HERTFORDSHIRE PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Information and Advice Worker

Band: Band 4

Directorate: CAMHS

Responsible to: Adolescent & Families Drug & Alcohol Service Hertfordshire (AFDASH)

Accountable to: AFDASH Team Leader

Base: To be Agreed. Will carry out majority of the role within one half of the county of Hertfordshire

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week

JOB SUMMARY:

The post holder will be a member of the multi-disciplinary Adolescent & Families Drug & Alcohol Service Hertfordshire (AFDASH). They will work across the county to deliver advice/guidance, signposting and some face to face engagement with young people with emerging substance misuse issues. This will require involvement with support networks (friends /Family) and other professionals. An essential part of the role will be to develop strong links and partnerships across the Families-First multi-agency networks to actively promote the AFDASH service, developing clear pathways with schools/youth settings, voluntary sector organisations and Children’s Services teams. The role will also involve delivering appropriate levels of interventions in schools and other settings based on need. These interventions may include presentations to professionals around basic drugs awareness, clarifying referral pathways into AFDASH or signposting young people/families to relevant services to meet their needs. On occasions where the need has been highlighted it may require some small group interventions for young people identified as having emerging substance misuse issues.

The post holder will also be expected to be part of the AFDASH daily duty rota system for answering direct calls from service users and other professionals and general administration duties.

All staff should comply with the Trust’s Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Job Responsibilities:

1. To participate actively as a multi-disciplinary team member of the Adolescent & Families Drug & Alcohol Service Hertfordshire

2. To provide early intervention and engagement with young people with emerging substance misuse issues

3. To actively risk assess young people seen and report any concerns to AFDASH team leader or senior clinical staff

4. To provide advice/ guidance and information to young people, families and other professionals around emerging substance misuse issues

5. To provide a navigator role signposting those with emerging substance misuse issues to the relevant level of support to best meet their needs

6. To build links with partner agencies across the wider Families First Multi-Agency Networks to promote the AFDASH service

7. Where appropriate to provide some basic level of training for professionals around drug and alcohol awareness and referral pathways into the AFDASH service

8. Where appropriate to provide some small group interventions within schools for young people who may have been identified as having emerging substance

9. To represent AFDASH at promotional events which the service might be invited to across the county

10. To ensure that all data regarding client contact and group activity is accurately recorded on the relevant electronic record system

11. To perform administration duties as part of the AFDASH duty rota system

12. To work within the policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines for the service, CAMHS and the Trust

13. To discuss any issues and difficulties with the line manager

14. To keep up to date with all trust mandatory training

15. To report all complaints and compliments in accordance with trust policies

16. To work flexibly to accommodate the needs of young people and their families

Working Relationships and Communication Requirements of the Job:

1. The post holder will be competent in the use of the telephone, computer systems and printing/fax machines and be able to transfer calls internally and to other statutory/voluntary organisations.

2. The post holder will be expected to be empathic, confident and competent with taking calls directly from young people, families and other professionals.

3. The post holder will be confident and able to communicate clearly in group situations which may involve providing small group interventions or delivering presentations to other professionals

4. The post holder will be expected to establish good working relationships with colleagues within the AFDASH team and wider multi-agency networks. This is essential to ensure effective, efficient and safe care to the young people and families that we support.

5. The post holder will be expected to attend and actively contribute to clinical team meetings and practice governance meetings

Clinical Responsibility

To provide under supervision of the AFDASH Team Leader face to face contact with young people identified as having emerging substance misuse issues

To provide under the supervision of the AFDASH Team Leader basic drug and alcohol group awareness sessions to small targeted groups of young people where the need has been identified.

To ensure that up to date written electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

The post holder will not have leadership or staff management responsibility.

Financial responsibility

The post holder will not have financial responsibility.

Service Development and Improvement

The post holder will be expected to support colleagues in service development and improvement, by feedback and suggestions.

The post holder will be expected to demonstrate personal resilience and an ability to work in a busy, exciting, changing and challenging environment.

The post holder will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to your own personal development.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Having the ability to take calls from young people, families and professionals analysing the information to then signpost to the most appropriate source for further support

When assessing young people having the skill and judgement to identify the levels of risk including any immediate life threatening or crisis condition actively referring on to the appropriate level of care in a timely fashion using the agreed pathways.

Planning and Organisational Skills

The Post holder will be expected to manage their workload in a reliable and efficient manner. The post holder must be flexible in his/her contribution to delivering the work of the team

Physical Working Conditions and Environment:

Working with young people with emerging substance misuse issues within the community

Liaising with partner agencies within the community to actively promote the AFDASH service and to provide information, support and some training to up-skill the wider children’s service workforce around the issues of substance misuse.

Home and community visits to see young people in accordance with HPFT Lone Working Policy

Driving required unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Information Resources

The post holder will require standard keyboard skill, and the ability to input accurate data whilst listening and communicating with callers, using audio and typing skills.

