The Role
NHS Lanarkshire is recruiting a compassionate and motivated Health Practitioner to join our Harm Reduction Team, focusing on young people’s harm reduction across South Lanarkshire.
You will design, deliver and support a range of evidence-based harm reduction and health improvement programmes for children, young people, and care-experienced groups.
The post promotes early intervention, prevention and education, supporting young people to make informed and safer choices.
Working in partnership with schools, youth services, third-sector organisations, social work and health teams, you will contribute to building local capacity and consistent, trauma-informed practice.
To assist in the development and delivery of Health Promotion activities with the overall aim of improving health and reducing health inequalities in line with Scottish Executive priorities and local priorities and needs.
Key Duties
1. Deliver harm reduction sessions, interventions and resources for young people.
2. Provide consultancy, advice and training to partner agencies.
3. Support implementation of best-practice harm reduction policies and guidance.
4. Develop a delivery network informed by young people
5. Promote rights-based, trauma-informed, person-centred approaches.
6. Lead or contribute to specific harm reduction projects as agreed with the Team Leader.
Why Join Us
This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact in improving outcomes for young people and families across Lanarkshire.
You’ll join a dedicated, supportive and innovative team committed to inclusion, compassion and empowerment.
Additional Information
7. Car driver and willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends
8. Base: Coathill Hospital, Coatbridge, with community outreach.
NHS Lanarkshire
Have you always wanted to work with NHS Lanarkshire? Then this might be the opportunity for you to join Team Lanarkshire!
Here at NHS Lanarkshire, we put the patient at the heart of everything we do. Each colleague within the organisation plays a key role in how we deliver our healthcare services.
We proudly serve a population of 655,000 across rural and urban communities in both North and South Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire is comprised of Acute Services (which currently provide hospital based services over 3 main sites), Corporate & Property & Support Services, North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships which provide integrated primary healthcare and social care services to local communities and surrounding areas.
What we'll need you to bring
9. Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
10. If applicable to the post Registration with the Health Professional Council or Nursing & Midwifery Council or UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists as Associate or Full Member.
11. At least one year’s experience of working in health promotion or a relevant health/health improvement related discipline.
12. Experience in working in one relevant, specific topic or skill-based area e.g. with young people, mental health, physical activity, nursing, community development, training, research.
13. Understanding of the health improvement policy agenda.
14. Project management skills.
15. Partnership working, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
16. Training, facilitation and group work skills.
17. Good written and verbal communication skills.
18. Research and evaluation skills.
19. Organisational and time-management skills.
20. IT skills.
A driving licence is required, this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.
It would be great if you also have
21. Experience applying harm reduction philosophy in practice.
22. Knowledge of trauma-informed and rights-based approaches.
23. Experience engaging care-experienced or at-risk young people.
Contract type
Fixed Term (24 Months)
Full time
37 Hours
Please note this is a 24 Months fixed term post. Where a post only has temporary funding and an existing member of NHS Lanarkshire staff wishes to apply, this will be treated as a secondment. The employee MUST already have written agreement from their line manager to be released on a secondment before applying for the post.
Location and Working Pattern
This role will be based in Harm Reduction Team within Coathill Hospital.
Whilst this advertisement may be for a specific post(s) in a particular location, applicants who are shortlisted for interview may be considered for similar vacancies in alternative locations.
Looking to find out more?
If you’re looking to find out more, then we would love to hear from you!
Why NHS Lanarkshire?
Join us and you will discover a supportive environment where you will have the chance to add to your skills and further your career.
Some of NHS Lanarkshire’s benefits include:
24. A minimum of 27 days annual leave increasing with length of service
25. A minimum of 8 days of public holidays
26. Membership of NHS Pension Scheme, with life insurance benefits (for more information on the NHS Pension Scheme visit the )
27. Paid sick leave increasing with length of service
28. Occupational health services
29. Employee counselling services
30. Work-life Balance policies and procedures
NHS Lanarkshire have a range of support services on topics that can impact both on your working and personal life including occupational health, spiritual care and independent counselling. This support can be accessed using the links on this page.
Further Information
For more information on the role, please refer to the Job Description. If you’re looking for more information on the recruitment process, organisation or the services we provide, please refer to our information pack, or our .