Non-Medical Prescriber

As directed by the NMP Lead, Assistant Medical Director and the Services Medical Lead, the post-holder will be an integral member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team delivering recovery orientated alcohol and drug intervention services. The role holder will:

Job description

Role-specific responsibilities

Assess, diagnose, plan; implement and evaluate treatment and interventions and care for service users.

Clinically assess service user needs and plan clinical care accordingly.

Diagnose and manage on an individual needs basis, integrating both drug and non-drug based treatment methods into a management plan, in conjunction with the Recovery Coordinator.

Identify and assess suitability of service users for in-patient alcohol and opioid detoxification as appropriate.

Proactively review and manage clinical treatment plans of the service user.

Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to service user needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and local protocols, and within scope of practice.

Work with service users to support concordance to prescribed treatments.

Provide information and advice on prescribed, illicit and over-the-counter medication, including side-effects and interactions.

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the service user in complex, urgent or emergency situations seeking immediate advice and direction from the Clinical Lead if needed.

Assess, identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs.

Assess, update and refer service users for BBV vaccination and immunisation programmes. Support service users to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles.

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure service users are fully informed and consent to treatment.

Communicate effectively with service users and carers, anticipating barriers to communication and recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

Maintain effective communication within the organisational environment and with external stakeholders, acting as an advocate for service users and colleagues where necessary.

Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an acceptable format to all service users, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.

Understand and work within own competence, the relevant regulatory bodys code of conduct, organisation policy and national prescribing competencies.

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.

Prioritise, organize and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.

Deliver care according to clinical guidelines and evidence-based care.

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation. Be actively involved in the annual appraisal system.

Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organization and its activities.

Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.

In partnership with other clinical teams, participate in shared learning, collaborate on improving the quality of health care, and respond to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.

Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery.

Understand and apply legal framework/processes that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable service users health procedures and local guidance.

Leadership

Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in regular clinical supervision and peer supervision as part of the NMP forum.

Support staff development, delivering training when necessary.

Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the service or service users or aligned with organisational values.

Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work.

Promote the role of the NMP amongst the team and stakeholders.

Team Working

Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time.

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working, role modelling values and the use of policies impacting on care delivery.

Work with colleagues, delegating tasks clearly when appropriate, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.

Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve client care.

Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success.

Risk Management

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and service users.

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values of the organisation.

Managing Information

Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information.

Review and process data in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified pharmacist with current GPhC registration and two years post-qualification experience OR First level registered nurse with a current PIN AND three years post qualification experience.
• Post-graduation qualification in drugs and/or alcohol (e.g. RCGP)

Experience

Essential

• Qualified Non-Medical Prescriber.
• At least one years relevant and recent experience of working within substance misuse treatment.
• A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services.
• Sound and demonstrable knowledge of clinical prescribing issues.
• Sound and demonstrable knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion interventions.
• Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers including appropriate medical interventions, social care and health issues.
• Ability to assess and recovery plan service users and formulate written reports as necessary.
• Experience of contributing to project development.
• Ability to interpret relevant medical test results.

About the employer

Believe in people

At Change Grow Live, above all else we believe in people. It's the one thing that acts as a foundation for all our work.

If you use our services: we understand what you're going through. We won't judge. We believe you can make positive changes in your life.

If you work or volunteer for us: we believe in your potential. We believe you can do brilliant, life-changing work.

Our mission and vision

Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.

The vision we're working towards is to develop, deliver and share a whole person approach that changes society.

We believe that having diverse people working as part of our team makes us the organisation that we are.

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and to make Change Grow Live a great place to work.

The safety of vulnerable children, young people and adults is our absolute priority. We will support you in your role to make sure that you are equipped to support the safety of people who use our services and those around them, to the highest standard possible.