East London based Housing Association is looking for a Senior Substance Misuse Worker to deliver a high-quality support service to residents.
Responsibilities:
To contribute to the development of the recovery hub, by providing expertise in alcohol and drug misuse.
To taking a lead role in delivering training/ advising staff on substance misuse issues, liaison with substance misuse agencies, facilitating multidisciplinary case conferences and negotiating access to detox and treatment services.
To engage and build supportive trusting relationships with service users with dual diagnosis/ complex needs, motivating and empowering them to recover and improve their lives.
To interview new referrals and book in, after establishing that the project can meet their needs.
To deliver high quality support to key clients, including support with accessing health, substance misuse, benefits, and other services. To support personal care in crisis situations where the service user is at risk.
To carry out assessments of drug and alcohol usage with key clients, delivering brief and extended interventions, outlining risks, advice on harm minimisation and refer to specialist agencies/detox .
To develop links and effectively liase with a wide range of internal and external partners including statutory and voluntary organisations with a particular focus on substance misuse agencies) working jointly with them to support residents in harm minimisation, accessing treatment, managing risk and move on.
Experience and skills:
Extensive knowledge of alcohol and drug misuse, their effects and treatment options. Solid experience working with this client group.
Ability to counsel individuals about substance misuse, using recognised theoretical models and deliver effective targeted interventions.
Knowledge, empathy, understanding and proven ability to work creatively and engage homeless people whose substance misuse/ complex trauma has had significant effect on their physical and mental health, social and coping skills .
Awareness of and ability to identify and address health and care issues with partners, especially substance misuse, mental health, dementia etc.
Success in developing and maintaining professional relationships with substance misuse agencies, external and internal partners, working collaboratively to deliver integrated services.
Understanding of the Recovery model and delivering support within a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE). Commitment to working within these models.
Robust knowledge and practical application of adult safeguarding requirements.
Knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety in a hostel setting, including dealing with emergencies and working alone.