Newham Rise

Job Description

Organisation/Department

/ Newham Rise

Job Title

/ Outreach and Re-engagementWorker – job ref. CGL644

Reports to

/ Deputy Services Manager

Team Members Reporting to Job Holder

/ Volunteers / Student Placements (where appropriate)

Description of Job role and duties:

The Outreach and Re-engagement Worker is required to work in partnership witha range of staff working within the substance misuse sector, criminal justice system, and wider health and housing arena along with other CGLstaff to provide and deliver a range of services. The role will include re-engaging service users who have dropped out of treatment as well as attracting and motivating treatment naïve individuals and feeding them into the treatment system in Newham. This will be done in a variety of settings including satellites in professional settings such as community centres and hospitals as well as outreach on the streets in tandem with housing and enforcement agencies. Developing and nurturing sound relationships and protocols with all internal and external stake holders and partnersto ensure effective and integrated treatment pathways is an important feature of the post.The post holder will be required to do a number of home visits jointly with colleagues to ensure service user safety and to maximise engagement and retention in treatment. The post holder will be required to lone work at times, be flexible and dynamic in their approach and to have demonstrable passion for working with service users and facilitating behaviour change.
Duties will include:
  • To reduce drug and alcohol related harm to the individual, their families and the wider community
  • To promote healthier lives, wellbeing and active citizenship
  • To promote and support individuals into both abstinence based and medically assisted forms of recovery.
  • Carry out triage, risk assessments, risk management plans and comprehensive assessments, and to contribute to the development of individual community recovery plans with those who express a wish to access community treatment/support services
  • To ensure individuals are supported into paid employment and/or relevant training, education or occupation.
  • To contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved.
  • To ensure the accurate and timely recording of input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements
  • Utilise motivational interviewing, ITEP, cognitive behavioural techniques and brief interventions in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in treatment services, encourage self-esteem, well-being, self-responsibility and enhanced motivation.
  • Manage a client caseload and to maintain case management responsibility for all these clients throughout their recovery journey.
  • To implement and deliver services and Groups in line with the Foundations of Recovery Model
  • Work in partnership with Air Sports during evenings and weekends as and when required.
  • Conduct Street Outreach and Home Visits when required. To co-ordinate this with key partner agencies such as the Police when necessary.
  • Work and liaise with other agencies involved with the client’s broader care plan including health services, hospitals and GP’s.
  • Promote sexual health awareness and offer screening and materials to service users.
  • Actively participate in regular management supervision and be willing to personally reflect on interpersonal dynamics within the therapeutic relationship and provide evidence of achieving performance targets alongside other supervision requirements as detailed in CGL policy.
  • Work within CGL’s professional development framework participating in active learning and developing professionally, in accordance with service and organisational requirements and current skills and abilities.
  • Recognise personal and professional boundaries and work within CGL clinical governance framework at all times.
  • Present a professional image and actively promote the service at all times to service users, other stakeholders, partnership organisations and the general public.
  • Ensure that all data requirements are met within defined deadlines and work with the CGL management team to ensure that outcomes are being achieved.
  • Uphold data protection legislation and only share client information as per CGL policy, local and formally agreed information sharing protocols and client confidentiality agreements.
  • Enable individuals to find out about and use services and facilities. To use motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural techniques to promote engagement in treatment services.
  • Work with service users in a holistic way ensuring that their needs are met, including areas such as child protection, housing, medical, criminal justice and mental health including referrals to appropriate services and joint working arrangements
  • To implement CGL’s Safeguarding policies and follow appropriate Safeguarding practices in order to protect Service Users, their families and the wider community in Newham and neighbouring boroughs.
  • Ensure that equality of opportunity policies and anti discriminatory practice are adhered to and fully implemented at all times and that all practice positively promotes CGL’s commitment to valuing diversity.
  • Identify and target entrenched rough sleepers and engage with a range of individuals who have either dropped out of drug treatment services or would not normally engage in such treatment.
  • Work in an assertive outreach way to incorporate working with people involved in street population issues including rough sleepers, beggars, sex workers, street based drug users and street drinkers with a view to engaging them in appropriate services and move then into a more settled lifestyle
  • To promote sexual health awareness and offer referral to screening to service users accessing the Needle Exchange.
  • Contribute to the protection of all individuals from abusive behaviour.
  • Work alongside and support students and trained volunteers undertaking placements at the project.
  • Work flexibly across operational sites as required
  • Work flexibly within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision. This may include evening and weekend work
  • Seek to improve personal performance, contribution, knowledge and skills
  • Participate in the appraisal, training and supervision processes
In carrying out the above duties the post-holder will be expected to:
  • Follow line-management direction in order to effectively and efficiently achieve service level agreements targets and outputs
  • Advise the Deputy Services Manageron all aspects of the work of the project
  • Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders as required and when requested.
  • Contribute to the design and implementation of service developments as determined and agreed
  • To be responsible for the implementation of the full range of CGL policies across the sphere of operational responsibility.
  • Attend all relevant partnership, service user and internal CGL meetings as required and/or instructed by Deputy Services Manager.
  • In conjunction with other team members develop training and educational packages/material for service and agency needs. To support and challenge workers on specific aspects of their practice. To be open to support and challenge from your colleagues

