Case Manager in West Linton

Join our compassionate team at Castle Craig. Are you organised, compassionate and confident working with people at a vulnerable point in their lives? Castle Craig, a leading residential addiction treatment hospital near West Linton in the Scottish Borders, is seeking a dedicated and empathetic individual to join our Therapy Department as a Case Manager in our admissions Unit. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a caring and professional team that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

As Case Manager, you will support patients as they enter treatment, move through the admissions pathway, and prepare for discharge and continuing care. The role combines patient-facing support, practical coordination, social care liaison and careful administration. It is designed to strengthen the patient journey from admission to discharge, ensuring that key needs are identified early and that support plans are in place before patients leave treatment.

This is a newly developing role and will continue to evolve as our admissions, continuing care and discharge planning processes are strengthened. It would suit someone with experience in healthcare, social care, recovery support, admissions coordination or therapeutic services, who is comfortable working across teams and helping patients with complex practical and social needs. Experience of addiction treatment, mental health, residential care, social care or recovery services would be particularly valuable. An SVQ Level 3 qualification, or willingness to work towards one, would be desirable.

Core purpose of the role

The Case Manager will provide comprehensive support to patients transitioning into and out of the Kirkurd Admissions Unit. The role will help ensure that patients are welcomed, assessed, supported and linked into appropriate continuing care and community services. A key part of the role will be to support discharge planning from the beginning of treatment, helping to identify practical and social needs such as housing, benefits, GP registration, statutory involvement, employment, education, family issues, safeguarding considerations and links to community recovery support.

The post-holder will work closely with therapists, the Continuing Care team, admissions colleagues, recovery staff, external agencies and patients themselves to ensure that care is joined up and that important practical needs are not missed.

Key responsibilities

• Patient admission and onboarding
• Prepare patient folders and relevant documentation.
• Welcome and orient new patients on arrival.
• Conduct the initial “i-interview” with incoming patients.
• Explain key expectations, including smoking policy and language policy.
• Ensure relevant consents are signed and recorded.
• Send psychometric assessment links to patients via the portal.
• Support patients to complete initial psychometrics on a computer where needed.
• Ensure completion of required screening and assessment tasks.
• Send out family questionnaires where appropriate.
• Assist patients relocating from Kirkurd to other units.
• Provide ad hoc support within the Admissions Unit as required.
• Patient pathway and discharge planning
• Support the patient journey from admission through to discharge.
• Help ensure that discharge planning begins early in treatment.
• Open or support the creation of a Continuing Care or Support Plan alongside the Treatment Plan.
• Meet with patients during treatment to identify practical needs and barriers to continuing recovery.
• Support patients prior to discharge to ensure continuing care and external support arrangements are in place.
• Liaise with therapists, the Continuing Care team and other colleagues to ensure smooth handover and follow-up.
• Help launch patients into the online continuing care programme where appropriate.
• Monitor whether agreed discharge actions have been completed or transferred to the appropriate service.
• Social care and practical needs coordination
• Complete or support a structured practical needs assessment during the first week of treatment, or as soon as possible after admission.
• Help identify needs relating to: Housing and risk of homelessness, Welfare benefits and financial pressures, GP registration, Social work, housing, justice or other statutory involvement, Family contact and safeguarding considerations, Employment or education, Debt or practical pressures, Existing recovery links and recovery capital.
• Liaise with external agencies such as local authority housing teams, GPs, Citizens Advice, justice services, social work departments, education or employment support services and community recovery organisations.
• Support therapists in managing patients’ social care and welfare-related needs.
• Document actions, referrals, communications and outcomes clearly in the electronic record.
• Help ensure that unresolved needs are transferred appropriately at discharge.
• Confirm at admission whether patients already have continuing care arrangements in place.
• Where arrangements are not in place, initiate or schedule the necessary next steps.
• Liaise with the Continuing Care team regarding patient handover, appointments and follow-up.
• Support applications for continuing care funding where applicable.
• Provide occasional support to the Continuing Care team where appropriate.
• Team support and communication
• Work collaboratively with therapists, recovery staff, admissions staff, continuing care staff and external professionals.
• Provide cover for groups if required and appropriate.
• Communicate concerns promptly to the relevant team member or manager.
• Contribute to reviews of the role as the service develops.
• Adapt to changing needs within the Admissions Unit and wider Therapy Department.

Person specification

• Experience in a patient-facing role within healthcare, social care, therapeutic services, addiction treatment, mental health or a related setting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Compassionate, calm and professional approach with vulnerable patients.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Good attention to detail and ability to follow through on tasks.
• Confidence liaising with internal teams and external agencies.
• Empathy and discretion when handling sensitive patient information.
• Ability to document actions clearly and accurately.
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt as the role evolves.
• SVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or willingness to work towards one.
• Experience of addiction treatment or residential rehabilitation.
• Understanding of recovery, continuing care and relapse prevention.
• Familiarity with social care systems, housing processes, welfare benefits or statutory services.
• Previous experience in admissions, case management, discharge planning or care coordination.
• Lived experience of recovery may be beneficial but is not essential.
• Experience working with patients with complex social, psychological or practical needs.

Additional information

This is a newly developed role and will be subject to regular review during the initial phase. The successful candidate will help shape how the Case Manager function works within the Kirkurd Admissions Unit and across the wider treatment pathway. Reporting lines may change as the role becomes embedded within the new departmental structure. Flexibility, initiative and adaptability will therefore be important.

If you are passionate about supporting people through addiction treatment and helping patients build the practical foundations for recovery, we would love to hear from you. Please complete an online application form with your CV, or send your CV and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you would be a strong fit for this role to hr@castlecraig.co.uk.