Job summary
- Main area
- Lewisham directorate
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- 37.5 hours per week (Full time - 37.5 hours per week (9am - 5pm))
- Job ref
- 334-NUR-7125965-LF-A
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ladywell Unit, University Hospital Lewisham
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £54,320 - £60,981 per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Dual Diagnosis Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 7
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
The post holder will work as a dual diagnosis/substance misuse nurse specialist within the Mental
Health Liaison Team (MHLT) at University Hospital Lewisham to provide dual diagnosis/substance
misuse expertise and facilitate co-ordinated service delivery for people aged 18+ with suspected coexisting mental health and substance misuse issues. The post holder will help address many of the
co-morbid drug/substance misuse related issues that can, in some circumstances, lead to delay in
assessment times.
The post holder will promote high standards of assessment and treatment of people of anyone aged
18+, including older adults, with suspected or co-existing mental health and substance misuse
problems, based on the best available evidence, within the expected response times set out for
urgent referrals from the ED and inpatient wards.
The post holder will forge strong inter-agency alliances.
The post holder will need to work with colleagues in the MHLTs to help achieve the expected
outcomes expected outcomes set out by NHS England including
- Reduce the number of frequent attenders presenting to A&E/MHLT
- Reduce the number of hospital admissions of Frequent Attenders
- Increase engagement of service users with substance misuse services
- Increase knowledge and skills of the MHLT and acute trust colleagues working with people
with DD
Main duties of the job
The post holder will lead on developing collaborative plans with service users who attend A&E on a
frequent basis with suspected co-existing mental health and substance misuse issues
The post holder will lead on providing expert dual diagnosis knowledge to the MHLT/Acute Trust and
to key stakeholders involved.
The post holder will lead the development and delivery of dual diagnosis practice in the MHLT in line
with national best practice guidance, NICE and DoH guidance, and Trust policy in consultation with
senior dual diagnosis colleagues.
The post holder will work with colleagues to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in
working with people with dual diagnosis.
The post holder will support the development of excellent relationships with SLaM teams and
partner agencies to promote effective collaborative working and seamless care pathways.
The post holder will liaise, communicate effectively and update the Team Leader accordingly for the
MHLT on a frequent basis to feedback progress and highlight any areas of focus or concern in
relation to substance issues inclusive of poor practice, unhelpful staff attitudes and behaviour and
omissions of care.
The post holder will work closely with all members of the MDT to increase professional working
knowledge of substance misuse within the liaison setting. This includes assessment, treatment,
management and evaluation of care for service users who present with substance misuse issues.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental
health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs
and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN),
King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There
are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental
illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment,
science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more
than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide
inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the
community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for
residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich
history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are
world leaders in their field.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Provide clinical expertise and support in assessment, care planning and the delivery and
evaluation of interventions to people with co-morbid mental health, physical health and
substance misuse problems Implement systems to ensure that all service users are being assessed for alcohol and
drug use as part of a comprehensive assessment and information is recorded using the
appropriate tools on EPJS (the Trust electronic data record system) and within the Acute
trust’s notes system, in line with Trust standards
Implement an outpatient clinic that allows service users to attend for further assessment
and engagement following presentation to accident and emergency or discharge from
inpatient care at St Thomas’
Promote the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the assessment, care and
discharge processes, both at initial presentation and for longer term
liaison/communication
Ensure that all service users with dual diagnosis are offered health education information,
information about local substance misuse services and self-help/mutual aid groups to
enable them to make informed choices about their on-going care/treatment
Lead development of, and support liaison with, local substance misuse services to
promote effective engagement/transfer of care when appropriate
Facilitate carers/family members’ involvement in assessment and care planning where
appropriate and ensure they are offered information about substance misuse support
groups
Seek regular clinical supervision to ensure own continuous professional development and
keeping up to date with any advances in the field
Support reviews of any Serious Incident in relation to dual diagnosis cases as appropriate
To deputise for the MHLT Team Leader in their absence
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- A qualification in mental health nursing (RMN or part 13 of the NMC register), general nursing (RGN or part 12 or the NMC register)
- Professional registration with NMC
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Mentorship/ENB998 or other Assessment and/or Teaching in Practice equivalent qualifications
Desirable criteria
- A qualification in a relevant area of practice
- Degree in nursing or relevant profession
- Non-Medical Prescriber
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive post qualification experience of working with/managing a caseload of people with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse problems
- Working in busy challenging clinical setting and prioritising duties to maintain safety
- Liaison with a range of professionals and agencies
- Supporting the implementation of clinical practice improvement initiatives
Desirable criteria
- Working clinically within a substance misuse team
- Involvement in audit projects and research
Knowledge / Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
- Current MH, substance misuse policy and best practice guidance and legislation
- Understanding of and commitment to principles of equal opportunity, fair access and service user empowerment
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for people with co-occurring MH and substance use issues
- Using relevant tools and guidelines to facilitate comprehensive assessments, plan, implement and evaluate the care of individuals with complex needs
- Work collaboratively across teams and organisational boundaries, negotiating complex organisational structures and processes
- Communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with service users, carers and colleagues
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Ability to facilitate therapeutic groups
- The ability to demonstrate and develop leadership skills
- Ability to deliver team teaching/training
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Justina Ariwodo
- Job title
- Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07858686482
- Additional information
Irene Muh
Consultant Nurse - Dual Diagnosis
07969587147
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