Overview
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (DHCFT) is the lead partner of the Derbyshire Recovery Partnership (DRP), the service commissioned by Public Health in Derbyshire to provide treatment and recovery support to adults using substances or alcohol who have chosen to engage with interventions. The Health Improvement Nurse is a passionate advocate for their patients and explicitly tackles health inequalities and disparities that typify this patient cohort. This role requires practitioners who are enthusiastic and passionate about harm reduction and recovery interventions. The focus is on delivering bespoke harm reduction interventions, BBV testing and vaccinations, smoking cessation advice and referrals, and general health management, with a focus on improving uptake of BBV testing and Hep B vaccinations and reducing health inequalities for those accessing substance and alcohol use treatment.
To assess the need for health improvement interventions for people using substances or alcohol, in order to identify healthcare needs and prioritise support via the most appropriate service. The Health Improvement Nurse will provide appropriate vaccinations and BBV testing, and complete holistic healthcare assessments with patients with relevant co-morbidities. To supply Naloxone to appropriate service users as part of a care package or as a harm reduction intervention. To work closely with GPs, DHCFT Medical Prescribers, Non-Medical Prescribers, Pharmacists and Consultant Psychiatrists to ensure that clients receive an effective and coordinated response to their needs in accordance with local guidance and DHCFT policies. To liaise with mental health services both internal and external to DHCFT to help provide a holistic care package for service users with dual diagnosis, and to work alongside keyworkers and CPNs to support engagement and harm reduction interventions for this group. To provide harm reduction advice and health information to service users, including specialist needle and syringe exchange and advice on safer injecting, healthy eating, and smoking cessation support. To undertake clinical tests with service users including drug tests, BBV tests, blood tests and ECGs in line with DHCFT policy and procedures, and to work with keyworkers and prescribers to incorporate test results into risk assessments and care plans. To support service users into Hepatitis C treatment and liaise with treatment services. The post holder will have a high clinical profile that includes the provision of hands-on care and an overview of all care packages and clinical activities within their area. To provide advice and education about services and drug/alcohol issues to enable people to better understand the issues and access services appropriately. To work with service users involved in the criminal justice system and liaise with appropriate services regarding their treatment provision with a focus on improving health outcomes. To work in relation to the Think Family agenda and work closely with social care and health agencies and professionals when working with parents with substance or alcohol use treatment needs; be proactive in safeguarding children, with child/family focused care planning and risk assessment including home visits where appropriate. To work with clients in both individual and group settings to address issues around the health impact of drug/alcohol use. To support the development and delivery of new initiatives around physical health, including take-home naloxone, mobile ECG and health assessments and advice. To record all activity accurately and in a timely fashion using IT systems, to ensure safe communication and that NDTMS and local reporting requirements are met. The post holder will be working with service users who may have significant issues such as high-risk behaviour, dual diagnosis, and substance use, and will use appropriate support strategies including supervision and Multi-Disciplinary Meetings. Promote and participate in developing a culture of Life-Long Learning. At all times ensure that they and any Health Improvement Team colleagues under supervision attend relevant mandatory training as identified by DHCFT. Actively participate in practice development and encourage continued practice development within the Health Improvement Team and Derbyshire Recovery Partnership. Undertake clinical audits within the designated base, ensuring fridge temperatures, clinic room adequacy, personal alarms and safety measures are compliant.
Responsibilities
* Deliver bespoke harm reduction interventions, BBV testing and vaccinations, smoking cessation advice and referrals, and general health management with a focus on improving uptake of BBV testing and Hep B vaccinations.
* Assess need for health improvement interventions for people using substances or alcohol to identify healthcare needs and prioritise support via the most appropriate service.
* Provide vaccinations and BBV testing, and complete holistic healthcare assessments with patients with relevant co-morbidities.
* Supply Naloxone to appropriate service users as part of a care package or harm reduction intervention.
* Collaborate with GPs, DHCFT Medical Prescribers, Non-Medical Prescribers, Pharmacists and Consultant Psychiatrists to deliver a coordinated response to client needs in line with local guidance and DHCFT policies.
* Coordinate with internal and external mental health services to provide holistic care for service users with dual diagnosis; work with keyworkers and CPNs to support engagement and harm reduction.
* Provide harm reduction advice and health information, including needle and syringe exchange, safer injecting advice, healthy eating guidance, and smoking cessation support.
* Conduct clinical tests (drug tests, BBV tests, blood tests, ECGs) and integrate results into risk assessments and care plans with prescribers and keyworkers.
* Support service users into Hepatitis C treatment and liaise with treatment services.
* Maintain a high clinical profile with hands-on care and oversight of care packages and clinical activities.
* Offer advice and education about services and drug/alcohol issues to improve understanding and access to services.
* Work with clients in criminal justice settings and coordinate with relevant services to improve health outcomes.
* Engage in the Think Family agenda, work with social care and health agencies for parents with substance or alcohol treatment needs, and perform safeguarding and home-visit risk assessments where appropriate.
* Engage with individuals and groups to address health impacts of drug/alcohol use.
* Support development and delivery of new physical health initiatives (e.g., take-home naloxone, mobile ECG, health assessments).
* Record all activity accurately using IT systems to support safe communication and reporting requirements (NDTMS and local).
* Participate in supervision, multidisciplinary meetings, and practice development within the Health Improvement Team and Derbyshire Recovery Partnership.
Qualifications and Skills
* The post holder is a Health Improvement Nurse with the ability to provide hands-on care and manage comprehensive care packages within their area.
* Experience with harm reduction, BBV testing, vaccinations, and naloxone provision is essential.
* Ability to work collaboratively with GPs, prescribers, pharmacists and psychiatrists, and to liaise with mental health services for dual- diagnosis care.
* Competence in risk assessment, clinical testing, and documentation of activities in accordance with local policies.
* Commitment to safeguarding, Think Family approach, and ongoing professional development.
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