Lead Specialist Addiction Nurse (Assertive Outreach Addiction Team)

University Hospitals Dorset has a proven track record in delivering care and treatment to patients presenting with alcohol attributable admissions and attendances, including its award-winning Assertive Outreach Alcohol Team linked to the trusts Addiction Care & Treatment Services (ACTS).

we are seeking to appoint an experienced lead specialist addiction nurse to provide leadership to our established community based Assertive Outreach Alcohol Team

The post holder will be required to be a registered nurse (mental health and/or adult) with an independent prescribing qualification (or willingness to undertake) and clinical experience working in a specialist alcohol (or substance misuse) service in a hospital and/or community setting.

You would be working as part of a healthcare team with a mixture of psychosocial and clinical interventions. There are many opportunities to develop new skills and this role is ideal for an experienced nurse seeking to broaden their knowledge and understanding of caring for high-risk adults often with complex needs who experience high intensity use of urgent and emergency care pathways.

Interview Date: 26th March 2026

The purpose of the Lead Specialist Addiction Nurse (Assertive Outreach Addiction Team) role is to be highly visible, provide effective, and accessible leadership to members of the ACTS Assertive Outreach Addiction Team, thereby ensuring the highest standards of patient care and evidenced based prac

tice are delivered at all times. Responsible to the Head of Addiction Services, the role is to lead and contribute to the development of the core clinical team establishment and is responsible for the independent delivery of high-quality safe nursing care and good people management within a community setting. The post holder is expected to ensure responsibility of safe system of referral, treatment and eventual discharge of patients.

Cross cover will be provided for the Lead Specialist Addiction Nurse (in-patient alcohol and drug) posts across both UHD sites to ensure adequate and safe leadership when required.

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment proces

s.

For UHD employees, this fixed-term post will be offered as a secondment in line with the Trust’s Secondment Policy. Please speak with your line manager before applying.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Graeme White Job title: Head of Addiction Services Email address: graeme.white@nhs.net Telephone number: 0300 0192871