The Post holder will be required to be able to access information via the Internet and Intranet and through other web based systems.

The Post holder will be required to effectively use faxing/ printing machine to assist them in collecting information necessary.

Additional Information:

Good Humour Willing Confident Engagement skills

Knowledge and Skills Framework:

The post holder will be expected to meet the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) appropriate outline for the post.

Health and Safety

The post holder has a duty of care to themselves and to others with whom they come into contact in the course of their work as laid down in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any subsequent amendment or legislation.

Infection Control

All Trust staff will:

Act as a role model and champion for the highest standard of all aspects of infection prevention and control and implementation of all Infection Prevention and Control Trust polices and guidelines.

Demonstrate respect for the roles and endeavours of others, in implementing good standards of hand hygiene.

Value and recognise the ideas and contributions of colleagues in their endeavours to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infection.

Equality and Diversity

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing an environment where all staff, service users and carers enjoy equality of opportunity. 

The Trust works to eliminate all forms of discrimination and recognise that this requires, not only a commitment to remove discrimination, but also action through positive policies to redress inequalities.

Providing equality of opportunity means understanding and appreciating the diversity of our staff, service users & carers and ensuring a supportive environment free from harassment.  Because of this Hertfordshire Partnership Trust actively encourages its staff to challenge discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all?

Confidentiality

All staff must be aware of the Data Protection Act 1984, and its subsequent amendments, which is now in force. This means that protection of data about individuals is a requirement of the law and if any employee is found to have permitted unauthorised disclosure, the Trust and the individual may be prosecuted.

Standards of Business Conduct and Conflicts of Interest

The Trust has adopted a Standards of Conduct Policy, which reflects NHS Management Executive Guidelines. It is the responsibility of staff to ensure that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain or seek to advantage or further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties. Staff should be informing their line manager if they are working for any other organisation to ensure that this Trust complies with the Working Time Regulations.

Information and Records Management

The postholder must be competent in using IT and have the relevant skills to carry out the activities required for the post.

To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Department of Health Code of Confidentiality in line with Trust procedures.

To adhere to the Trust’s policies on records management including creation, use, storing and retention and disposal of records.

Adhere to the Trust’s Corporate Identity (using the standard templates – available on Trustspace).

Safeguarding Adults and Children

The Trust is committed to ensuring adults and children are protected and come to no harm from abuse. All employees have a responsibility to be aware of national and local policies, their individual responsibilities with regards to the protection and safeguarding of both adults and children, and must adhere to them at all times.

Organisational Change

As services develop and change, the post holder may be required to undertake other responsibilities within the Trust.

Review:

This job description is an outline, which reflects the present requirements of the post and is not intended to be an inflexible or finite list of duties and responsibilities. As these duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.

HERTFORDSHIRE PARTNERSHIP NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Information and Advice WorkerDepartment: AFDASHDate last reviewed: April 2017

CRITERIA ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING

AND EXPERIENCE:

Good level of education (GCSE including English Language.

NVQ 3 or equivalent experience or willing to work towards this qualification

Relevant qualification in youth work, social care, counselling/psychology, nursing, mental health.

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE

AND KNOWLEDGE:

Knowledge and experience of working with young people

Experience of working within substance misuse or having a good understanding of the subject

Excellent communication skills when dealing with service users, relatives, carers and other outside agencies either by telephone/ letter or face to face.

Be proficient in the use of computerised systems especially Word to a level to enable the production of a high standard of finished work

The ability to organise and prioritise own workload within an agreed schedule of work and to work under pressure and within agreed timescales

Display the ability to exercise initiative, tact and judgement and be able to make decisions within agreed parameters when required to do so.

Appreciation of confidentiality

Display ability to work effectively as part of a team

COMMUNICATION SKILLS Ability to communicate effectively when under pressure

Good customer care skills

Positive attitude and approach to responding to all queries and contacts in a helpful manner

ANALYTICAL SKILLS Ability to analyse information quickly and effectively, thereby ensuring correct pathway is chosen to signpost young people and families for appropriate level of care

DIVERSITY Work within the Trust policies and procedures to ensure equality and diversity are respected

PHYSICAL SKILLS Excellent accurate keyboard skills

Excellent telephone skills and manner

Good IT knowledge

PHYSICAL EFFORT Ability to work effectively within the community liaising effectively with partner agencies

Driving is essential working within the community

MENTAL EFFORT Ability to cope with distressful calls or presentations from young people and families

Ability to work under pressure to achieve targets

Resilience to working with young people who are often reluctant to agree to support

EMOTIONAL EFFORT Regular requirement to deal with distressing or emotionally charged communication.

GENERAL The post holder must be enthusiastic about working with young people and families

The post holder will bring a positive can do attitude to the team

NB: ALL INDICATORS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY APPROPRIATE EVIDENCE WHICH IS CLEAR AND CHECKABLE AT INTERVIEW