REPORTS TO: Senior Drug and Alcohol Worker

Drug and Alcohol Outreach Worker

Job Description

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB: To source Problematic Drug and Alcohol Users (PDAUs) and enable them to access treatment in the Borough and tosupport SPEAR service users to reduce and end their drug and alcohol use.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Service Delivery

To be responsible for engaging PDAUs not in treatment and facilitating their entry into treatmentand to be responsible for the effective delivery of SPEAR’s drug and alcohol support services for homeless people.

2.Resource Management

To be responsible and accountable for the delivery of a range of accessible services, working within the services’ financial resources and in conjunction with the Senior Drug and Alcohol Worker. To develop and strengthen relationships with partners to achieve this work.

3.Casework Management

To be responsible and accountable for providing advice, support, motivation and crisis intervention for PDAUs not in services and to engaging them in formal treatment.

4.Organisational Responsibilities

To contribute to the running of SPEAR’s integrated services for homeless people

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

1.Service Delivery

Provide an effective needs-led support service to drug and alcohol clients with SPEAR in line with SPEAR’s policies and procedures
Ensure that all clients have access to specialist services as required, utilising both internal and external resources
Identify PDAUs not in services and develop solutions to ensure they enter mainstream services within the Borough
Participate in the monitoring and review of targets set both internally by SPEAR and externally through Service Level Agreements with funders

2. Resource Management

Co-ordinate with external agencies such as the police, probation service and health services who come into contact with PDAUs

Maximise the opportunities available for clients through managed partnership working with external providers
Work within resources constraints to engage drug users and tackle the barriers for them entering treatment
Utilise internal and external resources to provide a holistic service to drug and alcohol misusers within SPEAR in line with SPEAR’s ethos

3.Casework Management

Undertake assessments and casework with clientsensuring an integrated approach to the support provision
Participate in regular reviews of clients’ cases – alongside partner agencies and other SPEAR services
Maintain accurate records of work undertaken

4. Organisational Responsibilities

Participate in staff management and support systems in line with SPEAR’s policies and procedures, including team meetings, induction, supervision, appraisal and training audits

Liaise and work with all internal stakeholders to deliver an effective SPEAR wide service
Undertake other duties as your line manager should require in keeping with the responsibility of the post

Drug and Alcohol Outreach Worker

Person Specification

Understanding of contemporary issues around substance misuse
Recent experience of providing an effective service for individuals to address their support issues
Experience of care and support systems for homeless people or similar vulnerable groups, including key working, care planning and joint working
The ability to work with clients who may display challenging behaviour

Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to represent SPEAR appropriately at all times, and work professionally with external agencies
The ability to co-ordinate joint working with partner substance misuse agencies, to ensure closer working with clients between services

An understanding of, and commitment to, confidentiality and professional boundaries
The ability to work with databases, and collating and presenting statistical information
Effective time and workload management
The ability to be an effective team player