Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Nurse Specialist (Addictions)
The closing date is 24 November 2026

Job summary
To provide safe, effective and person-centred nursing care to individuals experiencing drug and alcohol dependency. The Band 5 Substance Misuse Nurse will undertake clinical assessments, support treatment and medication management, deliver harm reduction interventions, coordinate care and promote recovery while ensuring compliance with professional standards and clinical governance requirements

Main duties of the job

• Clinical Assessment: Undertake comprehensive nursing assessments, identify health needs and develop individualised care plans.
• Treatment and Medication Management: Support OST delivery, monitor treatment effectiveness and ensure safe medication management.
• Harm Reduction: Provide health education, overdose prevention, naloxone training, BBV screening and alcohol detoxification support.
• Care Coordination: Work collaboratively with GPs, doctors, recovery practitioners and partner agencies to ensure continuity of care.
• Clinical Governance and Documentation: Maintain accurate clinical records, undertake risk assessments, follow safeguarding procedures and comply with NMC standards.

About us
CNWL Addictions is a well-established NHS provider offering a wide range of high-quality drug and alcohol treatment interventions to the diverse and multicultural population across Ealing, Brent, Hillingdon, Hackney, and Hounslow. In addition, we also have the tri-borough Club Drug Clinic as well as our National Problem Gambling Service.

The service is committed to a harm minimisation philosophy and to partnership working. Our main partners are primary care services, social and the third sector.

Treatments are provided across all our clinical centres. Clinical Governance framework is well established, and the service prides itself on its continuous development towards becoming a learning organisation.

Details
Date posted: 10 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £38,488 to £46,852 a year pa inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 333-D-AD-0644
Job locations: New Beginnings, Willesden Centre for Health and Care, Harlesden Road, London NW10 3RY, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide safe, effective and compassionate nursing care to individuals experiencing drug and alcohol dependency. The post holder will undertake clinical assessments, support treatment interventions, promote harm reduction and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to improve clients' health, wellbeing and recovery outcomes.

Main Responsibilities

• Clinical Assessment and Care Planning: Undertake comprehensive nursing assessments, identify health needs, assess risks and develop individualised care plans.
• Treatment and Medication Management: Support opioid substitution treatment (OST), monitor clients' progress and ensure safe medication management in line with clinical protocols.
• Harm Reduction and Health Promotion: Deliver harm reduction interventions, including naloxone training, overdose prevention, BBV screening and safer drug and alcohol advice.
• Care Coordination: Work closely with doctors, GPs, recovery practitioners and partner agencies to ensure coordinated care and appropriate referrals.
• Clinical Documentation and Governance: Maintain accurate clinical records, participate in clinical reviews and audits, follow safeguarding procedures and work in accordance with NMC standards.
• Health Monitoring and Interventions: Monitor clients' physical and mental health, identify clinical concerns and escalate appropriately.
• Safeguarding and Risk Management: Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, clinical deterioration and risks to clients or others.

Overall Purpose
To support individuals affected by substance misuse to access appropriate treatment, reduce harm, improve their physical and psychological health, and achieve sustained recovery.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications (Essential): RGN, RMN, evidence of completing preceptorship or continuing personal development and post registration training in care, assessment and treatment of Mental Health and Substance Misuse Service Users.

Previous experience (Essential): Experience in undertaking risk assessments and risk management, care planning.

Skills and knowledge (Essential)

• Good communication skills (verbal and written) plus good levels of numeracy.
• Ability to work autonomously and to prioritise effectively.
• An appreciation of the range of issues that may affect substance misusers.
• An understanding of harm minimisation and health promotion in the specific context of substance misuse.
• IT literate: competent using Microsoft Word and able to report clinical activity data on patient information systems.

Attitudes, aptitudes, personal characteristics (Essential)

• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• Ability to treat service users with respect and dignity at all times, adopting a culturally sensitive approach, which considers the needs of the whole person.
• Non-judgmental attitude to client group.
• Committed to multidisciplinary team work and to user and carer involvement.
• Flexible and responsive to a developing service.
• The post holder must have the ability to understand and implement the Equal and Diversity policy at a level appropriate to the job.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address: New Beginnings, Willesden Centre for Health and Care, Harlesden Road, London NW10 3RY, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Sector Manager, Abby Campbell, abbycampbell@nhs.net, 02084381777.

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