Alcohol Lead Nurse

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Registered Nurse with experience in alcohol dependency and misuse to join our small team. This is a short fix term contract to March 2025.

The successful candidate will be a professional role model; advancing evidence based clinical practice in the area of alcohol dependency and misuse, working closely with the existing Clinical Toxicology team to promote and implement the Trust's evidence-based alcohol withdrawal management policy

Main duties of the job

The Alcohol Lead Nurse will be responsible for the management and development of the Trust's Integrated Alcohol Service and this will include supervision of a team of alcohol practitioners employed within the Trust. The Alcohol Lead Nurse will be a professional role model; advancing evidence based clinical practice in the area of alcohol dependency and misuse, working closely with the existing Clinical Toxicology team to promote and implement the Trust's evidence-based alcohol withdrawal management policy and acting as a resource for a cross-site, multi-disciplinary team of colleagues involved in the management and prevention of the physical and psychosocial adverse consequences of alcohol misuse.

In liaison with other clinical colleagues and supported by an administrator, the post holder will develop protocols and educational tools to ensure appropriate referral to existing Trust and community-based alcohol services, with a focus on avoiding unnecessary hospital admission and will organise appropriate monitoring and audits of compliance, performance and outcome of standards compatible with best practice. The post holder will promote and maintain high professional and organisational standards, providing an exemplary, evidence based, integrated alcohol services for service users and their families.

About us

We want to attract the best and brightest people to work with us and that means we will look after you from the moment you apply for a role at the Trust and throughout your career with us. Our staff are central to everything we do, and we believe that investing in you is crucial if we want to enable you to reach your full potential.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Demonstrate detailed knowledge of and previous experience in the assessment and management of those with acute alcohol intoxication and withdrawal and the physical, psychological and social complications of alcohol misuse and dependency. Possess the knowledge, skills and experience to undertake alcohol nurse led assessments at Specialist Practitioner level. Working under the advice and direction of the Clinical Lead be able plan, implement and evaluate specialist clinical service provision for patients with alcohol related health issues. Understand the needs of families of individuals with alcohol-related ill health. Develop and implement specialist clinical protocols. Provide, at Specialist Practitioner level, clinical support to the Clinical Toxicology led alcohol detoxification assessment clinic, and to the Consultant -led clinical teams on wards and in the Emergency Departments. Ensure patients are referred to and from appropriate professionals within the multi-disciplinary team. Identify the need for appropriate referral to alcohol services within and out with the Trust and coordinate these referrals in an accountable, auditable way. Effectively liaise with Alcohol Partners in community teams and community based substance misuse services. Communicate sensitive, related information to patients and relatives. Provide ongoing, education, support and reassurance with regard to alcohol related adverse health effects. Co-ordinate complex planning issues between specialities when alcohol dependent or alcohol misusing patients require input from different clinical teams. Act as a specialist resource informing clinical teams of national trends and innovations in specialist and professional practice. Develop effective internal and external networks. Evaluate effectiveness of practice / service to influence role and speciality development. Monitor progress with patients, relatives and carers and the multi-professional team. Utilise reports and feedback to inform practice / service developments. Conduct Clinical Audit. Engage with and promote collaborative partnerships and projects designed to support the integrated alcohol services. Develop Clinical Pathways for alcohol service users and their families.

.

Management and Leadership Manage and develop the Integrated Alcohol Services in liaison with the Alcohol Services Director. Take a lead role in managing employees within the integrated alcohol services team. Monitor staffing levels and nursing activities, co-ordinating these effectively and efficiently to maintain service delivery to meet Trust, organisational requirements. Provide day to day operational management of the nursing and the Integrated Alcohol Services Team Take a lead role in planning systems of nursing activity, which satisfy agreed standards at local, trust or national levels. Represent the Integrated Alcohol Services at internal and external meetings

as required.

Undertake Personal development reviews to include personal development plans, nursing revalidation and identification of training needs. Discuss any development issues with the Alcohol Services Director. Initiate, plan, develop and implement relevant training programmes to the Integrated Alcohol Services Team, other nursing teams, and employees of the Trust and alcohol service users. Delegate training activities to members of the Integrated Alcohol Services team as appropriate. Be responsible for managing health and safety risk within the Integrated Alcohol Services Team. Advise, monitor and assess the clinical practice of the Integrated Alcohol Services team ensuring that professional and clinical standards are maintained. Act as a mentor to qualified nurses and learners within the Integrated Alcohol Services team. Promote excellence in terms of setting clinical standards which are evidence based. Recognise potential areas of conflict within the delegated management tasks and take appropriate action to prevent or resolve these issues. Implement and manage change in order to meet Integrated Alcohol Services provision and development needs. Support the Integrated Alcohol Services Director in all aspects of his/her work including the defining and maintaining of team objectives. Have regular update meetings to discuss service activity and ensure seamless service delivery. Undertake recruitment, selection and orientation of new staff including shortlisting, question setting and interviewing prior to appointment, and providing professional support during the induction period. Act within, and ensure that all staff are aware and act within, national and local policies including Dept of Health and NMC guidelines. Maintain effective communication and information systems within the Integrated Alcohol Services team and the wider, multidisciplinary teams. Act as an advocate for the service. Lead on attendance management liaising with rehabilitation nurse, HR, OH consultant and multidisciplinary team to support organisational initiatives to reduce Sickness absence. Work with other members of the multidisciplinary team, and external alcohol partners, Commissioners of Alcohol Services to achieve common goals and improve services. Budgetary responsibilities; act in a way that is compliant with the organisational, financial instructions and the discharge of budget management responsibilities. Education/Professional Promote the active involvement of all nursing staff\team members in local and Trust wide research and audit. Maintain a good knowledge of emerging policies from Government Departments and current research studies. Maintain awareness of current advances and changes in clinical practice and care through local and national networking. Promote Clinical Supervision and reflective practice within nursing staff and team members. Co-ordinate Research and Development projects, delegating as appropriate. Contribute to short, medium and long term business plans, achieving quality outcomes. Create an environment in which individuals take ownership for their professional development. Promote and maintain a learning environment through participating in and developing educational programmes for team members, staff and service users. Promote a culture to deliver evidence based practice by encouraging nursing research/audit. Provide health education and health promotion to clients, either individually or in groups. Teach and assess team members, other employees, and students by acting as a mentor and by the use of competency framework tools. Be aware of and maintain professional standards of conduct, taking action if others do not meet the required standard. Take responsibility for own professional development by maintaining existing skills and developing new ones relevant to specific professional practice. Recognise the development needs of less experienced staff, take appropriate action and maintain and monitor any training plans. Personal Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training. Participate in review of own performance regularly and development of personal development plan at least every 12 months. Take responsibility for own actions. Adhere to professional, organisational and departmental standards/policies at all times. Recognise own personal strengths and weaknesses and identify appropriate strategies to enhance the strengths and overcome or minimise the weaknesses. Apply effective personal effectiveness skills in terms of time management, prioritisation, resource management, self-motivation and team work. Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

Registered Nurse Evidence of ongoing professional development Degree or working towards

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

Experience and understanding of the substance misuse sector Extensive experience in Substance Misuse at minimum band 6 level.

Desirable

Experience of managing multidisciplinary staff Experience in multi-agency working and training

Skills, abilities and competencies

Essential

The ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team Ability to provide and co-ordinate clinical and management supervision Excellent communication skills

---