Head of Learning and Practice

**_*WE DO NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS VIA INDEED, PLEASE APPLY VIA OUR WEBSITE ONLY: _**

**Head of Learning and Practice**

**Location**: TBC, but will cover other Gwent sites. Some Homeworking, as agreed.
**Hours**: Full time, 35 hours per week.
**Working Pattern**: Four days in days and one days working from home for note/report writing, as needed
**Salary**: £34,000 - £35,000 per annum

**About GDAS**

The Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service (GDAS) provides support to individuals and families affected by substance use across all 5 local authorities. As part of our service re-launch, we are recruiting for new roles across the service that align with the vision of the Gwent APB Substance Misuse
Commissioning Team.

We are seeking empathic and dedicated individuals with experiences from a range of sectors to join us in establishing a new, innovative drug and alcohol treatment service. We welcome people with experience of working not just in substance misuse - but in housing, mental health, primary care, secondary care, youth services, probation and other sectors that have transferable skills. We welcome individuals with their own lived experience of drug and alcohol use and/or mental health and from those who have supported others with lived experience.

**Role Purpose**:
GDAS adheres to the ethos that it is only through nurturing the talent and wellbeing of staff that service users will be able to experience the highest standard of substance misuse service delivery.

The Learning and Practice Team at GDAS pursues the overall objective of building a substance misuse service workforce of unparalleled skill and motivation. This serious investment we make in our workforce continues to enhance Service Users’ experiences of treatment and recovery. The Head of
Learning and Practice will lead the Learning and Practice team that also consists of two full time Learning and Practice Leads and a part time Learning and Practice Administrator. Collectively you will be expected to grow a culture of excellence across every team and every tier of GDAS.

To do this the post holder will need to demonstrate creativity, leadership and project management skills in the development and deployment of a broad range of operational and strategic learning and development initiatives. In addition to this the Head of Learning and Practice will be required to coordinate the delivery of a suite of training and development programmes, including Substance Misuse Awareness Sessions, Brief Interventions Courses and Prenoxad Training to key external partners in complementary fields to substance misuse like health, housing and social care.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:
In consultation with the post holder, this job description is liable to variation to reflect actual, contemplated or approved changes in/or to the job role.

1. Work closely with the Gwent Area Planning Board on local and national work streams. You will be expected to horizon scan for future substance misuse trends, and your forecasts will help shape GDAS as a future facing service rather than a reactive one.

2. Search outside the substance misuse field for evidence and innovation that can enhance the delivery of substance misuse services in the future, for example trauma-informed design that aims to integrate the principles of trauma-informed care to create physical spaces that promote safety and healing.

3. With the support of the GDAS Head of Operations and GDAS Management Team develop a post-COVID Quality Framework that is capable of reviewing the effectiveness of those elements of service delivery for which there is now increased demand, like blended / digital interventions, remote key working and creative problem solving (P2P Naloxone, Assertive
Outreach)

4. As part of the creation of a post-COVID QF set benchmarks for Trauma Informed Care in every facet of GDAS service delivery and take direct responsibility for the creation of trauma-informed spaces

5. Drawing on the principles of Positive Psychology in the Workplace, ensure that the post-COVID QF locates staff wellbeing at the centre of its strategy for building excellence in the GDAS workforce.

6. Coordinate the rollout of wellbeing programmes, like Connect 5, that will firmly position GDAS as a service that will prioritise the mental health of both its staff and its service users during what will be a period of significant change.

7. Establish a ‘mixed membership’ (service users, GDAS staff, friends of GDAS) Learning and Practice Group, charged with the task of identifying and forecasting emerging drug trends, searching out and generating new ideas for inclusive and innovative substance use practice and reviewing and engaging with cutting edge research in substance use treatment

8. Conduct Training Needs Analyses that draw on the most relevant data sources, for example performance reviews, feedback from the GDAS senior management team, findings of the
Learning and Practice Group, recommendations from Qua