DASS Nurse Specialist

The post is clinically based with a primary focus on assisting with the provision of assessment and treatment interventions, on both an individual and a group basis, for patients who have a history of substance use/misuse and who require treatment in a forensic mental health setting.

The post will be based on the Ealing site of West London Mental Health NHS Trust. The post holder will be expected to assist with the provision of the Drug and Alcohol Support Service (DASS) across all clinical areas of the Men's, Women's and Adolescent Directorates, including medium secure wards, low secure wards, the hospital hostel, and community settings as appropriate.

The post will involve active development and deployment of the skills necessary to deliver, both individually and jointly with other multi-disciplinary professionals, one-to-one and group therapeutic interventions for West London Forensic Service patients. S/he will provide advice, supervision and consultation to other members of ward/ multi-disciplinary teams on substance-related issues. The post holder will be involved in regular training of multi-disciplinary staff in relation to work with service users who use/mis-use drugs and alcohol. S/he will be expected to take initiative in relation to organisational and development issues concerning the provision of an effective and patient-centred substance misuse service. The post holder will be expected to engage in regular supervision and training

We are now able to offer a permanent position with the multi-disciplinary DASS Team for a qualified nurse with a proven interest in the area of substance misuse. This is an excellent opportunity to build your knowledge of drugs/alcohol and how they affect people with serious mental illness. It will enable you to develop skills in the assessment and treatment of drug/alcohol problems, and in appropriate care planning and management of patients who are at risk of using substances. You will also contribute to the growth of a culture in which staff and patients are empowered to manage the challenges of substance misuse more effectively and confidently. You will receive good support and supervision from members of this committed and enthusiastic team, and will have access to a range of training opportunities.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.

Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.

We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units.

We'rerated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Together, we're committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.

We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.