Dual Diagnosis Lead
The closing date is 26 September 2025
Wakefield Intensive Home Based Treatment Team has an exciting opportunity for an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (band 7), leading in dual diagnosis to join our Intensive Home Based Treatment Team. This post will combine specialist knowledge in dual diagnosis whilst working as a crisis practitioner within this highly motivated, multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals.
You will take a lead for the team in offering assessment, formulation, intervention, and aftercare signposting for those with highly complex mental health and substance misuse dependencies; effective risk management will be an integral part of this role. As well as working with other agencies to support those with Dual Diagnosis needs.
The post holder will lead on providing expert dual diagnosis knowledge to members of the Intensive Home Based Treatment Team whilst also participating in education, development, and support to team colleagues in this highly demanding area of practice.
We will offer regular support and supervision, ensure access to interagency training and facilitate a working environment which recognises and promotes your professional skills and development.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
Main duties of the job
This is an ideal post for either an experienced Senior Mental Health Practitioner wanting to develop further or a current substance misuse specialist/clinical lead who is seeking a change of direction. You will be adaptable, committed, well organised, and able to work well under pressure, along with an ability to demonstrate leadership skills and deliver supervision to colleagues. You will be committed to team working, have excellent practice skills, and the ability to work flexibly and creatively in order to meet the needs of service users and their carers. You will be supported in the role by the wider team and those in specialist roles.
You will be RMN/SW/OT qualified, have comprehensive knowledge of assessment and care management for people in mental health crisis, along with a specialist interest in the area of dual diagnosis. You will have a full awareness and understanding of the current mental health agenda and be committed to anti-discriminatory practice and to working in a way which empowers service users
The service operates 24 hours a day 365 days a year and practitioners work a shift system including nights on a rotational basis. The senior clinician may be required to work these shifts as required, but will normally work weekdays which may be up to 8pm, with flexibility in these hours being supported in line with trust values.
For informal enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Sedgwick (IHBTT Manager, 01924 316263).
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we’re accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we’re run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
To provide nursing and clinical leadership and maintain professional accountability within the specialist area of practice.
To develop and maintain professional standards of nursing practice within the specialist area.
To identify, develop and maintain an evidence base in line with the Clinical Governance agenda.
Key Result Areas:
1. To lead the delivery of nursing care in the specialist area of practice, taking responsibility for provision of direct nursing care
2. To be clinically accountable and maintain standards of nursing care, participating in the recruitment and advising on the selection of nursing staff within the specialist area of practice
3. To participate in local, regional and national networks to identify best practice and work collaboratively with professional leads and service managers through the clinical governance framework to adopt, develop and maintain evidence based practice
4. To have an expert level of skill and advise others through clinical supervision systems on the interpersonal skills necessary to develop a therapeutic alliance with emotionally and psychologically disturbed service users and their carers
5. To demonstrate an expert level of knowledge in the specialist areas and advise others on working in partnership with service users, carers and other professionals in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of biopsychosocial programmes of care within the CPA framework
6. To participate in the identification, monitoring and evaluation of clinical risk within the specialist area and taking a lead in developing action to minimise the risk
7. To participate in the Trusts appraisal system taking responsibility for identifying and addressing own professional development needs and influencing and being involved in the continuous professional development of other directorate staff
8. To develop and implement training packages to educate others in relation to the specialist area of practice, providing specialist knowledge and influencing the continued development of clinical services within the Trust
9. To take a leadership role in the development and implementation of Trust policy and procedure and adherence to NHS and NMC guidelines
10. To have an advanced level of knowledge and extensive experience of application of the legislative framework in which mental health services are delivered
11. To take personal responsibility for the maintenance of paper and electronic client and Trust records including data related to own activity
12. To identify areas for and carry out clinical audit and develop opportunities for participation in clinical research
13. To accept referral from other mental health and social care professionals for assessment of risk and needs of clients with complex presentations, contributing to clinical formulation and the development of specialist treatment packages, taking personal responsibility for own contribution and management of own workload.
Trust Values:
The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respect at all time. The post holder must at all times act in accordance with the Trusts Values:
Respectful
Person first and in the centre
Improve and be outstanding
Relevant today, ready for tomorrow
Families and carers matter
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* RMN with substantial demonstrable years post registration experience at a senior level including substantial years current experience in specialist area
* Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
* Diploma level post registration training related to specialist area
* Educated to Degree standard
Training.
* Training and experience in clinical supervision
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience
* Evidence of leading clinical development
* Experience in use of PowerPoint
Special Knowledge and Skills
* Detailed knowledge of relevant Government legislation ( CPA, MHA, etc )
* Excellent interpersonal / communication skills
* Knowledge, appreciation and implementation of evidence based practice
* Enthusiasm and innovative with an ability to identify and lead developments within specialist area
* Expert clinical skills
* Ability to take a lead in multi-disciplinary team working
* Basic computer skills
* Experience in the use of clinical audit tools and methodology
* Research appreciation skills and ability to apply advanced clinical experience to development of complex treatment packages
* Ability to influence and educate others
Personal Attributes
* A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
* Flexibility within working hours
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.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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