heard and respected throughout the care process.
4.
Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Teams: Work closely with other hospital departments, including medical, nursing, mental health, and social care teams, to coordinate comprehensive care plans. Participate in ward rounds and case discussions, sharing expertise on addiction and drug/alcohol-related conditions to inform patient care strategies.
5.
Partnership with Community Services: Engage with community drug and alcohol services to ensure a smooth transition for patients from hospital care to community-based support, including rehabilitation and aftercare services. Facilitate referrals to relevant external services, including counseling, outpatient clinics, and long-term addiction treatment programs.
6.
Patient Advocacy: Act as an advocate for patients, ensuring their rights and preferences are respected, and that they are informed and involved in decisions about their care. Provide support for patients to navigate the healthcare system, including addressing concerns about stigma or discrimination related to substance misuse.
7.
Education and Training: Provide training and mentorship to junior nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognize and support patients with substance use disorders. Educate patients and their families about the effects of drugs and alcohol, treatment options, and pathways to recovery.
8.
Record Keeping and Documentation: Maintain accurate and timely documentation of patient assessments, care plans, progress notes, and outcomes in line with legal and professional standards. Ensure that patient records are updated regularly to reflect any changes in treatment or care.
9.
Quality Improvement and Best Practice: Stay updated with the latest research and evidence-based practices in drug and alcohol treatment, and integrate this knowledge into clinical practice. Contribute to audits, service evaluations, and quality improvement initiatives related to drug and alcohol services within the hospital setting.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential NMC qualification
Experience
Essential Drug and Alcohol Experience
Employer details
Employer name East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Path 2 Recovery 21 The Crescent Bedford MK40 2RT
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
363-SSLB6873407-A #J-18808-Ljbffr
This role will primarily be based at Luton & Dunstable Hospital. Currently, there are two drug and alcohol recovery workers based in the hospital; this specialist role will be new to the service.
Main duties of the job
Your role will require an understanding of addiction, its physiological and psychological effects, and the principles of trauma-informed care. You will be responsible for delivering personalised care plans, which will involve supporting individuals through withdrawal, managing overdose situations, and assisting with rehabilitation and recovery, all while ensuring safe and effective pharmacological interventions.
Collaboration will be key, as you work closely with multidisciplinary hospital teams, including medical staff, social workers, and mental health professionals, to ensure comprehensive care for individuals with complex needs. In addition, you will engage with community drug and alcohol services to provide seamless, ongoing support and facilitate the discharge process. Your ability to work effectively across both hospital and community settings will ensure that patients receive continuous care that meets their physical, emotional, and social needs.
As a leader within the team, you will also mentor and guide junior drug and alcohol staff, sharing your expertise and promoting best practices in drug and alcohol care. You will be committed to developing your own skills and ensuring that care delivery is in line with the latest evidence-based practices, national standards, and hospital protocols. This role demands a compassionate, patient-centred approach, as well as the ability to navigate complex situations with sensitivity and professionalism.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities: Drug and Alcohol Hospital liaison Practitioner
1.
Patient Assessment and Care Planning:
Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients presenting with drug and alcohol-related issues across acute hospital settings (A&E, inpatient, and outpatient). Develop individualised care plans based on assessment findings, considering the physical, psychological, and social aspects of substance misuse. Monitor and manage patients experiencing alcohol or drug withdrawal, overdose, or acute intoxication, ensuring safe and appropriate interventions.
2.
Autonomous Clinical Decision-Making: Make clinical decisions related to the care and treatment of individuals with substance use disorders, working independently when necessary and escalating to senior medical staff as appropriate. Recommend and administer medications for detoxification, withdrawal management, and overdose reversal, ensuring safe practices in line with hospital protocols.
3.
Trauma-Informed Care: Deliver care in a compassionate, trauma-informed manner, recognising the complex relationship between addiction and past trauma, and adapting approaches to suit individual patient needs. Provide psychological support and advocate for patients, ensuring their voices are heard and respected throughout the care process.
4.
Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Teams: Work closely with other hospital departments, including medical, nursing, mental health, and social care teams, to coordinate comprehensive care plans. Participate in ward rounds and case discussions, sharing expertise on addiction and drug/alcohol-related conditions to inform patient care strategies.
5.
Partnership with Community Services: Engage with community drug and alcohol services to ensure a smooth transition for patients from hospital care to community-based support, including rehabilitation and aftercare services. Facilitate referrals to relevant external services, including counseling, outpatient clinics, and long-term addiction treatment programs.
6.
Patient Advocacy: Act as an advocate for patients, ensuring their rights and preferences are respected, and that they are informed and involved in decisions about their care. Provide support for patients to navigate the healthcare system, including addressing concerns about stigma or discrimination related to substance misuse.
7.
Education and Training: Provide training and mentorship to junior nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognize and support patients with substance use disorders. Educate patients and their families about the effects of drugs and alcohol, treatment options, and pathways to recovery.
8.
Record Keeping and Documentation: Maintain accurate and timely documentation of patient assessments, care plans, progress notes, and outcomes in line with legal and professional standards. Ensure that patient records are updated regularly to reflect any changes in treatment or care.
9.
Quality Improvement and Best Practice: Stay updated with the latest research and evidence-based practices in drug and alcohol treatment, and integrate this knowledge into clinical practice. Contribute to audits, service evaluations, and quality improvement initiatives related to drug and alcohol services within the hospital setting.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential NMC qualification
Experience
Essential Drug and Alcohol Experience
Employer details
Employer name East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Path 2 Recovery 21 The Crescent Bedford MK40 2RT
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
363-SSLB6873407-A #J-18808-Ljbffr
