Background to Service:
Cardiff and Vale Drug and Alcohol Service (CAVDAS) is an Alliance of Barod, Recovery Cymru, Cardiff and Vale Area Planning Board and Kaleidoscope Project with strategic partners G4S and Pobl. CAVDAS services will deliver specialist support and interventions across Youth Justice Services, Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Cardiff Council Housing Services, Counselling, Recovery and Aftercare, Volunteering and Service User Involvement, Rapid Access Prescribing (RAPS), structured interventions, peer support and mutual aid, Harm Reduction and Work Force Development. CAVDAS will deliver an integrated young person’s, adults and family and carer information, advice, interventions, and support service. CAVDAS will work across Cardiff and Vale Health and Social Care partners, and forums to co-produce services delivering outcomes in the way that people want. We are looking to build a new culture providing one system for Cardiff and Vale and a unified, innovative, and flexible delivery model.
Purpose of the role:
The role will provide a dedicated lead for children and young people, family and concerned other contacts throughout Cardiff and Vale. Their aim is to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol use on children and young people, families, carers, and significant others by working with individuals and supporting units improve or secure their physical and psychological health, family and relationships, financial situation, employment, and social life. They will facilitate harm reduction, brief advice, information, and system guidance for those seeking support around the impact of substance use in their life. The post holder will enable specialist leadership across the CAVDAS service contributing to learning and development and wider outcomes frameworks. They will ensure group delivery and 1:1 session are available actively supporting engagement in dedicated services and advocacy as require.
In addition to one-to-one and group support the successful candidate will be expected to support service user involvement, Peer2Peer delivery, mutual aid and consultation for family and carers.
The successful applicant will deliver services in line with Welsh Government Treatment Frameworks, NICE guidance (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), and other relevant professional standards and legislation. CAVDAS staff are expected to follow Operational Policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring that the care and treatment provided is safe, undertaken to a high standard and informed by up-to-date, evidence-based practice.
The post holder should enjoy face-to-face contact with children & young people who have been affected by someone else’s substance use. They will have excellent communication skills, be able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, across agency cultures including those within statutory, private, and voluntary sector partnerships. The post holder must be flexible and efficient within small locality teams, to ensure services are delivered equitably and with the children and young people at the heart of delivery.
They will have a non-judgmental approach to people who have recognised that their use has become problematic and be able to provide a welcoming and accessible service to existing and potential service users.
Individual supervision will be provided in line with Alliance partner organisational policy. Additional clinical support will be provided via peer supervision and review groups. Specific training will be available for the development of service provision in line with Continued Professional Development.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
· To complete assessments including risk assessment and risk management planning.
· To provide crisis interventions and advice CAVDAS staff on appropriate information and advice.
· to deliver mutual aid and peer support groups for young people affected by someone else's substance use.
· To provide brief interventions that consist of short-term focused work to address immediate problems.
· To provide concerned others with a forum to seek support, encouragement and learning opportunities from each other.
· Promote healthier lives, wellbeing, and active citizenship.
· Promote and encourage service user participation in local, regional, and national family and carer events.
· Produce information for publications, leaflets, social media, and web pages.
· Advocate on a young person’s behalf, for example, by writing letters, making phone calls, or attending meetings.
· Write reports and compiling statistics.
· Provide training or talks to internal staff or external organisations.
· Promote self-help guidance and digital inclusion provision.
· Develop and nurture a team of peer support volunteers and other volunteers involved in the support of families and carers.
· Ensure that all safeguarding requirements are understood and adhered to.
· Support the service to provide and manage the single point of contact.
· To work within agreed policies, procedures, and protocols to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.
· To attend and report to safeguarding reviews, meetings, and conferences e.g., Multiagency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs)
· Work in a flexible and responsive manner across locations, dependent on need, to help provide a smooth and continuous service.
· To provide service users with a wide range of activities and access to social/recreational enhancement
· Prepare individuals to support clinical treatment and planned detox, providing advice and information and assist service users into structured aftercare.
· To provide accurate advice and information regarding substance use and associated lifestyle behaviours that reduces the risk of overdose, reduces the spread of blood borne viruses, promotes healthy living, and minimises the potential risks and impact of drug related crime and disorder on the wider community.
· To work in partnership with other agencies to provide a package of support around holistic needs, by attending joint allocation meetings and case review meetings, sharing appropriate information, and ensuring that action plans are carried through.
· Provide ad-hoc support for complex cases such as crisis support and ASIST (Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training).
· Liaise and signpost with external agencies including, but not limited to, specialist substance use services, mental health, sexual health, housing, debt, and finance.
· Inspire and enthuse individuals to achieve and maintain positive lifestyles changes.
Outreach and Harm Reduction Provision
· Provide assertive outreach services to support and engage vulnerable Cardiff and Vale citizens.
· Deliver harm reduction services and advice, including provision of Naloxone Training, Needle Syringe Programme (NSP) and Dry Blood Spot Testing (DBST).
· To organise displays, exhibitions and participate in community and agency led events where appropriate.
· Support Outreach campaigns across the Cardiff and Vale region.
Compliance and Information Management
· Ensure appropriate service user records and case notes are completed and maintained.
· To ensure the undertaking of appropriate monitoring, review, and evaluation procedures.
· Adhere to safeguarding and data protection principles in working practice.
· Adhere to host organisation and CAVDAS policies and procedures.
· Maintain appropriate boundaries.
· Engage with Learning and Development Plans to ensure training remains up to date.
· To keep up to date with strategic and policy developments and emerging trends in respect of substance use and related matters.
· Undertake appropriate administrative tasks.
Professional Development
· Maintain and develop personal expertise and knowledge by reading, networking, and further training in order to develop professional competence and to contribute to the development of competence within the team.
· Help with the induction and orientation of new staff, volunteers, and students.
· Ensure professional development by seeking regular supervision and annual appraisals.
· Effectively manage own time and prioritise workload, maintaining own administration and accurate personal records regarding travel, diary appointments, TOIL, and expenses incurred.
Service Development
· Support the continued delivery of a high-quality service in line with the service specification and regional delivery plans.
· Contribute to the delivery of internal teaching and training programmes.
· Work collaboratively with colleagues to further develop the service.
The post holder will be expected to work in line with the Social Services and Well Being (Wales Act) 2014, and the Violence Against Women Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 to ensure safeguarding of individuals (adult and children) is at the heart of service delivery. A good understanding of confidentiality and information sharing legislation is required with the confidence to act professionally and seek guidance and support from line management and colleagues where appropriate.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,391.15-£27,052.95 per year
Benefits:
Experience:
Licence/Certification:
Work Location: In person