Drug & Alcohol Community Engagement Worker - Connections
The PHA’s main aim in the commissioning of the Drugs & Alcohol Coordination Teams (DACTs) is the development and delivery of integrated education and prevention resources to raise awareness of the impact of drugs and alcohol locally, under the direction of the PHA and DACTs. The post-holder will be part of Extern’s Belfast DACT Connections service, operating in the Belfast Trust area.Extern’s Belfast Connections Workers play a crucial role in supporting local communities with ongoing and emerging alcohol and substance related themes and trends by providing prevention and early intervention advice, designing, and delivering awareness raising sessions and training to community providers, signposting to drug and alcohol services within the area and working alongside the regional Connections teams to deliver on regional campaigns such as Alcohol Awareness Week and RAPID. The Connections service works to implement the action plan set out by the Belfast Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team (BDACT) within the local community.Specific To PostWith the manager of the service, postholders will work with the Belfast Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Team and the PHA Belfast lead for drugs and alcohol to deliver on the aims of the action plan which is focused on the needs within local communities.The post is an opportunity to utilise skills such as innovation and imagination to engage with local communities using various platforms (social media, community events, awareness raising sessions ect) and gathering knowledge on emerging trends in alcohol and substance use with the objective of presenting these creatively to local partners and communities and regionally when required.Extern is a leading provider of services to vulnerable people, families and communities. We offer an attractive employee package which includes generous holiday entitlement, paid sick leave and maternity leave, excellent pension planning and an employee well-being service.
Responsibilities
* Engage with local stakeholders and Community representatives, individuals and groups to provide signposting, guidance and resources on issues impacting local people.
* Actively promote the role of the BDACT Connections Service within the BH&SCT Community.
* Increase public awareness of the risks associated with increased alcohol & drug use.
* Promote public awareness of support services available in local community and how to access these.
* Consistent use of social media platforms to promote the Connections service and any local or regional campaigns eg: Dry January, Feel good February.
* Deliver alcohol and/or drug awareness-raising sessions to key target groups or areas in the community.
* Deliver training to enable community leaders / workers / facilitators to deliver basic information and awareness sessions to their communities.
* Effective communication and joint working between Service Providers in the locality, information sharing on service delivery, service pressures, referral pathways and emerging issues and trends.
* Ensure links and information exchange with existing local/community infrastructures inc. mental health/suicide prevention networks.
* Increase the number of organisations promoting Connections’ public/community events and initiatives.
* Always provide effective quality of service, with a commitment to upholding the rights of service users by ensuring Connections delivers a high standard of communication, information dissemination and facilitation.
* Provide resources and signposting to individuals, groups and communities, responding to service user and stakeholder queries promptly.Promote Service User Involvement wherever possible and practicable within service delivery.
* Gain consent from individuals before communicating with agencies on their behalf (aside from Child Protection/ Safeguarding protocols- as per Extern policy directives)
* Prioritise Safeguarding concerns and adhere to Organisational Safeguarding policy and procedures ensuring all reporting and recording is completed in a timely and professional manner.
* Advise Line Manager of any Safeguarding actions immediately to ensure all procedures are accurately followed.
* Engage in multi-agency/multi-disciplinary partnerships and attend relevant meetings to promote the work of Connections and ensure the service, and/or other relevant local services, is at the forefront of drug and alcohol initiatives.
* Attend and participate in internal and external meetings as required and attend external team meetings, multi-disciplinary forums, Stakeholder groups in accordance with funder requests
* Represent the Connections Manager externally as requested.Develop networks and relationships with other agencies, particularly those in the community and voluntary sectors.
* Ensure that your own communication (verbal and written) with others is always professional; appropriate, clear and concise and maintains confidentiality.
* Ensure that communication is disseminated effectively and in a timely fashion to funders, stakeholders and DACTs as required.
* Commitment to partnership working and a multi-agency approach to promote the Connections project.
* Prioritise safeguarding principles including confidentiality and consent and liaise with Line Management structure to ensure compliance with internal and external safeguarding policies.
* Develop groupwork/ environmental risk assessments where relevant and consistently review and amend as appropriate.
* Follow necessary risk management procedures required to work with service users in the community.
* Adhere to safeguarding procedures and relevant external standards.Adhere to organisational Lone Working Policy, Peoplesafe service guidelines and relevant operational risk-management frameworks.
* Use relevant organisational measures to manage Lone Working risks as they arise.Use On-Call service as/when necessary.
* Responsible for factual and timely recording and reporting, including escalation procedures and line management structures.
