Job Title: Specialist Women’s MCN Outreach Worker (Experienced)
Responsible to: Service Co-ordinator (SORS)
Annual Salary: FTE £ 26,458 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 10
Holidays: 25 days per year + statutory days (pro rata for part time)
Pension: 4% employee + 4% employer contributions (8%)
Funding: Until March 2027
Purpose
The role of the Specialist Women’s MCN Outreach Worker is to engage women with substance misuse issues who are at risk of abuse and exploitation and encourage them to access a range of recovery support. The aim of the wider project is to support high risk drug users to reduce the harm caused to themselves and the community by helping them engage in treatment, building recovery capital and kick starting their recoveries. The key aims are to stop the revolving door of substance misuse, re-offending and homelessness while preventing Drug-related Death.
Essential criteria
- In depth knowledge of issues facing women with substance misuse
- 2 years’ experience in addiction services
- Working knowledge of up to date harm reduction strategies.
- Experience of working in criminal justice services
- Current and valid UK driving license
- Access to a vehicle with business insurance
Key Activities
- Ensure women are assessed for substance misuse and other presenting issues including mental and physical ill health, learning difficulties and neurodiversity, for example. In addition, any indicators of Domestic Abuse and other forms of abuse are to be explored fully. An analysis of the impact of substance misuse on the individual and the wider community will be carried out and an initial support plan formulated, providing harm reduction advice and information including Naloxone and overdose prevention advice and resources.
- Encourage and support referrals to Adult Social Care, CGL substance misuse treatment service, probation, RSPAR and other agencies as appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with key criminal justice providers including the prison service, probation and CJIT to engage women on release from prison.
- Record information and report on substance misuse histories, demographics, other possible reasons for rough sleeping and outcomes.
- Share Safeguarding alerts and data around risk with partner services in line with inter agency data sharing protocol, Caldicott’s principles and GDPR.
Specialist Women’s MCN Outreach Worker
- The worker will carry out joint street engagement work when a specific support need is identified, for example when immediate and severe health concerns are evident.
- Liaison with housing teams including RSPAR and Housing Options to help women in temporary accommodation get safeguarding support and help with their substance misuse while supporting them to remain housed, dealing with landlord and tenant disputes, exploring and resolving incidents of anti-social behaviour and more.
- Encourage women who are rough sleeping to attend hub sessions at Seaview and Hastings town centre hub, engaging with specialist workers from Hastings Borough Council, CGL, Hep C Trust, the sexual health service, GP and nurse led wound care clinics, welfare benefits advice from CAB 1066 and the wider Seaview team to ensure support needs are met simultaneously, especially accommodation provision and tenancy support via Housing Options, Citadel, Seaview’s Accommodation Support Service (SASS) and others.
- Encourage attendance at diversionary activities which are hosted by RADAR and include art, gym, music and cookery.
- Ensure all client data, including risk data, safeguarding alerts, serious and untoward incidents and other essential information is recorded and communicated to the service co-ordinator in a timely fashion.
- Reports all operational matters of concern to the Service Co-ordinator
- Ensuring that you are delivering a service in accordance with Seaview’s policies and procedures with a clear focus on risk management including infection control.
- Being responsive to the support needs of vulnerable clients by working collaboratively with other agencies, monitoring outcomes and seeking appropriate resolutions with regards to safeguarding, housing, healthcare and criminal justice.
- To identify and engage service users who are at risk or experiencing domestic abuse
- To ensure harm reduction advice and information is provided to service users.
- To carry out some home visits as required.
- To advocate for clients and attend appointments with them as deemed necessary.
- The ability to deal with challenging behaviour with understanding and professionalism and encourage others to do the same.
- To reflect on own practice through supervision and support.
Person Specification
- Previous experience working with women with multiple compound needs, including substance misuse and work with offenders and ex-offenders.
- An understanding of the barriers which prevent women from accessing substance misuse services and other related support.
- Previous experience of multi-agency working and the ability to liaise with both statutory and voluntary sector partners.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Knowledge of Harm Reduction approaches in relation to substance misuse.
- Awareness of behaviour change theory and practice
- Self-management. Ability to prioritise and manage a busy and ever changing caseload. This will include co-ordinating diary commitments to meet service demands and proactive decision-making skills with the ability to show initiative in emergency situations.
- Working knowledge of substance misuse, criminal justice, housing and social care services.
- Understanding of client confidentiality and data sharing protocols.
- Excellent IT skills and experience of producing and providing clear, concise records of interventions.
- Ability to travel across Hastings, and throughout East Sussex, on occasions, when essential.
- Willingness and ability to work unsociable hours, where required.
General Terms of Reference
- You will seek to improve personal performance, contribution, knowledge and skills.
- You will participate in appraisal, training and supervision processes.
- You will keep abreast of developments in services and practice relevant to the client group.
- You will keep the Service Co-ordinator fully apprised of all progress and concerns.
- You will contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.
- You will, as part of the generic team approach, be prepared to work in other areas of Seaview Project as required.
This is not a contract of employment, and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of key responsibilities. It is a guide to the role, and will be subject to periodic review.
This position is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Job Type: Fixed term contract
Pay: £7,204.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you have access to a vehicle with business insurance during your working hour?
Experience:
- supporting complex needs: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
