DUAL DIAGNOSIS WORKER

Salary:           FTE £28,369pa (Actual £14,184 per annum)

Location:       Bognor Regis but working across Chichester, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton

Status:           Fixed Term until March 2025

Hours:           18.5 hours per week

The role of the Dual Diagnosis Worker is to engage with individuals who have issues with both mental health and substance misuse.  The majority of these individuals are likely to be rough sleeping or in unsettled accommodation and are likely to be chaotic in their engagement with services.

You will work alongside outreach teams to address substance misuse and mental health problems associated with rough sleeping and other forms of street activity throughout Arun and West Sussex.  Each case will be managed using a person-centred approach involving assertive outreach, individual needs assessment, and the provision of advice, while facilitating access to treatment for substance misuse and mental health.

Role Responsibilities

• To establish contact and engage with the street population and those in supported accommodation to rapidly assess and support individuals on a pathway that aims to end rough sleeping and homelessness and navigate access to mental health, substance misuse and other relevant services for the individual.
• To resolve both housing needs and dual diagnosis needs to create a stable social base for recovery, including identifying and securing appropriate accommodation to meet an individual’s ongoing support needs.
• To develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders in the statutory and voluntary sectors that have contact with people affected by being street homeless with dual diagnosis needs.
• To work closely with relevant external agencies such as GP’s, CMHT’s and local treatment agencies to provide the most appropriate pathways for the individual.
• To improve co-ordination and communication between substance misuse and mental health teams and other services involved in the care and treatment of people with relevant needs.
• To complete reports, including support plans, case notes and other documentation for managers as required in a timely and accurate manner.

We are looking for individuals who are dynamic and have experience of working with vulnerable people and the difficulties they experience in accessing services.  You will also have experience of supporting these individuals to address their needs through effective casework management.

In order to be successful in this role:

• Experience of working with clients who present with challenging
• Good knowledge of alcohol, drugs and issues around addiction and relapse management
• Good knowledge of mental health, personality disorders and dual diagnosis
• Experience of identifying and securing person-centred residential treatment programmes.
• Practical knowledge and understanding of the treatment pathways for individuals with mental health problems and dual diagnosis
• The ability to forge effective working relationships within a team
• Good computer literacy skills and ability to make effective use of systems

The benefits of working at Stonepillow:

• Actively supporting those in need in your local community
• Healthcare and wellbeing support including access to in-app virtual appointments with NHS registered GPs and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance programme with face-to-face counselling
• A medical cashback scheme and retail discounts
• Stakeholder pension, employer contribution of 5%
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays

A bit about us:

Stonepillow support and empower homeless and vulnerable people with compassion and commitment to achieve sustainable independence and wellbeing and make positive changes in their lives, using a psychologically informed environment and strength-based approach to create holistic packages of support, including building pathways with clients with external partners in the community.

Stonepillow is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications have been received. 

Early applications are encouraged, interviews will commence before the closing date if suitable candidates are identified

• Please view the Dual Diagnosis Worker JD document