* Compliance with legislation (GDPR) and confidentiality and consent requirements as per NISCC registration.
* Ensure compliance with necessary recording requirements and responsibility for accurate and timely completion e.g. Extern database/ website, service user files, case notes.
* Contribute to requested reporting formats as per funder direction and ensure these are completed in a professional and informed manner, given that they reflect the work and role of the Connections Team.
* Responsible for engaging in the supervisory process as a Supervisee.Request supervision/ additional supervision when necessary and as per NISCC guidelines.Prepare appropriately for supervision sessions as per line management direction.
* Complete induction training prior to service user engagement.Responsible for keeping abreast of current legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
* Attend mandatory training as and when required including Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding.Accountable for working knowledge of all relevant organisational policies.Maintain own training record for auditing purposes.
* Adhere to organisational health and safety policies and procedures e.g. Lone Working Policy, Guardian 24.
* Participate in any fire drills and evacuation procedures as dictated by Line Manager.Use of Life Support staff care package as required.Maintain awareness of all environmental risk assessments in office space.
* Adhere to safeguarding procedures and relevant internal and external policies and standards at all times.Report safeguarding concerns, in a timely manner, in line with Extern policy.Attend mandatory safeguarding training.
* Where appropriate, be actively involved in the preparation of costings for items required for the project, in partnership with the Connections Manager.Ensure compliance to the standards required by Funders and Commissioners.
* Adhere to Extern’s policies and procedures in relation to all finance and expenditure.
* Contribute to regular written reports to all funders and commissioners in particular the local (Belfast) PHA drug and alcohol lead and BDACT Chair(s).
* Assist in the completion of quarterly statistical reports and returns to funders, in line with service level agreements and the requirements of funders and commissioners e.g. PHA.
* Assist in the completion of Annual Report on the service operations/project outcomes.
* Assist in the implementation of a volunteer programme to enhance service provision and to broaden the scope of current service delivery.Participate in Regional Connections forums and any resulting actions required.
* Carry out any other duties reasonably requested by the organisation.Assist the Connections Manager as appropriate and directed
Skills and Qualifications
* Minimum of level 3 qualification (as set out in the RQF Framework) in a relevant field/subject. Relevant fields include, but are not confined to, substance misuse treatment, youth work and community development.
* ORIn the absence of the qualification requirement, 2 years recent, relevant experience of working in a relevant field / setting (experience can be from paid/unpaid employment, voluntary work, student placement).
* 6 months substantial experience in a relevant field / setting (experience can be from paid/unpaid employment, voluntary work, student placement)
* Demonstrate experience of networking with a wide range of agencies in the voluntary and statutory social care field and beyond.
* Demonstrate experience of designing and delivering health-focused training, awareness or information sessions.
* Demonstrate excellent communication skills (including listening and influencing skills), networking abilities and a proven track record of interagency working within a health, community, council, criminal justice or social care setting(s).
* Ability to use I.T. systems Microsoft Word, Excel, email and input information to data bases.
* Full driving licence valid for use in UK and Ireland and access to use of a car, with appropriate business insurance, in order to provide transport to Service Users.
* please note relevant business insurance will be required on commencement of employment.
* Be registered or willing to register with NISCC within 3 months of commencement of employment (you will be required to provide evidence of NISCC registration).
* A substance misuse qualification at level 3 or above.Experience of running social or health issues campaigns/events.Experience of the development of posters, leaflets etc.
* Experience of the use of Social Media platforms and design of social media content through the use of software eg Canva.
Further Information
The role involves working in partnership with stakeholders on the planning and implementation of both local and regional drug and alcohol initiatives by delivering on actions to address alcohol and substance use. You will promote and signpost to services and resources that respond to drug and alcohol issues and the needs of the local community.You will work alongside the other local DACT’s that are in place across Northern Ireland in a collaborative approach. The team work closely with colleagues across NI to deliver timely education and prevention resources about current drug and alcohol trends, with the aim of empowering the local community to have awareness and understanding of these and providing a skill set to community workers through training sessions to enable them to provide brief interventions within their communities. The team also signpost interested individuals and groups to relevant drug and alcohol services within the area.The service supports regional planning as agreed by each Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Team, which includes an agenda of specific priorities, activities and events to ensure that communities are provided with current information on services which support substance and alcohol use relevant to their locality. The postholder will focus on developing and supporting networks, interagency working, task focused projects and organizing and facilitating regional and local events, training, awareness sessions and initiatives.The postholder should have a specific skillset in all aspects of social media and the use of on-line platforms to promote the project and the areas of training and information sharing which are managed by the team.
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