Substance Care Practitioner

**Contact information**

Sister Jessica Child

01924 541823

**About the role**

As a Substance Care Practitioner in the Substance Care Team (SCT) you will be involved in a system of alcohol and drug screening and brief interventions, fibro-scanning patients, treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal in line with NICE-based protocols for the management of alcohol misuse. As part of the SCT team you will also deliver Substance Care training for nursing, medical and other frontline staff within the hospital.

**Main duties**

As an integral member of the SCT you will:

- Help improve the extent to which substance misuse is identified and effectively managed in those admitted to all wards and departments within PGH aiming to reduce the rate of attendance at A & E and subsequent admissions to inpatient beds.
- Provide assessment, specialist alcohol advice and treatment to patients attending and admitted to PGH.
- Provide support and training, to promote improved competency and confidence among medical and nursing staff in identifying and responding to substance misuse and the clinical management of patients.
- Help facilitate the effective and safe transition of care between hospital and community based settings and will ensure any pharmacological element of care is transferred in a safe and seamless manner.
- Through effective care planning, promote opportunities for sustained recovery from dependant and problematic alcohol misuse.
- You will be expected to liaise closely with other health and social care professionals to ensure high quality care and a coordinated approach are provided for patients.

**Key requirements**

Clinical
- Utilise the SCT screening system within the triage/clinical assessments in both the emergency department and ward based settings.
- Follow referral and operating procedures to facilitate timely and appropriate referrals into clinics.
- Deliver high quality and effective assessment to ensure the relevant treatment is offered in a timely manner, through use of assessment and evidenced based interventions, care planning and clinical management.
- Undertaking specialist, diagnostic fibro-scanning of patients on a regular basis and liaise with wider medical team regarding the outcome.
- Review and implement NICE based treatment programmes for the management of alcohol misusers within an acute setting to manage detoxification, helping to improve outcomes for patients and to aid sustained recovery form dependent and problematic alcohol misuse.
- Facilitate the safe and effective transition of an individuals' care for both detoxification and aftercare to maintain abstinence and with a smooth handover to community services, primary care, and any other specialist service if appropriate to do so.
- Improve care pathways between the acute setting and community settings.
- Deliver in partnership brief and extended advice with all MYTT MDTs.
- Be a visible point of contact for patients, visitors, relatives, and staff, acting as a resource for problems and able to clearly present/advocate the patients / client’s perception of needs as appropriate. Receive and report to senior staff any complaints or compliments received.
- Work with the team to ensure that patient care plans are regularly updated, changes implemented, and that patients' records and documentation are maintained and current.
- Organise MDTs to discuss patient management as required.
- Undertake audits and quality improvement projects
- Signpost patients with substance misuse to the relevant external agencies
- Participate in the ongoing reviews of operating policies for assessment, treatment and care in ward-based settings and the ED ensuring they are embedded into practice.
- Assist with providing specialist support to the clinical team in dealing with the complex needs of different client groups and when imparting or receiving sensitive, complex, or contentious information.

**Be part of MY team**

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

**_ Application guidance:_**

**Our benefits**
- Access to th