Job Description
Service
West Sussex Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service
Job Title
Non Medical Prescriber (MP664)
SCP
Point 37 – 40
£32,296.50 – £35,244.00 per annum
NHS equivalent band 7
Hours
37.5 hours per week
Reports to
Services Manager/ Consultant Psychiatrist
Purpose of Job
As directed by the Services Manager and under the clinical supervision
of the CRI Regional Lead Nurse for Clinical Practice, the post-holder
will be an integral member of a team delivering comprehensive Tier 3
nurse lead clinical intervention services.
They will take a lead role in developing a nurse led prescribing clinic and
will act as a point of contact for other workers around prescribing issues,
alongside the Specialist Doctors and the CRI Regional Lead Nurse for
Clinical Practice.
The NMP will work under the guidance of the Clinical Lead and be
responsible for the management of their caseload whilst supporting
substance misuse workers with their case load; including screening,
comprehensive assessments, care planning and reviews, titration and
prescribing services, support through detoxification and rehabilitation,
along side other clinical and psycho-social interventions.
The role will play a major part in developing and progressing community
detoxifications.
Key Activities:

To engage with people who have substance misuse problems and providing them with
advice, screening and clinical interventions to address their substance misuse issues,
and primary health care (including blood borne viruses).

To liaise with the Doctor to offer substitute prescribing regimes to improve social
functioning and in relation to changes to client treatment.

To develop and progress community detoxification, taking the lead in ensuring that the
Reach out Recovery service has a comprehensive and open response community
detoxification.

To ensure that substance management plans are signed off and reviewed as
necessary.

To act as Care Co-ordinator, and have clinical responsibility, for the nurse led clinic
including assessment and appropriateness of medication prescribed.

As a nurse prescriber, to ensure that clients are fully informed and have given consent
to treatment.

To maintain an up to date knowledge of medicine management and both local and
national guidelines and agreements.

To attend meetings appropriate to the development and maintenance of the role in
agreement with and under the direction of the line manager.

To offer a practice and supervisory lead to Workers as part of the overall Substance
Misuse Service in accordance with CRI policies and protocols and national legislation
and guidance.

To provide sound evidence-based clinical practice to facilitate effective treatment
decisions.

To conduct phlebotomy tests.

To adhere to Patient Group Directives and ensure requirements on updating are
maintained

To titrate patients safely on to a treatment regime and ensure that procedures are
constantly reviewed to promote best evidenced based practice in accordance with
CRI’s clinical guidelines.

To carry out comprehensive assessments and contribute to the development of
individual recovery plans with those who express a wish to access community
treatment/support services.

To offer wound care assessment and basic wound dressing to clients.

To develop, review and audit recovery plans, provide health education especially in
regard to harm minimisation, blood borne viruses and overdose prevention.

To utilise motivational interviewing, 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.

To receive regular clinical supervision provided by the Clinical Co-ordinator and
maintain a current knowledge of appropriate interventions with regard to substance
misusing clients.

To refer and liaise with other agencies involved with the client’s broader care plan as
part of the Inspire Service, including Health Services, hospitals and GP’s.

To work closely and proactively with the management and staff team to ensure
adherence with all relevant Health & Safety Polices and ensure that risk is managed
appropriately within the service.
General terms of reference:
In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:

Work flexibly across operational sites as required.

Work flexibly within an agreed number of hours of work to maintain the most
appropriate level of service provision.

Seek to improve personal performance, contribution, knowledge and skills.

Participate in appraisal, supervision and Learning & Development processes.

Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice relevant to the
relevant client group.

Ensure the implementation of the all CRI policies.

Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.

Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.
This is a standards based job description that incorporates the National Occupational
Standards relevant to the job, as well as DANOS and other occupational standards such as
CJNTO.
Specific standards (DANOS related where appropriate) for this role include:
Unit Number and Title
AA2
Relate to, and interact with individuals
AA3
Support individuals to access and use services and facilities
AA4
Promote the equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities of individuals
AA6
Promote choice, well being and the protection of all individuals
AB1
Support individuals who are distressed
AB2
Support individuals who are substance users
AB3
Contribute to the prevention and management of abusive and aggressive
behaviour
AB4
Contribute to the protection of individuals from harm and abuse
AB5
Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AB8
Contribute to assessing and act upon risk of danger, harm and abuse
AC1
Reflect on and develop your practice
Unit Number and Title
AC2
Make use of supervision
AC3
Contribute to the development of the knowledge and practice of others
AD1
Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
AD4
Develop and disseminate information and advice about substance use, health
and social well-being
AF1
Carry out screening and referral assessment
AF3
Carry out comprehensive substance misuse assessment
AG1
Develop, implement and review care plans for individuals
AG3
Assist in the transfer of individuals between agencies and services
AH3
Supply and exchange injecting equipment for individuals
AH4
Support individuals to undertake and monitor their own health care
AH5
Undertake treatments and dressings related to the care of lesions and wounds
AH7
Support individuals through detoxification programmes
AH8
Dispense medicines and products
AH9
Supervise methadone consumption
AH11
Prepare prescriptions for controlled drugs
AH12
Enable individuals to take their medication as prescribed
AI2
Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan
BA3
Contribute to the development of organisational policy and practice
BB1
Promote your organisation and its services to stakeholders
BD3
Support the health and safety of yourself and individuals
BE2
Receive, analyse, process, use and store information
BE4
Supply information for management control
Unit Number and Title
BI5
Promote effective communication for and about individuals
BI1
Develop productive working relationships
BI6
Develop and sustain effective working relationships with staff in other agencies
BI7
Participate in inter-disciplinary team working to support individuals
Person Specification
Essential criteria:
 First level registered with a current PIN
 A level of recent experience of working within substance misuse treatment
 Have completed and recorded with the NMC the V300 nurse prescribing course
 A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services
 Sound and demonstrable knowledge of clinical prescribing issues
 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
 Community based support practices
 Maintain professional boundaries and work effectively with partnership agencies
 Demonstrate skills to undertake administrative duties
 Experience of contributing to project development
 Clinical auditing skills to inform evaluation of the service and identify areas for development
And the ability to:
 Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing
 Respond flexibly to the demands of the post
 Work as a member of a team
 Show a capacity to work alone and the ability to keep calm under pressure
 Understand and have a commitment to the principles of equal opportunity and diversity
 Employ an empathetic and non-judgmental attitude towards service users
 Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for service users
Desirable criteria:
 Access to own transport (non-essential)
 Knowledge of local services and geography
 Motivational interviewing techniques
 Qualification(s) in substance misuse
This post is subject to a DBS check at an enhanced level.
Amendments: This description accurately reflects the present position; it may be
amended and reviewed. Any change will be made following a proper period of
consultation.