JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Aftercare Worker

Reports To:Team Leader/ Service Manager

Grade /Salary:NJC23-26 (£20,849 - £22,937)

Locations: Tredegar (covering the Blaenau Gwent area)

Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week

Background and Service

The aim of the Gwent wide Adult Drug, Alcohol & Family Support Service is to engage drug and/or alcohol users and/or their concerned others in a continuum of service provision in order to reduce substance related harm, physical dependence, related health problems and improve psychological, family and social functioning in all domains of the service users, carers and concerned others’ lives. This will include engaging and assessing service users, brief interventions, outreach, Tier One training, case management, health promotion and harm reduction initiatives, detoxification programmes, needle exchange, maintenance and relapse prevention prescribing and recovery and aftercare services.

The service user group served is the population (including those who are homeless) within the five Local Authority areas in Gwent. The Service is provided for adult drug and/or alcohol users aged 18 years of age and over. This may include engaging with their families, concerned others, the wider community and other professionals (e.g. teachers, social workers, primary care staff, criminal justice agencies, etc.).

Those service users identified on initial screening who have current involvement with the Criminal Justice System are referred to the G4S Gwent IRIS Service. Those service users will be care coordinated by the G4S Criminal Justice Recovery Caseworkers, but will access GDAS recovery and aftercare service on completion of active treatment.

GDAS provides a recovery orientated service to maximise service delivery and outcomes. These services are provided in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, non-patronising and professional manner and in a way that demonstrates courtesy and respect for individuals using substances, and sensitivity to their personal situation and experiences.

All GDAS workers will be required to work evenings and weekends where required.

The Aftercare Worker will work within the Recovery Service element of GDAS. The post holder will work alongside the assessment and engagement team and the active treatment team to support service users in their recovery journey by delivering evidenced-based structured aftercare support and detoxification preparation to service users in the Link service and recovery service.

Role Purpose:

  • To assist in delivering the Welsh Government’s ‘Recovery Framework’ by planning and providing high quality, innovative care which reflects our person centred values and the high levels of ambition we have for the recovery of the individuals for whom we provide support.
  • To work within the GDAS Integrated service providing support to all substance misusers (drug and alcohol) who present for recovery support through the GDAS SPOC (Single Point of Contact) or referred via the GDAS active treatment team, Link service and criminal justice service.
  • To assist in the delivery of an integrated service through the provision of assessment, action planning, engagement, retention, planned discharge and onward referral as appropriate.
  • To communicate GDAS’s vision and deliver its mission, corporate strategy and business plans.
  • To contribute to the safety of communities from drug related crime and in the improvement of health, employment and recovery.
  • Involving individuals and their family/advocates in the planning of the individual’s care.
  • Completing accurate, person-centred and individualised risk assessments.

Main duties and responsibilities:

  • Work flexibly in a variety of settings to prepare service users for detoxification and deliver structured aftercare support packages.
  • Implement and deliver structured detoxification preparation and anxiety groups and one to one sessions as part of the Link service.
  • Implement and deliver insomnia support and acu-detox groups and one to one sessions as part of the Link service.
  • Implement and deliver detoxification preparation groups for concerned others as part of the Link service.
  • To prepare and process Tier 4 referrals and support service users in preparation for tier 4 entry.
  • Develop strength-based aftercare/recovery plans with individuals that are: comprehensive, person-centred and individualised based on a clear assessment of that individual’s needs and circumstances.
  • To deliver structured relapse prevention groups and one to one sessions based on Marlatt & Gordon’s relapse prevention model.
  • To deliver evidenced-based interventions that aid detoxification such as mindfulness sessions, CBT-based interventions and relaxation skills.
  • To actively influence and support client motivation to stop using drugs and alcohol.
  • Completing accurate, person-centred and individualised risk assessments.
  • Encourage active participation into mutual aid groups such as SMART recovery and 12-step fellowship groups (NA/AA) and peer-led recovery hubs and service user groups (The Voice Gwent).
  • To promote healthier lives, wellbeing and active citizenship.
  • To promote carer, service user and community involvement.
  • Promoting visible Recovery within GDAS.
  • Develop Bibliotherapy materials relevant to Recovery, Detoxification and Aftercare.
  • Research, develop and implement online recovery resources such as ‘Breaking Free Online’.

Promote and encourage service user participation in local, regional and national recovery events.

Gather information and report on outcomes using the Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS) outcome monitoring tool and Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP)

Producing information for publications, leaflets and web pages.

Mediating on a client’s behalf, for example, by writing letters, making phone calls or attending meetings.

  • Referring service users to other sources of help, for example solicitors, social workers or other internal and external departments.
  • Writing reports and compiling statistics.
  • Providing training or talks to internal staff or external organisations.
  • To work within agreed policies, procedures and protocols to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.
  • To attend and report to safeguarding reviews, meetings and conferences, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) and Domestic Abuse Conference call (DACC)

In consultation with the post holder, this job description is liable to variation to reflect actual, contemplated or approved changes in/or to the job role.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Essential / Desirable
Qualifications and training / GCSE English Literature or Language, grade C or above (or equivalent).
Experience of delivering structured relapse prevention interventions/talking therapies/CBT. / NVQ level three social care
Coaching & Mentoring qualification.
Experience/ Knowledge / Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their ethnic, cultural, social backgrounds, their gender, age, religious belief, disability and sexual orientation.
Proven ability to network and build professional relationships
Experience of facilitating groupwork / Knowledge of substance misuse treatment and care pathways
Knowledge of the Welsh Government Recovery Framework
Knowledge of opiate detoxification, withdrawal and management
Competencies /
  • Compliance:Ability to audit and monitor quality of outputs; demonstrable experience of delivery against specified protocols/ procedures ensuring the highest level of performance.
  • Teamwork:Ability to build and develop relationships with internal staff, strategic partners and other external parties/ organisations
  • Personal Drive:Will be able to demonstrate being self directed, resourceful and creative.Able to manage own time and work autonomously. Able to work on own initiative with drive and enthusiasm.
  • Communication:Good written, verbal and presentation skills. Good IT skills: managing team administration issues, monitoring and clinical activity data reporting. Good facilitation/negotiation skills and a commitment to working in partnership with other agencies.
  • Customer Focus:Work to understand customer needs. Strive to exceed expectations.
  • Planning and Organising:Able to manage tasks and deadlines.Able to resolve conflicting priorities.

Role specific requirements /
  • Excellent IT skills: competency in Microsoft Word, Email, Excel, Powerpoint and use of internet browsers.
  • Prepared to undertake enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) vetting.
  • Flexibility to work at multiple locations and flexible working hours.
/
  • Full, current driving licence and use of a car which is insured for business use.

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