Harm Reduction Worker

6 months ago


Gateshead, United Kingdom Recovery Connections Full time

**Fixed Term for 2 years**

**FT hrs: 35 hours per week**

**Lived Experience of recovery from addiction is an essential element for this role.**

A new and exciting role of Harm Reduction Worker with Lived Experience will be offered by Recovery Connections. This role will be a part of a ‘Whole systems approach’ to reducing the distressing levels of drug related deaths, drug related offending and prevalence of drug use in the Gateshead area.

This role will form an essential part of targeted outreach and harm reduction provision. It will build on services already being delivered in the area by introducing the value of lived experience to a vital role

The effectiveness and value of peer led recovery work is becoming firmly established within both substance misuse and mental health provision across the UK. Recovery Connections have been delivering peer led recovery services in Middlesbrough since 2008 and are committed to promoting the importance of ‘lived experience ‘within the substance misuse field.
- Provide support and guidance to service users from a lived experience perspective including emotional and social support, screening and referral to appropriate agencies and information relevant to the needs and wishes of the service user.
- Implement substance misuse harm reduction interventions using a variety of strategies relevant to the target population and local protocols.
- Provide health education and contribute to the development of information and materials from partner organisations relevant to the needs of the service user group.
- Develop a detailed understanding of risk factors associated with substance misuse and associated behaviour. Help service users to identify personal risk behaviour with a view to reducing or eliminating potential risk and harmful practices.
- Encourage and promote a peer led recovery oriented approach to service users by offering training and advice to peer groups and encouraging the sharing of advice and information in multiple settings.
- Contribute to the maintenance of a local community referral network.
- Make referrals into appropriate services to address the individual and specific needs of the service user e.g housing support, sexual health, legal services, treatment and recovery services, social care.
- Explain and discuss service user’s rights and the professional standards required of the staff role. Ensure service user’s awareness and understanding of professional obligations of staff to report incidents to relevant authorities when they present a danger of harm to the service user or to others.
- To liaise with health professionals and provide up to date information on prevention and screening options for service users and their partners. Support them through screening and refer them to appropriate treatment routes. Provide ongoing support where appropriate to encourage and motivate service users to sustain treatment.
- Ensure that the CHIME recovery model (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and purpose and Empowerment) underpins all service user interventions and promote the model as a motivational tool for lasting recovery.

**Preferred skills**
- Act with respect for ethical and professional standards ensuring the protection of all involved
- Teach specific skills to service users to immediately address risk and provide coping strategies which will support change.
- Deliver positive feedback to service users, encouraging personal reflection and reinforcing the use of positive strategies to change behaviour.
- Promote service user autonomy and responsibility by leading by example and sharing appropriate information on relevant services
- Provide a safe and anonymous environment to encourage honest disclosure and discussion with regard for the boundaries of legal and ethical concerns of confidentiality.
- Work as a team to ensure safety and to maximise support potential for service users.
- Manage time effectively.

**PREFERRED Attitudes**
- **Committed to harm reduction ideology and Recovery Principles**
- **Displays A compassionate and Flexible approach**
- **Adopts Service User perspective throughout, recognising their capacity motivation and desire to make personal choices**
- **Establishes a relationship based on trust, authenticity and honest feedback**
- **Values the service users resources and needs enabling them to see what these are when they cannot**
- **Treats Others with dignity respect, sensitivity, compassion and empathy**
- **Respects others cultural background, personal values characteristics, gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity, treating everyone with equal value**
- **Displays a non -judgmental and non -coercive approach avoiding criticism condescension or Overbearing attitudes**
- **Demonstrates a knowledge of how, when and who to ask for help.**
- **Understands the importance of self-care and actively uses strategies to manage own stress levels**
- **Understands the importance of challenging beliefs and is committe



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