Senior Substance Misuse Practitioner

Job summary

We are looking for a Band 7 Senior Substance Misuse Practitioner (SSMP) to join the well-established Drug and Alcohol Service within East London NHS Foundation Trust's forensic directorate on a job-sharing basis. We are a small, specialist, multidisciplinary team. The SSMP role is available to an experienced, registered/qualified Nurse, Systemic & Family Psychotherapist, or Occupational Therapist.

The forensic directorate provides multidisciplinary treatment for service users who are resident in East and North East London who require secure mental health services. We provide a comprehensive range of services including men's medium secure, women's medium secure, high dependency, men's low secure, learning disabilities, autism spectrum conditions, and a large community forensic service. The Drug and Alcohol Service covers the entire directorate, affording a remarkable breadth of practice and experience to the successful candidate.

In collaboration with the team, the post holder will provide specialist assessment and evidence-based individual- and group-based psychosocial interventions to service users, from the point of admission to post-discharge. They will have some management responsibilities, and offer specialist advice, consultation, teaching and training on drug and alcohol related issues to multidisciplinary colleagues in all parts of the forensic service and to other statutory and non-statutory services/providers.

Main duties of the job

1. Provision of specialist assessment and psychosocial interventions to service users under the care of the forensic directorate
2. Line management and supervision of multidisciplinary colleagues in the Drug and Alcohol Service
3. Provision of specialist drug and alcohol teaching and training to staff across the service
4. Consultation on drug and alcohol related issues to colleagues across the service
5. Joint oversight of the service's naloxone strategy
6. Deputising for the Head of Drug and Alcohol Service, as required

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

02 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per annum pro rata inc HCA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share

Reference number

363-FOR7509534

Job locations

John Howard Centre

12 Kenworthy Road

London

E9 5TD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To undertake specialist assessment and formulation of substance misuse in forensic service users.

To make appropriate recommendations for treatment thereafter, that are evidence-based, clinically indicated, and that complement service users broader therapies care plans.

To develop and deliver, adapted where necessary, individual and group, evidence-based psychosocial interventions for substance misuse to forensic service users in inpatient and community settings. Models of intervention should include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, contingency management, and systemic interventions, where appropriate.

To work collaboratively with members of multidisciplinary teams and other therapies staff, where indicated, to achieve the above goals.

To be able to select, use, interpret and report psychometric measures/tools at the relevant stages of service users care pathway, including at assessment, and before and after any intervention.

Responsible for communicating across language and cultural barriers with service users or carers, using interpreters when necessary, and to work in a culturally sensitive and competent manner.

Responsible for communicating complex clinical information, such as assessment, formulation, progress/outcome of treatment, in a skilled and sensitive manner to a variety of recipients including service users, family or carers, other professionals, formal panels, statutory and voluntary organisations, in a format appropriate to the recipient, verbally, in writing, or electronically.

To provide specialist input to service users risk assessment through liaison with multidisciplinary teams and attendance at key meetings, where appropriate. Such input is to include feeding in to risk formulations and risk management strategies that require the resources of the Drug and Alcohol Service.

To provide consultation, support, and advice in relation to substance misuse issues to the forensic service, including ward multidisciplinary teams, Security Department, ward management and relevant health professionals and other agencies as appropriate.

To develop, deliver (jointly or independently), evaluate, and review packages of training on areas of the Drug and Alcohol Services specialty, to be delivered to a wide range of audiences, both within and outside of forensic services. Such training should be co-produced and co-delivered with service users, where appropriate.

In conjunction with the East London Community Forensic Service, to offer consultation and training to staff at forensic, non-forensic, and probation accommodation providers on request, on areas related to the specialty of the Drug and Alcohol Service.

To involve families and carers in treatment plans, where indicated. This may require direct family interventions, or the provision of information/education on substance misuse.

To be familiar with, maintain effective knowledge of, and maintain effective working relationships with non-statutory providers of community drug and alcohol services in the local area, who may also be providing care to forensic service users.

Develop and maintain the highest professional standards of practice by continuing to gain additional post-qualification experience and skills; by participating in regular clinical and professional supervision and appraisal; by active participation in internal and external CPD activities; and by updating knowledge of current developments in areas relevant to the role, through a personal development plan agreed with management.

To exercise professional self-governance in accordance with Trust policies and procedures and relevant regulatory body standards.

Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to forensic and general mental health services and the criminal justice system.

Administration

To write progress notes and formal reports of your clinical work, and supervise others in doing so, where necessary.

Organise time and resources to provide safe, effective, high quality care.

