Dual Diagnosis Recovery Practitioner

Are you a registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist passionate about supporting people with co-occurring mental health, alcohol and substance use needs?
Do you have a problem-solving approach and enjoy building and developing relationships?
We’re looking for a Dual Diagnosis Recovery Practitioner to join our experienced Community Mental Health Team in Newbury. This new role, jointly funded by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and West Berkshire Council, bridges mental health and substance use services helping people with co-occurring needs access the right care.
**Day to day you’ll**:
Carry out specialist assessments and coordinate person-centred recovery plans
Build strong, trusting relationships to support engagement and motivation
Work closely with partners across housing, benefits, and primary care
Improve pathways between mental health and drug and alcohol services
You’ll use your experience of working within the mental health or substance use field help provide joined-up, recovery-focused care across health and social care systems.
Our Trust is rated Outstanding by the CQC, who note staff feel valued, supported, and encouraged to develop their interests.
This Band 6, two-year fixed-term role (Mon-Fri, 9-5) has some flexibility and opportunities for home working. There may be potential for the post to continue beyond the initial term.
Conduct comprehensive assessments of individual’s substance use and mental health needs
Complete effective risk management/safety plans to manage an individual’s risk to self and others
Respond to the full range of mental health and drug and alcohol needs which maximises opportunities for engagement and eventual recovery
Show empathy and utilise a non-judgmental approach to listening to service users
Identify and respond to service user’s needs and goals
Work flexibly and persistently to respond to a range of needs
Recognise the service user’s level of motivation to address co-occurring mental health and drug and alcohol use conditions and adapt their approach accordingly
Work proactively and flexibly to prevent service users from dropping out of the assessment process and to re-engage them if they do
Maintain accurate and timely case notes of service user engagement and contact
Make appropriate and timely safeguarding referrals in cases of vulnerable adults and children
To maintain professional integrity in relationships with service users, peers and other relevant professionals
Coordinating care with other professionals such as psychiatrists, social workers
Contribute to the development of service policies, joint working protocols and procedures for co-occurring mental health and substance use
Building partnerships with other organisations to improve service integration and access
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
**Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are**:
Caring for and about you is our top priority
Committed to providing good quality, safe services
Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
Flexible working options to support work-life balance
27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
Generous NHS pension scheme
Excellent learning and career development opportunities
‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
Free parking across Trust sites
**The “must haves” for this role**:
A registered Mental Health Nurse OR Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with mental health experience
Post qualified experience in Mental Health and alcohol or substance misuse
An understanding of the Mental Health Act and other related legislation
Driver with vehicle or the ability and willingness to travel between multiple sites efficiently.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.