Location of Role - Baldock
Main Purpose of the job
Main Purpose of Role
Holistically supporting adults with a variety of complex needs, which include offending, substance misuse issues, homelessness and domestic abuse within a commissioned supported project and floating support as directed. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering high quality, trauma informed, and person centred, recovery focussed interventions. You will over see the day to day activities at the service, alongside supervising a small team of workers and volunteers. The service is a preventative service, for women aged 18 and over, who have housing and support needs. There will be no maximum age for women to be supported by the service. The service will be gender informed, trauma informed and embed the principles of MEAM in its service delivery. It will have women and their unique support needs as its focus. The service is for the provision of safe accommodation with support for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have support needs.
The duration of support will often vary depending upon individual's needs and can be provided for up to two years.
Develop or sustain the women in the service's ability and capacity to maintain their accommodation and live independently in the community. There may be times when a woman has moved into the service from prison or hospital, or has been street homeless, where they experienced abuse and trauma, or where they have been in accommodation that was unsuitable and not able to meet their needs.
Increase an individual's ability to maintain their tenancy and meet occupancy obligations.
Maximise social inclusion and reduce social isolation.
Improve an individual's access to education, training and employment and engagement in meaningful activities.
Minimise the use of all crisis and emergency services including the criminal justice system.
Improve access to drug and alcohol support services to improve health outcomes and reduce any related contact with the criminal justice system.
Improve access to health services and achieve improved health outcomes for individuals, including women's health.
Enable individuals to move onto either alternative supported housing or to live independently in a range of accommodation options.
Enable individuals to live a life that is considered safe, where the risk to them is reduced.
Support individuals to learn about healthy boundaries within all types of relationships.
Support individuals to be able to develop family relationships in a safe way.
Increase digital inclusion amongst individuals using the service.
Facilitate groups that support the clients to address their educational, vocational and housing needs.
Actively pursue and maintain good relations with relevant agencies: including care co-ordinators, social care, health, enforcement etc.
Work effectively with external agencies and develop excellent working relationships with commissioners, care managers, other potential sources of referral and joint working
Work closely with North Herts Council, to help facilitate the move on process of housing for the service user.
The post holder will work 37.5 hours per week and will organise working time in such a way as to complete tasks within each working week. Flexibility in the hours will be required including evening shifts.
This role reports to the Housing Team Leader or Housing Manager.
Role Specific Responsibilities
Service Delivery To undertake comprehensive assessments and risk assessments of service users as part of assessment process and as new information comes to light and risk levels change
* To lead service in absence of Service Manager/Team Leader
* To conduct care plans and care plan reviews with service users in line with Druglink's care planning policy.
* To deliver a structured therapeutic support programme through group work sessions and one to one intervention.
* To maintain accurate and timely records of service user participation in the therapeutic programme.
* To utilise a flexible approach and where required participate in activities and tasks which directly respond to client need.
* To carry out drug and alcohol testing as required.
* To uphold all Druglink policies and procedures and actively promote equality of opportunity in the course of your work.
* To maintain a safe and welcoming environment ensuring health and safety standards are adhered to.
* Ensure regular consultation with service users and promote their equality, diversity and rights To contribute positively to relevant internal and external forums.
* To collaborate and communicate effectively with colleagues, partner agencies and family members.
* To undertake any other duties as instructed by the Housing Manager, Team Leader and Druglink Directors that will contribute to fulfilling Druglink aims.
* To ensure all activities are managed in a way that supports Druglink Quality Assurance Strategy.
* To facilitate post treatment reviews of service users and end of treatment satisfaction surveys.
* To protect vulnerable adults and children from abuse and to report any concerns immediately to the Housing Manager.
* To facilitate an onward referral process during and at the end of treatment for all service users, highlighting ongoing treatment/ support options, housing referrals, mental health referrals, ETE options etc.
Quality Control
To work closely with the Housing Manager/Team Leader to ensure that all service delivery is in-line with the service specification and service contracts, and meets internal and external agreed targets.
To ensure that all information in relation to safeguarding is reported promptly and accurate records are maintained
To ensure that the service operates within and maintains clinical governance procedures in line with Druglink requirements
To ensure that all incidents and complaints are dealt with promptly and reported in line with Druglink requirements
Participate in regular training, supervision and appraisal to monitor and improve performance.
Communications
To participate in effective weekly team meetings as directed by Team Leader
Liaison
To participate in internal and external working parties as required.
To network with other Druglink managers and external service providers as required.
To liaise closely with your line manager and other senior managers as required.