Attend appropriate meetings and accept supervision and guidance as required and in line with Trust Policies.

Management

To line manage and clinically supervise staff in the Drug and Alcohol Service, as required.

To supervise junior team members on tailored individual and group substance use assessments and interventions, when required.

To manage and be responsible for the Drug and Alcohol Service provision within the Low Secure service, including attendance at senior management meetings in the Low Secure service.

To deputise for the Head of Drug and Alcohol Service in their absence, in conjunction with the Head of MSU Psychology.

To work with other members of the Drug and Alcohol Service to support its development in regards to the service model, policies and procedures that surround its work. This includes encouraging staff to contribute their views and ideas, as appropriate, ensuring effective communication and information sharing processes are in place in order to promote effective functioning of the team and care of service users.

To attend and chair or minute when necessary the Drug and Alcohol Services meetings and the Drugs Intelligence Meeting.

Human Resources

To assist with or lead, where appropriate, recruitment to vacant positions within the Drug and Alcohol Service.

To always conduct oneself in a professional manner while at work, and adhere to relevant Trust policies in this respect.

To abide by all Trust and local policies and procedures.

Performance and Quality

To participate in formal evaluation of the Drug and Alcohol Services clinical outcomes and performance.

To participate in Quality Improvement (Improvement Science) activities relevant to role and work area, or to propose and lead Quality Improvement projects where areas of need are identified.

In conjunction with the Head of Drug and Alcohol Service, to maintain oversight of the functioning, performance, and quality of the service delivered by the team.

Financial and Physical Resources

To have responsibility for managing a non-pay budget for small amounts, to be an authorised signatory for cash/financial payments, and to work within agreed budgetary limits.

To assist in the management, maintenance, responsible use, and monitoring of the ordering of resources and equipment, including laptops, projectors, drug boxes and other training resources.

To be responsible for keeping updated in Breakaway techniques and any relevant MAPPA training and to be able to cope with a physically and emotionally high risk environment, ensuring at all times to the best of your abilities, your own, other staff and service user safety within Trust policy and guidelines.

To have the capacity to engage with and contain emotionally charged, often traumatic, clinical material in the course of performing the clinical duties of the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To undertake specialist assessment and formulation of substance misuse in forensic service users.

To make appropriate recommendations for treatment thereafter, that are evidence-based, clinically indicated, and that complement service users broader therapies care plans.

To develop and deliver, adapted where necessary, individual and group, evidence-based psychosocial interventions for substance misuse to forensic service users in inpatient and community settings. Models of intervention should include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, contingency management, and systemic interventions, where appropriate.

To work collaboratively with members of multidisciplinary teams and other therapies staff, where indicated, to achieve the above goals.

To be able to select, use, interpret and report psychometric measures/tools at the relevant stages of service users care pathway, including at assessment, and before and after any intervention.

Responsible for communicating across language and cultural barriers with service users or carers, using interpreters when necessary, and to work in a culturally sensitive and competent manner.

Responsible for communicating complex clinical information, such as assessment, formulation, progress/outcome of treatment, in a skilled and sensitive manner to a variety of recipients including service users, family or carers, other professionals, formal panels, statutory and voluntary organisations, in a format appropriate to the recipient, verbally, in writing, or electronically.

To provide specialist input to service users risk assessment through liaison with multidisciplinary teams and attendance at key meetings, where appropriate. Such input is to include feeding in to risk formulations and risk management strategies that require the resources of the Drug and Alcohol Service.

To provide consultation, support, and advice in relation to substance misuse issues to the forensic service, including ward multidisciplinary teams, Security Department, ward management and relevant health professionals and other agencies as appropriate.

To develop, deliver (jointly or independently), evaluate, and review packages of training on areas of the Drug and Alcohol Services specialty, to be delivered to a wide range of audiences, both within and outside of forensic services. Such training should be co-produced and co-delivered with service users, where appropriate.

In conjunction with the East London Community Forensic Service, to offer consultation and training to staff at forensic, non-forensic, and probation accommodation providers on request, on areas related to the specialty of the Drug and Alcohol Service.

To involve families and carers in treatment plans, where indicated. This may require direct family interventions, or the provision of information/education on substance misuse.

To be familiar with, maintain effective knowledge of, and maintain effective working relationships with non-statutory providers of community drug and alcohol services in the local area, who may also be providing care to forensic service users.

Develop and maintain the highest professional standards of practice by continuing to gain additional post-qualification experience and skills; by participating in regular clinical and professional supervision and appraisal; by active participation in internal and external CPD activities; and by updating knowledge of current developments in areas relevant to the role, through a personal development plan agreed with management.

