Background and Service
In Powys, Kaleidoscope works in partnership with CAIS to provide services for adults and young people at tiers 2 and 3 (MoC and MoCAM). Staff teams work collaboratively across the county to deliver different aspects of these services, with a core aim of engaging substance users into a continuum of service provision. For individuals who require prescribing treatment, structured psycho-social support is provided by Kaleidoscope in parallel with prescribing interventions from South Staffordshire NHS. Services in Powys are designed to a stepped care model, which aims to make best use of the teams’ resources. This innovative service will provide a range of evidence based psychosocial interventions, delivered by a team of substance use workers who will work as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team.
In addition to community services, Kaleidoscope has also been commissioned to provide additional substance use criminal justice services. These additional services include:
- Drugs Interventions Programme (DIP) case management, support and psychosocial intervention
- Substance use treatment intervention for individuals undertaking a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR)
- Treatment packages for individuals given an Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR) or Alcohol Activity Requirement (AAR)
Criminal Justice Substance Use Workers will deliver these services across Powys from a range of venues, working as a small team in collaboration with Criminal Justice agencies.
Delivering these services will require the post holder to effectively manage their time, working collaboratively with colleagues from the community service.
In addition to providing structured, time limited support and therapeutic interventions for those on court orders, Criminal Justice Substance Use Workers will also carry caseloads of clients who require case management within the Drugs Interventions Programme.
The post holder should enjoy face-to-face contact with people who have recognised that their use of substances has become problematic and also have been encouraged into treatment as a result of their criminal activity. S/he will have excellent communication skills, be able to work closely with other multi-disciplinary agencies and flexibly and efficiently within a small team, to ensure services are delivered equitably and at times to suit the client.
The post-holder will have a non-judgmental approach to people who have substance use problems and be able to provide a welcoming and accessible service to existing and people who could potentially access our services.
Individual supervision will be provided six weekly for one to two hours as required. There will be an induction period, during which training will be provided in specific areas.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Establish, sustain and disengage from relationships with individuals
- Contribute to the protection of individuals from harm and abuse
- Provide services to those affected by someone else’s substance use
- Develop your own knowledge and practice
- Make use of supervision
- Carry out comprehensive substance use assessment
- Plan and agree service responses which meet individuals’ identified needs
- and circumstances
- Support individuals through detoxification programmes
- Counsel individuals about their substance use using recognised theoretical models
- Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the working environment
- Supplying information for management control
- Promote effective communication for and about individuals
- Promote choice, wellbeing and the protection of all individuals
Further information and general responsibilities
- Undertake assessment of individuals with substance use problems, plan care and provide a seamless transition for people who access our service from referral through to discharge. This will include assessment for DIP, DRR and AAR/ATR interventions, for which a report may need to be written following assessment
- Proactively manage a varied caseload of individuals involved with the Criminal Justice system who have substance use problems, supporting them toward behaviour change using a range of interventions
- Establish and monitor effective therapeutic alliance using ORS/SRS
- Monitor client change using the Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP)
- Manage caseload administration requirements, ensuring that all required data relating to client work is entered accurately and swiftly
- Attend Police custody and courts regularly to ensure effective liaison and seamless referral into services
- Maintain regular contact with Police, Probation and Prison/CARAT colleagues
- Facilitate group-work programmes
- Be involved in the promotion and facilitation of meaningful, purposeful involvement for people who access our service.
- Advocate on behalf of people who access our service within the service and in the wider community.
- Develop and maintain effective links with mental health, GP prescribing and other voluntary and statutory sector providers and agencies.
- Provide needle exchange services and harm reduction information
- Provide support to the Young People's Substance Use Service when required, working supportively and collaboratively with CAIS colleagues
- Provide cover to other Kaleidoscope services in the region when required, such as Community treatment services
- Ensure personal safety and good practice measures are maintained at all times.
- Maintain accurate client records and good communication with those involved in the clients care.
- Undertake drug screening
- Work collaboratively with the all-Wales peer mentoring service, referring service users who may benefit from the scheme
- Other tasks relevant to the role as required by the Service Manager /Team Leader
Professional development
- Achieving competence in therapeutic interventions is an expectation of this role. The post-holder should expect to partake in video-recorded practice supervision in order to maintain and develop their practice.
Service Development
- To understand and implement Kaleidoscope policies and any shared protocols to ensure that a safe environment exists for the staff of this service, other agencies and clients.
- To represent the service and participate in any meetings as requested.
- To represent the service in the wider community.
- To support the service in raising awareness concerning issues of substance use.
Confidentiality
- Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
- To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
- To maintain and develop personal expertise and knowledge by reading, networking and further training in order to develop professional competence and to contribute to the development of competence within the team.
- To help with the induction and orientation of new staff and volunteers.
- To keep abreast of developments in the field and to increase skills and knowledge by participation in courses, in-service training etc.
- To keep abreast of relevant research underpinning your area of practice in order to inform and maintain evidence based practice
Pay: £26,227.50 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company events
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
