Clinical Nurse Specialist (Addictions)
The closing date is 19 May 2026
The Addictions Directorate with CNWL Foundation Trust is a large, well established provider which offers a wide range of specialist NHS drug and alcohol treatment interventions to the diverse and multicultural populations in Central and North West London. Our drug and alcohol services include community services, A&E liaison services, Peripatetic nurses, Family Therapy, a National Problem Gambling Service and a Club Drug Clinic.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic and experienced nurse to join our team. If you have a passion for delivering high‑quality expert care in Addictions, then we want you to join our team in the heart of Hounslow.
Main duties of the job
* To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team as the Keyworker responsible for the delivery of high standards of nursing care to clients assessed and admitted according to their clinical needs, and in accordance with up‑to‑date evidence‑based practice and relevant Trust clinical protocol and policies.
* To assess continuously the psychological, emotional, social and rehabilitative needs of own clients/patients, taking into account the needs of family, local community and developing systematic plans for care and evaluation of treatment plans.
* To be able to assess and case manage clients who inject drugs, in particular assessing injection sites and be conversant with the precepts of harm reduction.
About us
Our substance use services are dedicated to helping reduce the harm caused by substance use; helping people overcome their dependency on substances and helping clients and their families rebuild their lives and enable recovery. We are committed to working in partnership with other providers and service users in local systems of treatment and recovery.
CNWL is committed to providing high quality, evidence‑based treatment options and is a learning organisation which promotes staff competence and training and values clinical governance, audit and research. We are linked with Imperial College, University of London and are committed to evaluating our services and developing new and innovative approaches.
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties:
To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team in the management and treatment provision of the specialist service to people with problematic use of novel psychoactive substances with associated problem drink and drug use attending the service/unit, including harm minimisation approaches, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, care planning, individual intervention, health assessments and education and detoxification programmes, pre and post test BBVs counselling and vaccination and group work.
To manage FP10 Printing of Controlled Drugs for the service, i.e preparing and printing of prescriptions.
To provide case management and direct clinical care to a defined number of complex clients including clients dual diagnosed with mental health and physical health issues, concurrent with substance misuse problems, as agreed with the Service Manager. This includes assessment, care planning and providing specialist nursing care.
To use agreed and established Treatment Outcome Monitoring Tools (TOP) and any other relevant quality measures.
To contribute to the development, provision and review of care plans.
To counsel individuals about their substance use and related behaviours, using motivational interviewing, relapse management and other evidence‑based interventions,
To provide clinical advice and support to other colleagues within the health care setting and to other agencies concerned with substance misuse.
To be responsible for the safe and effective storage and administration of drugs, exercising responsibility for the custody and maintenance of statutory records of such drugs in accordance with the Trust Policies/Procedures on the supply and carriage of drugs in the community
To ensure full risk assessments and risk management is delivered effectively.
To undertake dry blood spot testing for BBV and urinalysis when required
To screen clients at risk of, or affected by, blood borne diseases and to plan and agree service responses according to needs.
To provide education and to assertively promote Hepatitis B vaccination for clients who are at risk of contracting the virus.
To administer Hepatitis B vaccination in accordance with CNWL Medicine Policies and Protocols.
To provide pre and post test discussion to clients screened for blood borne viruses in accordance with CNWL guidelines.
To ensure the CNWL Hepatitis care plan is used for all clients.
To collaborate with the individual Statutory, Non‑Statutory teams, GPs, Primary Care Services, Virology, Chemical Pathology and Liver/ Gastroenterology Departments, and provide expert care without direct medical supervision, using clinical guidance documents and patient group directions as agreed by the Trust.
To assist in the transfer of individuals between the service and Hepatology/Gastroenterology and other relevant agencies
To be familiar with the Trust and local Resuscitation, Infection Control and Needle Stick Injury Policies and Procedures.
To attend mandatory yearly updates on CPR and Anaphylaxis training.
To ensure an understanding and implementation of clinical governance
The post holder will work within CNWLs Child Protection Policy and in partnership within all agencies responsible for ensuring compliance with the local Safeguarding Childrens Board working practices.
To prepare reports and attend client meetings such as professional net work meetings, Child Protection Case Conferences and Core Group meetings as required.
To plan and agree service responses which meet the individual need and circumstances of clients at risk of, or affected by, substance misuse during pregnancy.
To recognise the professional duty of care to protect where clients present a risk to themselves or others, and comply with statutory requirements regarding Safeguarding Children, Child Protection including the Children Act 1989 and Hidden Harm guidelines.
To assess risk behaviours of clients, provide information and implications of any risks identified on health and social well‑being and work with clients to address and modify risk behaviours to promote positive changes.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Evidence of continuing personal development and post‑registration training in the nursing care, assessment and treatment of substance misuse clients.
* Diploma in Drugs and Alcohol Studies or equivalent qualification
* Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
* Completed the Motivational Interviewing Training Module
Previous Experience
* Substantial experience in Mental or general Health
* Experienced in the supply and administration of Hepatitis vaccines
* Experienced and competent in the supply and administration of CNWL Trust Hepatitis Patient Group Directions
* Extensive clinical experience
* Experience in undertaking Risk Assessments and Risk Management
* Teaching and Assessing qualification ENB 998 / SLICE or equivalent e.g.: mentorship
* Community Nursing Experience
* Experience of working in and delivering services to injecting drug users/street homeless clients
* Experience of teaching others and willingness to undertake Teaching and Assessing qualification within six months of commencing post.
Skills and knowledge
* Knowledge of different treatment models and pathways in addictions
* An understanding of safeguarding issues in relation to adults and children
* Ability to work independently and to prioritise effectively
* Ability to work within a harm minimisation model
* Motivational Interviewing skills / Relapse Management skills
* IT literate
* Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills
* Experience of working within a multi‑disciplinary team
* Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach, which considers the needs of the whole person
* Knowledge of prescribing issues in a drug service
* Experience of working with stimulant users and people with alcohol problems
* Experience of managing a caseload within the community
* Awareness/knowledge of research skills
* Awareness of counselling models
* Motivational Interviewing skills Relapse Management skills
* Non‑judgemental, empathic
* Able to engage in frank discussions with clients about high risk behaviours
* Committed to multidisciplinary team work
* Committed to Service User involvement
* Flexible & responsive to a must have the ability to understand and implement the Equal and Diversity policy at a level appropriate to the job developing service.
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.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
£45,953 to £54,254 a year Per annum incl. HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
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