Substance Misuse Worker – AR in London

Contract: Hackney Council, Hackney, London

Posted: 2 weeks ago

Job Description

POST TITLE: CYPS Substance Misuse Treatment Worker

DIRECTORATE: Children and Young People’s Service

SERVICE: CYPS Substance Misuse Service, Young Hackney

GRADE: P02

LOCATION: Within London Borough of Hackney

RESPONSIBLE TO: YP Substance Misuse Team Leader

CORE HOURS: 10.00am – 4.00 pm Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend work and flexible working is required.

HOURS OF WORK: 36

Purpose

To deliver the treatment function of the CYPS substance misuse service. The substance misuse worker will provide effective support, targeted and specialist interventions (covering tiers 2 and 3) to a caseload of clients and be an integral part of an accessible, integrated and flexible service that targets the needs of all young people aged 8 up to 25 years old in Hackney, including those in contact with the criminal justice system.

The role will work as part of the team to provide a range of easy access services within the borough including drop-in provision, satellite services and evening provision, referring to other professionals where appropriate.

To provide an accessible substance misuse service to young adults up to the age of 25 years old, who live, are educated, attend training, employment or have a significant connection to Hackney.

To seek and engage with young adults who may have no or little contact with services for young people and who are deemed to be vulnerable.

To provide advice, information, education, support and interventions to young adults who have engaged in or are at risk of developing problems associated with drugs/alcohol use or who have come into contact with the criminal justice system for drug-related offences.

To positively engage young adults in need using a range of creative and proactive interventions.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of clients referred to Young People’s service for substance misuse issues, taking responsibility for planning a suitable programme of interventions and support.
• Provide high quality effective and responsive treatment interventions for young people identified with substance misuse needs, giving them encouragement to get involved in activities that complement and enhance their education, training and employment.
• Provide additional support as required at critical times and stages of a young person’s development.
• Support young people to do things for themselves individually and collectively and to be active participants in their community.
• Actively promote the physical and emotional well-being of young people, within all aspects of the work of Young Hackney.
• Regularly liaise with staff in other teams within CYPS, the Young Offending Team and elsewhere in the council to share information and to encourage referrals into the substance misuse service.
• Work one on one with young people, being flexible to deliver interventions in appropriate settings, including lone working.
• Provide comprehensive and effective screening, assessment and interventions for young people who have substance misuse issues, have committed drug-related offences or have other related issues.
• Provide high quality clinical and therapeutic support to caseload of young people taking a holistic approach that builds resilience and addresses housing, family and relationships, financial issues, education, liaising with other services as necessary.
• Design and deliver a package of interventions and support that is tailored to individual need, e.g. duration, intensity, and age, development, vulnerability.
• Utilise a range of effective harm reduction strategies appropriate to young drug/alcohol users.
• Stay up to date with latest drug trends and treatment guidelines and consistently deliver a high quality professional service.
• Work with clients to ensure the appropriate treatment pathway is available to them including assessing the need for referral into prescribing, detox, day treatment or residential treatment facilities (tier 4).
• Support and facilitate an appropriate exit and transition strategy from the service, including signposting to other council services or preparing suitable clients for transition into Adult drug and alcohol services.
• Monitor and report on own performance indicators by entering all clients into the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) in an accurate and timely way and that Treatment Outcome Monitoring forms are completed as necessary.
• Monitor and evaluate all sessions and intervention to inform future planning and delivery of substance misuse interventions.
• Actively seek to solve problems and provide innovative solutions.
• Ability to work autonomously, making appropriate decisions around the treatment pathway for service users. Identifying wrap around services and working collaboratively with other professionals and partners.
• Ability to identify the need to seek support and escalate concerns as they arise.
• Deliver interventions and support for young people who have a family member with a substance misuse problem.
• Develop/participate in group work as agreed with Service Manager and Clinical Supervisor.
• Ensure that council safeguarding procedures are followed at all times and take responsibility for own training needs.
• Attend Young People’s Substance Misuse Team meetings, reviews and development meetings as required.
• Perform any other duties which correspond reasonably to the general character of the post and are commensurate with the appropriate level of responsibility and are appropriate to the employee’s background, skills and abilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A recognised professional qualification, certificate or training in Youth and Community work, Substance Misuse, Social Work, Health or equivalent qualification in related field at NVQ level 4.
• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area or equivalent expertise gained through extensive experience.

Experience

• Significant experience of working in a related field with young people with complex needs i.e. youth & community work, social work or teaching.
• Experience of working with people affected by substance misuse.
• Experience of delivering one to one case management or advocacy work and managing own caseload.
• Experience of effective engagement and motivation techniques with young people.
• Experience of working in an inner city multicultural environment with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• To have experience of working with a local authority and in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency work.

Skills

• Ability to demonstrate empathy, understanding and a solution/outcome focus.
• Ability to communicate effectively with young people and to develop trust in a therapeutic relationship that encourages positive engagement.
• Interview and assessment skills.
• Ability to assess risk and an understanding of child protection and governance.
• Ability to plan, review, deliver and evaluate effective social, educational and motivational interventions and drug treatments within an outcome-focused framework.
• Ability to initiate and maintain effective communication and working relationships with relevant colleagues, services and agencies.
• An ability to work in partnership with other practitioners to deliver effective interventions and wraparound support for young people.
• An understanding of the work of other key professional practitioners and ability to effectively liaise with them with regards to consultation or referral.
• Able to lead young people and work on own initiative.
• Ability to work flexibly around the needs of the young person, including arranging meetings at appropriate times and locations.

Knowledge and understanding

• Up to date and in-depth knowledge of the physiological, psychological and social effects of substance misuse.
• Knowledge of current young people’s substance misuse service frameworks and guidelines.
• Knowledge of local services for children and young people and referral pathways in order to provide a holistic service that caters to multiple needs, including when to refer Tier 4 services.
• Understanding of client needs assessment, session planning and evaluation.
• Understanding of needs of young people in culturally rich and diverse communities.
• Knowledge of vulnerable high-risk groups in relation to substance misuse and young people.
• Knowledge of child protection and working practice to safeguard vulnerable young people including hidden harm.
• In depth understanding of a variety of service delivery and treatment options and how to tailor them to be delivered in a diverse setting.
• Knowledge of standard IT packages, including Microsoft Office and online database software.

Other

• Willing to work unsociable hours including evenings and weekends.
• May be required to work with young people who have demonstrated violent or sexually harmful behaviours towards others, and who present a high risk of harm to self or others.

Hackney is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and operates stringent safer recruitment procedures. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS Check.