Clinical Nurse Specialist – Alcohol Care Team

Clinical Nurse Specialist – Alcohol Care Team

The closing date is 23 March 2026

The alcohol care team is expanding and we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our dedicated team.

Alcohol consumption is a key single modifiable driver of demand for acute health services. It accounts for up to 20% of emergency hospital admission, results in prolonged stays in hospital and sees patients frequently readmitted to hospital. Alcohol dependent patients often receive sub‑optimal care and can pose significant challenges for non‑specialist teams caring for them.

The aim of the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Alcohol Care Team is to:

• Reduce avoidable alcohol‑related hospital admissions by reducing health risk among patients who are alcohol dependent.
• Reduce the length of stay for inpatients by improving the management of patients undergoing withdrawal treatments.
• Provide appropriate, timely, meaningful education and support for those individuals who are presenting with alcohol related problems and for health professionals who are providing care to this cohort of patients.
• Facilitate integrated alcohol related care across the patients' journey.
• Provide / signpost psychosocial intervention to support dependent drinkers to sustain abstinence following discharge.

This is an 18 month fixed term/secondment opportunity.

• Deputise the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in the management of the service.
• Collect data for analysis and interpret in order to maintain the service in‑accordance with locally and nationally agreed parameters. Liaise with Public Health England, local CCG and NHSE/I.
• Provide clinical expertise in the management of alcohol withdrawal programmes liaising with clinical colleagues within the team and to the wider organisation, under indirect supervision of the Clinical Lead.
• To provide case identification, comprehensive alcohol assessments, specialist nursing and medical care planning, psychosocial interventions, and discharge planning.
• Provide trust-wide education in relation to alcohol related health disorders, advice and treatments to patients and professionals.
• To develop and maintain excellent working relationships with the link Consultant, other specialist nurses such as the Liver team, social workers, allied health professionals, mental health services and the wider team.
• To work within local trust policies and standards of practice, national policies and guidance, and NMC codes of practice.
• To support the provision of a 7‑day service.
• Deputise for the lead Clinical Nurse Specialist in attending meetings pertaining to the development / planning of the Alcohol Care Team in their absence.

This is an exciting opportunity to join and continue to develop a service within Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

The Alcohol Care Team works within a friendly and well‑established Gastroenterology Department that provides seamless multi‑speciality care, with an ethos in facilitating the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

• NMC registered Degree level qualification in Adult Nursing
• Extensive experience in the management of patients with alcohol related health concerns
• IT literate, including data collection and interpretation
• Dexterity to take part in the administration of medications through various routes
• Communicating with a wide variety of people including patients, carers, medical staff and the public

Please see the attached Job Description for a detailed job description and a main responsibility proforma.

• NMC registered Degree level qualification in Adult Nursing
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• Evidence of continuing personal / professional development
• Non‑medical prescribing qualification or the ability to undertake
• Post graduate study in alcohol related health

• Experience in the management of patients with alcohol related health concerns
• Experience of multi‑professional collaborative working
• Experience of giving psychosocial support to complex patients
• Broad understanding of healthcare provision together with an awareness and appreciation of current NHS and PHE policies and priorities in relation to…