Job summary
Previous applicants need not apply

The Addiction Lead Nurse is responsible for leading and developing the Trust's Integrated Addiction Service, including managing a team of Addiction practitioners. The role focuses on delivering high-quality, evidence-based care for patients experiencing addiction / dependency related issues, while working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across the Trust and community services.

Key responsibilities include running nurse-led clinics, assessing and managing patient care, supporting safe withdrawal practices, and promoting pathways that reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. The post holder also leads on education and training, develops clinical protocols, and ensures compliance with best practice through audit and service evaluation.

As a senior clinical leader, the role involves staff management, service improvement, safeguarding responsibilities, and non-medical prescribing. The Addiction Lead Nurse acts as a role model, contributes to research and quality improvement, and ensures services are patient-centred, effective, and aligned with organisational standards.

Main duties of the job

• Lead and develop the Integrated Addiction Service
• Manage and supervise the alcohol practitioner team
• Plan staffing and ensure effective use of resources
• Develop policies, protocols, and clinical pathways
• Run nurse-led clinics (e.g. Fibroscanning)
• Assess, plan, and deliver care for patients with alcohol-related illness
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across the Trust
• Liaise with community alcohol services and make referrals
• Build effective internal and external professional networks
• Identify staff training needs and deliver education programmes
• Act as a clinical role model and mentor
• Conduct clinical audits and monitor service performance
• Use evidence and feedback to improve services
• Support research and best practice in alcohol care
• Ensure compliance with legal, professional, and safeguarding standards
• Support patients and families with complex needs
• Aim to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions

About us
We have a long and proud history of caring for generations of local people and can trace our roots all the way back to 1814 with the first hospital in Bolton - the Bolton Dispensary in the town centre.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust was formed in 2008 and, in 2011, we became an integrated provider with community health services joining the trust. Covering a catchment area that also incorporates parts of Bury, Wigan and Salford, we deliver hospital and community based services from the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth and from 20 health centres across Bolton, to a catchment population of 310,000+ people.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is a major hub within Greater Manchester for women's and children's services and is the busiest single ambulance-receiving site in Greater Manchester. We're structured in four clinical divisions - Community Services, Families and Diagnostics, Medicine, and Surgery and are led by a Board of Directors. As an NHS Foundation Trust we're accountable to our members and have a Council of Governors to represent the views of patients, public, staff and partners.

Buildings, names and models of care have changed over the centuries, but one thing has remained constant and is prevalent among our 6,718 staff members: the enduring commitment to providing the best health and care for the people of Bolton.

Job responsibilities
The Addiction Lead Nurse leads and develops the Trusts Integrated Addiction Service, managing a team of practitioners and delivering high-quality, evidence-based care for patients with substance-related conditions. The role includes running nurse-led clinics, assessing and managing patient care, and supporting safe withdrawal practices. Key duties involve collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, liaison with community services, and development of clinical pathways to reduce hospital admissions. The post holder provides staff training, conducts audits, and drives service improvement. Additional responsibilities include safeguarding vulnerable adults, non-medical prescribing, and ensuring compliance with professional, legal, and organisational standards while promoting patient-centred care.

Person Specification
Management
Essential

• Leadership qualification
• Management Experience
• Band 6 or equivilant Experience within addiciton role
• Teaching and presentation Experience

Desirable

• Evidence of development of pathways
• Evidence of audits and service development

Clinical
Essential

• Motivational Interviewing
• Non Medical Prescribing
• Awareness of Substance misuse related health issues
• use of validated assessment tools

Desirable

• conflict resolution management
• Trauma informed care
• Experience of Multi agency Working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.