Substance Use Worker (Engagement and Low Intensity)

Substance Use Worker

(Engagement and Low Intensity team)

Job Description

Role

Substance Use worker (Engagement and Low Intensity Team)

Service

Cwm Taf and Bridgend

Location:

Cwm Taf and Bridgend - this post will currently be covering RCT and Merthyr area.

Base:

Barod bases across Cwm Taf:

Oldway House, Merthyr Tydfil.

The Next Step, Pontypridd

Hours:

37 hours per week

Reports to:

CTM Engagement and Low Intensity Team Leader

Team Members Reporting to Job Holder:

Contract:

Permanent, in line with funding.

THE SERVICE

The aim of the Cwm Taf and Bridgend Drug and Alcohol Service is to engage people who use drugs or alcohol, and or their concerned others, in the treatment system and support them when accessing it. This includes early intervention, engaging and assessing service users, needle exchange, brief interventions, outreach, training, case management, health promotion and harm reduction initiatives and recovery and aftercare services.

Barod services are provided in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, and professional manner and in a way that demonstrates courtesy and respect for individuals using substances, and sensitivity to their unique personal situations and experiences.

ROLE PURPOSE

The role of the Engagement and Low Intensity Caseworker will be to assess service user needs and subsequently plan and deliver structured treatment interventions in order to empower and support people to make positive lifestyle changes.

The role will work holistically with all service users on caseload including those presenting with needs that require brief interventions and harm reduction support, through to service users requiring structure, comprehensive care planning. The role will also engage with service users who are receiving medically assisted recovery programmes and aftercare support.

The role's purpose is to provide harm reduction information, advice and guidance to improve the health and wellbeing of people who use our services (those who use substances and their loved ones and significant others). This role will also support the Single Point of Contact system which accepts referrals into the treatment system.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage service users in the CTDAS substance use treatment system
• Deliver harm reduction initiatives including Needle Exchange, Naloxone, and Dried Blood Spot Testing
• Deliver evidence-based and manualised brief interventions in group-work settings and on a one-to-one basis to people who use substances and concerned others
• Provide a range of interventions including crisis intervention and information regarding substance use and associated life style behaviours that reduces the risk of overdose, reduces the spread of blood borne viruses, promotes healthy living, and minimises the potential risks and impact of drug related crime and disorder on the wider community
• Conduct initial and comprehensive assessments and care planning in line with substance used and access to brief interventions prior to accessing Tier 3 structured treatment
• Undertake risk assessment and develop and review risk managements plans that seek to mitigate identified risk.
• Devise, with service users and concerned others, individually tailored time-limited support plans, based on a clear assessment of need that assist individuals in building recovery capital
• Offer flexible working environments including location, duration and frequency of appointments to respond to individual service user needs
• Engage service users and concerned others via open access at the base, on a rota basis
• Work with service users beyond brief interventions, sometimes jointly with external partner agencies
• Liaise with partner agencies to ensure seamless transitions between services in line with the service specification
• Actively influence and support service users and concerned others in co-production and active participation in shaping service provision
• Encourage involvement in mutual aid groups, peer-led recovery and service user groups
• Assess and address new drug trends by actively seeking and promoting innovative harm reduction methods
• Promote and encourage service user and concerned other participation in local, regional and national recovery events
• To actively engage with the screening and onward referral for Alcohol Related Brain Injury assessment, treatment and support
• To assess and contribute towards the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and adults within the statutory obligations of the Social Services Health and Wellbeing Act in line with organisational safeguarding policies and procedures
• Enter data onto the case management system, and use the system effectively to inform work with service users and concerned others
• Take up arrangements for support and supervision and participate in all relevant internal meetings
• Contribute to the development and review of organisational policies and procedures as and when appropriate
• Retain and maintain all information (paper and electronic) in line with service level agreed guidelines and statutory protocols, such as GDPR
• Undertake other reasonable duties as requested, but which may not be specified within the job description

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Ideally all these requirements must be met by the candidate on appointment.However, in certain circumstances a candidate may be appointed who does not meet a particular requirement. This is providing that the shortfall can be made good in a reasonable time, and the candidate brings other skills, knowledge or experience which are valuable to the role and the organisation.

Qualifications and training

Level 3 in Advice and Guidance (or equivalent) or willingness to work towards.

Experience in any of the following areas:

• Safeguarding
• Substance Awareness
• Harm Reduction
• Psychosocial Interventions

Role-related knowledge, skills & experience

Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their ethnic, cultural, social backgrounds, their gender, age, religious belief, disability, and sexual orientation.

Proven ability to network and build professional relationships.

The ability to compile, maintain and complete accurate written records, including data capture and the use of case management systems.

Excellent literacy, numeracy, and ICT skills, with a close attention to detail.

Previous experience of working within the substance use sector or similar field.

Experience of working in a support role within the community.

Understanding of substance use treatment pathways.

Understanding/knowledge of ACEs and their impact.

Experience of a trauma-informed approach.

Interpersonal skills

Ability to problem solve, work under own initiative and able to work under pressure.

Ability to establish and maintain clear boundaries in respect of personal and professional responsibility.

Time management skills - excellent ability to plan, prioritise and manage own workload and time in a fast paced, demanding role.

Commitment to Barod values and mission.

Possesses a 'can do', positive attitude.

Other

Full, current driving licence and use of a car which is insured for business use is an essential requirement of this role.

Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

Substance Use Worker (Engagement and Low Intensity)

Starting at £26,265 per annum

City

Covering RCT and Merthyr Tydfil. Base office - to be confirmed (Merthyr Tydfil/Aberdare/Pontypridd)