Person Specification

Qualifications
It is essential that candidates have:
  • Experience of providing harm minimisation advice and information that reduces the potential negativeimpact on individuals, carers and communities physical and psychological health and well-being
  • Demonstrable inspirational and aspirational approach to supporting positive recovery outcomes for all service users
  • Extensive experience of working with substance misuse issues and a clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services
  • Substantial experience of delivering recognised pharmacological and psycho-social interventions for substance misusers
  • The ability to maintain professional boundaries and work effectively with colleagues and partnershipagencies.
  • Experience of working with substance misuse issues and a clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults procedures.
  • Ability to assess and develop support plans with service users and formulate written reports as necessary.
  • Ability to work with and manage challenging behaviour
  • Knowledge and experience of Community based support practices.
  • Ability to maintain professional boundaries and work effectively with partnershipagencies.
  • Demonstrate skills to undertake administrative duties.
  • Confidence to work on own initiative as well as part of the team
  • Experience of referral procedures to a range of treatment / community support agencies
  • Experience of the provision of support that is structured, focussed and time-limited to the point of entry with clients waiting to access appropriate treatment /support services generated from contacts with the street population
  • Experience of assertive outreach in order to engage with clients previously referred into treatment services who have dropped out of prescribing / treatment / support regimes
  • Experience/knowledge of providing effective outreach provision to hard to reach groups
  • A working knowledge of performance management and meeting demanding targets
  • Experience of data collection systems, information technology and general administrative duties
  • Desirable, but not essential is successful completion of, or working towards DANOS accreditation or NVQ level 3 qualification

Experience
Knowledge and experience of:
  • Meeting targets and deadlines within financial constraints
  • Working with a substance misuse service delivery culture
  • Quality issues across the range of activities a service operation.
  • Risk assessment and treatment care planning
Candidates will need to be able to demonstrate a capacity to innovate, to work on their own initiative as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
The successful candidate will work closely with the partner agencies and must be able to demonstrate the ability to:
  • Communicate confidently and effectively both in writing and oral
  • Write and present in-depth reports and carry out appropriate assessments on substance misusers
  • Understand the issues facing substance misusers including social care, welfare benefits, health and emergency accommodation
  • Utilise motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural approaches
  • Maintain professional boundaries
  • Respond flexibly to the demands of the post
  • Work as a member of a team
  • Make a personal investment in the success of CRI and its staff.
  • Understand and have a commitment to the principles of equal opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice
  • Employ an empathic and non-judgemental attitude towards service users
  • Show a capacity to work alone and the ability to keep calm under pressure
This post is subject to a DBS check at an enhanced level

Amendments: This description accurately reflects the present position; the job description may be amended and will be reviewed on a regular basis. Any changes will be made following a proper period of consultation.

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