Job summary
Employer heading
Alcohol Practitoner
NHS AfC: Band 4
Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust is a friendly, integrated healthcare provider focused on improving the life chances and health outcomes of our diverse population.
We have three strategic objectives:
People: To cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff;
Patients: To be good or outstanding at everything we do;
Population: To work seamlessly with partners to improve lives;
We run services from Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals, Birmingham & Midland Eye Centre, Birmingham Treatment Centre, the Lyng and Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre. Our GP practices and community teams provide care in schools, healthcare centres and at home.
Our next milestone is opening the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH), a once in a career opportunity to shape care transformation within and beyond the hospital walls.
Developing and caring for our People is fundamental. We were one of the first Trusts to provide the Real Living Wage, as well as a Live and Work scheme to support people at risk of homelessness into paid work and training. We offer a range of staff benefits, health & wellbeing support and will help you to bring your ambition to life through our bespoke training and development programmes. As “People” is one of our three strategic objectives, we make a continued commitment to prioritise support for all our colleagues.
Healthcare services have a significant impact on the environment. We are committed to embedding sustainable practices. We expect all colleagues to support the delivery of our Green Strategic Plan and to drive positive changes in their department.
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join the SWB Alcohol Care Team which has gained national attention from Public Health England and NHS England for the innovative high quality service provided.
We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated band 4 Alcohol Practitioner who has an interest in addiction and a passion for improving the care of patients with alcohol misuse issues. This practitioner will be responsible for the assessment of alcohol dependent patients and those who are drinking at a harmful / hazardous level and will provide psycho-social interventions. They will have a caseload of patients who will be supported both pre and post detox, and they will respond to the needs of patients attending hospital frequently for a variety of reasons.
The Alcohol Care Team work at both City and Sandwell hospitals until we move into our new acute hospital, The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in the future.
** Please note that in the near future the Alcohol Care Team will become the Drug and Alcohol Care Team, therefore the job title and job description will change to Drug and Alcohol Practitioner. The successful applicant will be responsible for the care, management and support of patients attending hospital with drug or alcohol issues **
Main duties of the job
The Alcohol Practitioner will use their knowledge and experience to holistically assess patients who are in hospital and who have issues with alcohol. They will develop therapeutic relationships and provide appropriate advice and motivational support. They will make appropriate referrals into internal and external services to meet the needs of the individual.
They will liaise with nurses and doctors to ensure effective communication and use these opportunities to provide information on addiction to improve the knowledge of clinical staff.
They will screen patients to identify those at risk from alcohol related health and social problems and those whose health is being damaged by alcohol and provide brief interventions as appropriate.
They will manage a small caseload of patients who are unsuitable or unwilling to engage in community services.
Working for our organisation
The Alcohol Practitioner will be welcomed into the Alcohol Care Team. We are a friendly and passionate team and all of the team members have the shared vision to improve this service to meet (or exceed) the needs of the local population who have alcohol misuse issues. We are the opposite of change resistant and love to be challenged and to trial new ways of working.
The team is relaxed and there is a focus on wellbeing. We recognise that it we don't value our own health, we will be unable to provide the service our patients deserve.
The current working hours are 4 days per week , 0800 - 1800 including weekend working. The post holder will be expected to work cross site at City and Sandwell hospitals.
For an informal discussion please contact Carol Appleyard, Lead Alcohol Nurse, SWB Alcohol Care Team, on 0121 507 5074.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see job description and person specification for detailed job description and main responsibilities.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in working with people with substance misuse issues
- Experience in delivering psycho-social interventions
- Knowledge of the impact alcohol misuse can have on physical health, mental health and social issues.
- Interest in the speciality of addiction
Desirable criteria
- Experience in working in an acute hospital
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths (A-C)
Desirable criteria
- Qualification at NVQ level 3
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Carol Appleyard
- Job title
- Lead Alcohol Nurse
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0121 507 5074
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