To exercise professional self-governance in accordance with Trust policies and procedures and relevant regulatory body standards.

Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to forensic and general mental health services and the criminal justice system.

Administration

To write progress notes and formal reports of your clinical work, and supervise others in doing so, where necessary.

Organise time and resources to provide safe, effective, high quality care.

Attend appropriate meetings and accept supervision and guidance as required and in line with Trust Policies.

Management

To line manage and clinically supervise staff in the Drug and Alcohol Service, as required.

To supervise junior team members on tailored individual and group substance use assessments and interventions, when required.

To manage and be responsible for the Drug and Alcohol Service provision within the Low Secure service, including attendance at senior management meetings in the Low Secure service.

To deputise for the Head of Drug and Alcohol Service in their absence, in conjunction with the Head of MSU Psychology.

To work with other members of the Drug and Alcohol Service to support its development in regards to the service model, policies and procedures that surround its work. This includes encouraging staff to contribute their views and ideas, as appropriate, ensuring effective communication and information sharing processes are in place in order to promote effective functioning of the team and care of service users.

To attend and chair or minute when necessary the Drug and Alcohol Services meetings and the Drugs Intelligence Meeting.

Human Resources

To assist with or lead, where appropriate, recruitment to vacant positions within the Drug and Alcohol Service.

To always conduct oneself in a professional manner while at work, and adhere to relevant Trust policies in this respect.

To abide by all Trust and local policies and procedures.

Performance and Quality

To participate in formal evaluation of the Drug and Alcohol Services clinical outcomes and performance.

To participate in Quality Improvement (Improvement Science) activities relevant to role and work area, or to propose and lead Quality Improvement projects where areas of need are identified.

In conjunction with the Head of Drug and Alcohol Service, to maintain oversight of the functioning, performance, and quality of the service delivered by the team.

Financial and Physical Resources

To have responsibility for managing a non-pay budget for small amounts, to be an authorised signatory for cash/financial payments, and to work within agreed budgetary limits.

To assist in the management, maintenance, responsible use, and monitoring of the ordering of resources and equipment, including laptops, projectors, drug boxes and other training resources.

To be responsible for keeping updated in Breakaway techniques and any relevant MAPPA training and to be able to cope with a physically and emotionally high risk environment, ensuring at all times to the best of your abilities, your own, other staff and service user safety within Trust policy and guidelines.

To have the capacity to engage with and contain emotionally charged, often traumatic, clinical material in the course of performing the clinical duties of the role.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• oRegistered/qualified RMN, Systemic Psychotherapist, or Occupational Therapist, registered as such with the relevant regulatory body
• Evidence of relevant professional development
• Training in the management and clinical supervision of staff

Desirable

• oRelevant post-graduate qualification or training in an area relating to substance misuse or forensic mental health
• Training in Co-Production
• Training in Structured Professional Judgment approaches to risk assessment

Experience

Essential

• oMinimum of 3 years clinical experience at a senior level within a forensic service, substance misuse service, or both
• Clinical risk assessment and management of vulnerable, complex client groups
• Proven experience of leading on and cofacilitating therapy groups
• Working with service users with co-existing mental health and substance use problems

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of current legislation and initiatives within substance misuse and mental health
• Knowledge of the legal and ethical issues relating to issues around substance misuse in a forensic setting
• Knowledge of the theoretical frameworks of care of forensic service users with substance use problems and mental health problems

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• oRegistered/qualified RMN, Systemic Psychotherapist, or Occupational Therapist, registered as such with the relevant regulatory body
• Evidence of relevant professional development
• Training in the management and clinical supervision of staff

Desirable

• oRelevant post-graduate qualification or training in an area relating to substance misuse or forensic mental health
• Training in Co-Production
• Training in Structured Professional Judgment approaches to risk assessment

Experience

Essential

• oMinimum of 3 years clinical experience at a senior level within a forensic service, substance misuse service, or both
• Clinical risk assessment and management of vulnerable, complex client groups
• Proven experience of leading on and cofacilitating therapy groups
• Working with service users with co-existing mental health and substance use problems

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of current legislation and initiatives within substance misuse and mental health
• Knowledge of the legal and ethical issues relating to issues around substance misuse in a forensic setting
• Knowledge of the theoretical frameworks of care of forensic service users with substance use problems and mental health problems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Howard Centre

12 Kenworthy Road

London

E9 5TD

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Howard Centre

12 Kenworthy Road

London

E9 5TD

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)