Brief Treatment and Advice Practitioner

Penmaen House, Penmaen Industrial Estate, Pontllanfriath, Blackwood, NP12 2DY

Hours: 35 hours per week.

Reports to:

Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2026.

The Gwent Drug and Alcohol service provides support to individuals and families affected by substance use across all 5 local authorities. As part of our service re‐launch, we are recruiting for new roles across the service that align with the vision of the Gwent APB Substance Misuse Commissioning Team.

We are seeking empathetic and dedicated individuals with experiences from a range of sectors to join us in establishing a new, innovative drug and alcohol treatment service. We welcome people with experience of working not just in substance misuse – but in housing, mental health, primary care, secondary care, youth services, probation and other sectors that have transferable skills. We welcome individuals with their own lived experience of drug and alcohol use and/or mental health and from those who have supported others with lived experience.

GDAS ValuesGDAS is delivered in consortium with 3 of Wales largest substance misuse providers; Kaleidoscope, Barod and G4S.

The uniqueness of our shared experience is reflected in the following aims for the life of the new contract for the benefit of Gwent communities:

To share our individual specialisms and best practice to enhance our integrated service delivery

To commit to and drive innovation in order to ensure we are constantly improving our treatment offer

To embrace a culture of candour, using lessons learnt as an opportunity to reflect on and improve our systems

To embrace the principles of the Healthier Wales Strategy, collaborating with our social care partners and service users to create a seamless whole system approach that focuses on improving health and wellbeing

To recognise and respond to the movement of individuals across open access and criminal justice pathways by using our knowledge of both Gwent and national criminal justice strategic direction and priorities

Role Purpose

Provide Brief Treatment for service users for low need and/or motivation to change.

Form part of the Contact Team providing advice and assessment.

Main Duties and ResponsibilitiesCase Work

Via 1:1 or group setting, provide the following for the Brief Treatment cohort:

Deliver a range of Brief Treatment holistic interventions, suitable for those requiring short term support.

Create and deliver Brief Treatment packages suitable for a range of treatment needs and substance type.

Link with community services (i.e. for Education, Employment and Training), Mutual Aid and the GDAS Wellbeing College, to co‐ordinate a holistic package of care.

Comprehensive exit planning, signposting and onwards referral.

Provide structured group work programmes and sessions.

Deliver courses on the Wellbeing College that enhance the provision of Brief Treatment services.

Undertake risk assessment and development of risk management plans.

Inspire and enthuse individuals to achieve and maintain positive lifestyles changes.

Information, Assessment & Advice

Form part of the Single Point of Contact Information, Assessment and Advice Team by delivering virtual/phone and assessment as part of the SPOC rota.

Harm Reduction Provision

Deliver harm reduction services and advice, including provision of Prenoxad Training, Needle Exchange Programme (NEX) and Dry Blood Spot Testing (DBST).

Compliance and Information Management

Ensure compliance with internal case management systems and client records.

Undertake appropriate monitoring, review and evaluation procedures.

Adhere to host organisation and GDAS policies and procedures including safeguarding and boundaries.

Undertake appropriate administrative tasks.

Networking and Awareness Raising

Foster and sustain good working relationships with stakeholders, including local partners within the local authorities and the health board.

Represent host organisation or GDAS in appropriate forums and groups.

Deliver talks, workshops, presentations, and provide training where appropriate.

Development & Training

Provide a lead role in an area related to the role i.e. safeguarding, needle exchange (full training will be provided)

Engage in a range of tools and methods designed to support further development in practice, including, but not limited to, the GDAS Worker Development Tool, Supervision, Reflective Practice, and Group Supervisions.

Commitment to Learning and Practice Plans, ensuring knowledge and training remain up to date.

Other

Ensure sound joint working practice to deliver an integrated holistic care pathway by working as required with other GDAS disciplines and teams.

Communicate host organisation and GDAS vision and deliver upon mission, corporate strategy and business plans.

Take up arrangements for support and participate in all relevant internal meetings.

Undertake other reasonable duties as requested but which may not be specified within the job description.

Person SpecificationQualifications and training

Expected to meet basic skills in numeracy and literacy.

Completed accredited training in structured psychosocial interventions.

NVQ Level 3 or above in a health and social care qualification or equivalent.

Counselling qualifications.

Role-related knowledge, skills and experience

Experience of giving advice and support concerning housing, benefits, education and employment.

Knowledge of the harmful effects associated with drug and alcohol use, in relation to health, social welfare, housing, employability and relationships.

Knowledge of ACE informed practice.

Knowledge of safeguarding procedures.

Ability to develop relationships with strategic partners and other external parties/ organisations.

Record keeping and report writing.

Familiarity with Microsoft 365.

Experience of working within the field of substance use.

Demonstrable experience of providing manualised interventions.

Trained in Relapse Prevention, Breaking Free.

Knowledge of ITEP, TCU.

Knowledge of sexual health, mental health awareness, and harm reduction initiatives.

Experienced Palbase user.

Interpersonal skills

Empathic.

Credible.

Unconditional positive regard.

Ability to work in partnership with those who use our services.

Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.

Ability to strengthen self‐efficacy in others.

Supports a Recovery and Harm Reduction ethos.

Personal drive and resilience.

Quality and compliance focus.

Initiative and creativity.

Organised & structured approach to work.

Ability to manage time effectively.

Personal Attributes

Commitment to uphold the GDAS values.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly around the needs of the people who use our services. This may include work at multiple locations and flexible working hours outside of the normal working week and may include weekends.

This role involves travel across Gwent to offices and community settings (with occasional possibility of transporting volunteers/clients). Therefore the post holder is required to have a full current driving licence, permitting them to drive their vehicle in the UK, and have full access to their own personal mode of transport which is insured for business use.

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