The job description below is set out in two parts. The first part relates to the tasks and responsibilities undertaken by a number of our clinical staff, whose job titles are Registered Mental Health Nurse, Counsellor, or Social Worker.

Suitable candidates will have the core set of skills set out below, but where specific elements are missing such gaps can be filled with in-house or external training.

The second part of this specification sets out the additional tasks and responsibilities that are undertaken by qualified RMNs/RMHNs on our staff.

JOB DESCRIPTION –Registered Mental Health Nurse/Counsellor/Social Worker

Reporting to: The Management Team

Purpose

The postholder will work within a multi-disciplinary teamfocused on delivering therapeutic/clinical treatment to our clients for their alcohol addiction and for any other addictions or mental health issues they may have.

Mount Carmel’s treatment approach is based on the 12 Steps of AA and on total abstinence from mind altering substances.

Primary Clinical and Therapeutic Responsibilities

  • Delivering, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the daily therapeutic/clinical programme in the house including:
  • group therapy
  • one-to-one sessions
  • participating in the daily handover meeting
  • keeping appropriate notes and records of clients’ care
  • Interviewing and assessing potential residents and day clients
  • Carrying our risk assessments and devising care plans
  • Acting as a keyworker for assigned residents and day clients
  • Facilitating aftercare groups and offering support to ex-clients
  • Facilitating Community Meetings
  • Taking part in supervisionand training as required
  • Undertaking all other therapeutic duties as deemed appropriate by the Management Team and commensurate with skills.

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Assisting the Management Team in planning and monitoring the treatment timetable
  • Offering support to residents regarding follow-on accommodation and employment voluntary work courses
  • Providing support and advice to families and friends of clients
  • Liaising with care managers and/or other purchasers of services
  • Liaising with other agencies such as housing, local authorities, probation services
  • Contributing to the safe and efficient running of Mount Carmel
  • Adhering toMount Carmel’s policies and procedures
  • Ensuring that all statutory requirements are undertaken
  • Undertaking other administrative duties that may be required from time to time
  • Always working within and promoting Mount Carmel policies and philosophies with particular attention being paid to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and confidentiality

Additional Duties

  • Undertaking training as required.
  • Providing training as may be required

Additional tasks for the RMN role

  • Assessment of potential clients with mental health problems and/or in hospital
  • Assessment and monitoring of all clients’ mental health needs
  • Monitoring of all clients’ medication, including:
  • Ensuring all records are maintained
  • Medications are stored safely and securely
  • Medications are audited regularly
  • Monitoring the physical health of clients
  • Liaising with fellow clinical professionals including Community Mental Health teams, our pharmacist, GPs and hospitals
  • Involvement in developing improved treatment approaches to mental health issues, such as anxiety management
  • Keeping up-to-date with mental health nursing and medication as it relates to Mount Carmel.

Person specification

The job requires an interest in addiction in general and alcohol addiction in particular, and a strong commitment to helping people addicted to alcohol. Further personal characteristics required are:

  • Empathy - the ability to communicate understanding of another person’s experience from that person’s perspective.
  • Sincerity - a personal commitment to consistency between what is professed and what is done.
  • Integrity - commitment to being moral in dealings with others, personal straightforwardness, honesty and coherence.
  • Resilience - the capacity to work in a sometimes stressful and event-driven environment
  • Awareness – being aware of the diversity of experience of the client group
  • Respect - showing appropriate esteem to others and their understanding of themselves.
  • Fairness - the consistent application of appropriate criteria to inform decisions and actions.
  • Judgment- possession of sound judgment that supports good practice.
  • Assertiveness – the ability to challenge the actions and ideas of others as required, with confidence and conviction
  • Flexibility – the ability and willingness to fit in with the full range of demands of running an alcohol treatment centre.
  • Discretion - commitment to maintaining appropriate client confidentiality at all times.

Skills and experience

The skills required for the post are:

  • Acting as sole facilitator of group therapy sessions and one-to-one therapy sessions with adults addicted to alcohol
  • Excellent communication skills – written and oral
  • Understanding of the 12 Step programme
  • Good personal organization and time management skills to meet the daily and weekly timetables of Mount Carmel.

The minimum level of experience required is the successful completion of an RMN/RMHN course, Social Work degree, or a Counselling course involving at least 2 years of full-time-equivalent study and practice. Further experience of a counselling type role within an addiction treatment centre will be highly beneficial.