Enhanced Practitioner - Shared Care Drug & Alcohol Service

The Enhanced practice professionalswill use clinical decision making within a scope of practice, participate indecision making amongst the wider MDT and contribute specific knowledge of anarea of practice.

The Enhanced level of practiceincludes freedom to act. Practice is autonomous within the professional scopeof practice.

The post holder will have highly developed specialist skills and advanced knowledge in a specific area of interest. They will have significant clinical experience in their area of practice. As an autonomous practitioner they will undertake independent consultations with patients attending with specific symptoms within the post holders specialist scope of practice. They will assess, examine, investigate, diagnose,treat and follow up patients within their scope of practice.

North Cumbria Primary Care Ltd (NCPC) is an innovative not for profit social enterprise, established tocreate a network of great surgeries which sustains and supports the development of general practice across the local area. We enable our member general practices to continue to operate as local family practices with the benefit ofa large and robust infrastructure to provide support.

To provide a specialist and advancedprofessional contribution to the clinical management of patients attendingwithin their specialist area.

Work within the national clinical managementguideline in line with the Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Government on Clinical Management
- Department of health & Social care 2017.

Carry out a health check at a minimum annuallyincorporating Hepatitis B&C, & HIV- where appropriate and evidence of Hepatitis B vaccinations where applicable. Examples include but not limited towound care, contraception, blood borne virus testing and immunisation, smokingcessation services, and mental health interventions.

Carry out comprehensive assessment of patients with drug and alcohol needs, including physical and mental health screening.

Undertake comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments of patients with substance misuse disorders

Diagnose and manage drug and alcohol dependence, withdrawalsyndromes, and co-morbid conditions

Develop and deliver individualised care plans focused on harm reduction, stabilisation and health checks

Initiate and manage opioid substitution therapy- OSTand alcoholdetoxification plans

Prescribe independently in line with national and local guidelines,supporting safe prescribing pathways in collaboration with GPs and pharmacists.

Manage complex presentations including dual diagnosis, safeguarding concerns, and high-risk behaviours

Provide brief clinical interventions, motivational interviewing,and relapse prevention strategies, including detox support, wound care ,vaccinations and medication prescription where appropriate.

Monitor treatment effectiveness, side effects, and adherence

Manage acute presentations related to substance misuse, includingoverdose risk and withdrawal

Actively work with Recovery Co-ordinator tosupport the individual to engage in a range of interventions and treatment options, to include substitute opiate prescribing and alcohol detoxificationprescribing.

To supply point of care drug screening equipment.

Ensure the person has access to and is holdingnaloxone.

To supply DBTS kits.

Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting withthe GP to discuss complex cases with recovery Steps Cumbria.

Use a combination of skills, knowledge, valuesand self-esteem to manage change and move beyond competency, moving from experienced to expert in area of specialism.

Working at an enhanced level of practice- with strong autonomous decision making within scope of practice and currentcompetencies Practice with autonomy and accountability.

To be responsible for the follow up of the patients under their care.

Adhere to the NMC/ HCPC/ professional body

Code:
Standards of Conduct, Performance and ethics for nurses / professionalbody at all times.

To undertake assessments for clinical riskwithin the service and ensure all staff are aware of responsibilities and related policies.

To participate in the identification,development, implementation and dissemination of local clinical protocols,policies, procedures, guidelines relating to individualised specialist service;which includes their management ensuring clinical governance is maintained.

• Full clean driving licence

• Positive attitude, self-motivated
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Ability to work with a team and independently
• Ability to adapt to change within working situation

• Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills
• Strong knowledge of substance misuse pharmacology and harm reduction
• Excellent communication and motivational interviewing skills
• Ability to manage risk, safeguarding, and complex psychosocial needs
• Non-medical prescribing experience in substance misuse
• Significant and extensive experience within Drug and Alcohol…