Learning and Development
To model active participation in learning activities, both formal and informal
To participate in the wider Druglink organisational learning and spread of best practice
To keep up to date with current developments and best practice in the field.
Organisational Responsibilities
DRUGLINK Mission and Values
Promoting and understanding the values, and mission of Druglink Services, including promoting the core values of the Charity, i.e. Respect, Compassion, Justice, Trust and Hospitality. To understand what it means to you in your respective role, to your team and to service delivery.
Safeguarding
Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best practice by ensuring the safeguarding and well being of children and vulnerable adults; develop core competence and continuing professional development in self; ensure that all information required to maintain safeguarding best practice is gained within required timeframes and reviewed and to regularly review all safeguarding cases in supervision with line manager
Equal Opportunities
Druglink is committed to promoting anti-discriminatory practices within society, its organisation and in the promotion of its services to the community. Druglink expects all employees to understand, comply with and to promote its policies in their work and to challenge prejudice and discrimination and where necessary to undertake any appropriate training.
Boundaries and Behaviours
Druglink expects all its employees to observe professional integrity in relationships with service users, peers and other relevant professionals.
Health & Safety
Being responsible for your health and safety and that of colleagues and service users. Employees should co-operate with management and follow established systems of work, use protective equipment where necessary and report defects and hazards to management.
Confidentiality
Treating all information acquired through the course of your employment as confidential and complying with all the appropriate policies, systems and procedures.
Supervision
You will be expected to take part in regular one to one meetings with your line manager, to reflect on learning, boundaries and behaviours personal interactions with people using the service, peers and partner agencies. In addition you will also take part in clinical supervision which provides a safe environment to reflect on your practice/engagement and the inter personal dynamics of your relationship with clients.
Continuous Professional and Personal Development
With its culture of learning DRUGLINK expects all its employees to seek learning opportunities either by attending learning & training events either externally or internally to improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives. Flexibility & Adaptability As services and the needs of people using the service evolves, so too, does your role and you will be expected to embrace change. The information contained in this job profile is not intended to be prescriptive in every detail but to be used as an overall framework of the key components of the role. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances which may affect work demands and priorities.
Location
The main office base for this post will be in Baldock. There is also an expectation that you are able to work across the full range of settings in Hertfordshire where services are delivered. Car Business insurance will be required for this role.
Person Specification:
Essential:
A minimum of 2 years' experience of working directly with clients in substance misuse treatment. Including knowledge of in-house medication requirements, as well as supporting these service users in all types of tenure including Private Sector tenancies. The post holder will have an understanding of the needs of a staff team working in this field.
Experience of formulating comprehensive risk assessments, care planning and reviewing client care
Qualifications and experience in delivering support in a one-to-one and/ or group setting
Ability to negotiate with service users, statutory and voluntary agencies
To be empathetic to the needs and circumstances of service users
An understanding of mental health and social services and knowledge of a wide range of statutory and voluntary support agencies
An ability to deliver independent living and recovery outcomes for service users within a challenging performance driven environment. An understanding of the changing and dynamic environment within which we deliver services.
Ability to establish and maintain clear boundaries with clients
Ability to work on own initiative, use good judgement, prioritise accordingly, meet deadlines and seek help and advice when appropriate.
To demonstrate self awareness and a commitment to diversity and equal opportunities as they relate to service delivery and partnership working. Able to challenge attitudes to change behaviours.
Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
Ability to establish rapport and maintain good relationships with external stakeholders and services using liaison and networking skills
Ability to work within a pressured environment
Ability to positively promote Druglink to attract client referrals and ensure an excellent reputation with partners at all times
Full, clean driving licence with business insurance cover.
Desirable:
Knowledge of Housing, Homelessness and general housing issues
Competent IT skills Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and a willingness to learn and engage with other programmes as required
Desirable Qualifications & Continuous Professional Development
A commitment to own learning and development and the learning and development of others
As part of your Continuous Professional Development you will be expected to attend learning events and training on a regular basis and to reflect on your learning so as to build and develop best practice within your team and across the organisation.
A Counselling qualification and subsequent experience within a substance misuse setting would be advantageous
Career Progression & Development
At Druglink we actively encourage career progression from the talent we have from within and we strive to provide not only promotional progression but to develop a specialism's and lead responsibility roles with teams and other services within Druglink.
Join us in making a difference in the lives of women facing complex challenges. Your expertise could be the key to their recovery journey.
Looking for 1 x Full Time Senior Practitioner
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,031 - £27,189.00 per year
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,031.00-£27,189.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
Education:
* GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
* Substance Misuse: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
* Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person