Senior Substance Misuse School Link Practitioner

Catch22; London; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job description

Company Description

At Catch22, we are proud of our reputation as a modern and progressive employer. Our 1,300 colleagues and 300 volunteers work at every stage of the social welfare cycle, supporting over 60,000 individuals, from cradle to career. Our work spans education, social justice and rehabilitation, children's social care, family support, social action, and getting people into work.

Young People and Families

Our Young People and Families Hub (YP&F) delivers a wide range of integrated support services that are designed to help resolve complex difficulties experienced by young people and their families/carers. Our Hub works with those in trouble, providing early intervention to those who are in crisis, leaving care, missing from home, or with substance misuse or mental health problems - services support people no matter what their situation, and have demonstrated a high success rate.

Our Merton Risk and Resilience Service is an integrated service, focused on mitigating risk, and promoting resilience, in children and young people (C&YP). Our service aims to reduce the harm to children and young people (aged 18 and under), within the Child Exploitation (CE) and Missing service area, and C&YP (aged 24 and under), within the substance misuse service area.

Job Description

Main Duties & Accountabilities:

• Develop training for education staff, and where required develop and deliver workshops to parents and carers to provide basic drug, alcohol and wellbeing awareness. The post holder will also offer 1 to 1 targeted support for parents/carers for young people who have an identified substance misuse concern.
• Provide family interventions and support to parents/carers of service users accessing Catch22 substance misuse service; you will hold a pre-defined case load of parent/carers, who are referred, by means of effective assessment, care planning and risk management.
• Work collaboratively with local schools and other relevant agencies to deliver a holistic package of care; this may include attending multi agency meetings. Ensure effective referrals, care and risk management, as well as ease of transition and referral for young people. This practice will aid inclusive practices and support the young person’s attendance at school, or other appropriate educational establishment.
• Responding to referrals and undertaking needs assessment to inform delivery of 1:1 intervention with parents/carers. Offering appropriate harm reduction; information and support.
• Deliver wellbeing and substance misuse education workshops to parents/carers of service users/students.
• Where safeguarding concerns are identified, responding appropriately by supporting the family and the young person, referring, and sharing information with Merton Children’s Services, in accordance with the requirements of the schools’ safeguarding policy and Catch22’s safeguarding policy and guidance.
• Offer an initial triage/assessment for students (aged up to 18) where concerns/incidents relating to substance misuse have been identified and onward referral of CYP into treatment as appropriate.
• Ensuring records of involvement with young people/adults and families are appropriately completed in accordance with GDPR and Catch22’s monitoring and recording standards and requirements.
• Adhere to partnership working protocols with other agencies and promote effective dialogue, referral and care pathways between agencies, families, and schools.
• Be a proactive member of the service and team, attending meetings and training events as required.
• Ensure that the service promotes and reflects equality of opportunity and diversity at all levels.
• Maintain and update professional knowledge and competencies ensuring that you are up-to-date on all relevant Catch22 policies and procedures, and are working in line with local and governmental frameworks such as Public Health England, Safeguarding etc.
• Carry out other relevant duties, as required.
• Provide consultancy and guidance on substance misuse issues to colleagues.
• To have use of a vehicle, with up-to-date licence, MOT and Business Insurance.
• To be able to work flexibly including some weekend and regular evening work one/two days a week, to meet the needs of the client group.

Qualifications

NVQ3 Health & Social Care or Criminal Justice or equivalent/appropriate qualification including:

Relevant professional qualification in youth and community work, special educational needs, family and parent interventions.

Additional Information

Salary: Up to £29,000 per annum (depending on knowledge and experience)
Hours of work: Full time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

Location: Civic Centre, Morden Library, London Road, Town Centre, Morden SM4 5DX

An additional opportunity to support the Catch22, County Lines support and rescue service. An out of hours service that facilitates the safe return home for children and young people, who have been found in an exploitative situation inside and outside of London. This is an additional paid role which is an optional opportunity attached to the advertised role.

Benefits

• Discounted shopping opportunities, with over 1,400 retailers – through our Rewards Hub.
• Access to a 24/7 GP helpline – including online video consultations, and electronic private prescriptions.
• Employee Assistance Programme – a free, confidential service that offers expert advice, information, and counselling, for all staff and their dependents (24/7, 365 days a year).
• Access to a network of trained Mental Health First Aiders, across the organisation.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 28 days annual leave (+ 8 public holidays) – increasing to 33 days after five years.
• Matching employer pension contributions of 4%.

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

If you are applying for this role and are care experienced/care leaver, Catch22 offers a mentor to assist with the application process. Please contact [e-mail] if you would like to find out more about this support. This information will not be passed to the team recruiting for this position. For more information about the Propel Programme and a guide for candidates who wish to join the programme, please see here. You can also watch an animation on the programme here.