Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Substance Misuse Nurse
The closing date is 17 November 2026
Job summary
Band 5 Substance Misuse Nurse
To participate in providing the successful and effective delivery of the Integrated Substance Misuse Services within secured services, delivering best practice psychosocial interventions and Opiate Substitute Treatment to support the patients' recovery journey. Specifically, both a treatment and harm reduction philosophy, combining interventions to promote healthier outcomes.

Please note this post is subject to security vetting. To be considered for this post you will need to have continuously resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to this application and be able to evidence your years of residency.

Main duties of the job
Band 5 Substance Misuse Nurse
To provide high-quality patient care with a strong focus towards harm reduction and health promotion / recovery agendas through comprehensive assessment, care-planning, implementation and evaluation of care for people with substance misuse problems, providing a first point of contact for patients when on duty.

This role requires a first level registered nurse to work as part of a team delivering both psychosocial and clinical substance misuse services to a diverse patient group within secured services. The ideal candidate will have either substance misuse experience working within this field, or some experience of nursing those with substance dependence.

About us
NHFT is an NHS Community and Mental Health Foundation Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in hospital settings and in the community. We provide over 200 services across the county - as well as some specialist services in bordering and nearby counties. We work together with our partners to ensure that everyone who comes through our doors receives compassionate, person-centred care, regardless of their background or circumstances.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning, to improve the care and safety of our patients and colleagues. We have achieved our 'outstanding' rating by encouraging opportunity, innovation, development and growth across our workforce.

At NHFT we believe that work should be rewarded in every sense which is why we are proud to an accredited living wage employer.

We aim to support financial wellbeing and create an environment where are people feel valued and able to thrive.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year pa pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 270-TH471-HMPNOT
Job locations: HMP Nottingham, 112 Perry Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG53AG, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• Undertake Comprehensive Substance Misuse Assessment, plan and implement care with the patient, evaluate effectiveness of care.
• To provide information and advice about drugs, alcohol, smoking cessation and related issues, to include blood borne viruses and safer sex.
• To utilise relevant clinical tools to provide assessment of patient dependence and withdrawal to support the implementation of clinical substance misuse treatment.
• To work in conjunction with the prescriber, attending 13 week reviews to ensure appropriate patient clinical care.
• To devise care plans, formulating from assessment and implement and review on a regular basis, in-line with patient needs.
• To effectively plan for patient discharge and prison transfer and/or release in conjunction with community services, ensuring appropriate transfer of patient information and management of highlighted patient risks including facilitating take-home naloxone training.
• Administer medication, including Controlled Drugs (Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001), in accordance with national guidelines and local policy and procedures.
• To attend and actively participate in team meetings, helping to promote new ideas, methods and assist in their implementation.
• To attend training sessions including mandatory training.
• To be involved in appraisal systems, clinical and managerial supervision, and be active in identifying aims and objectives for personal development to meet department objectives.
• To mentor Band 4 entry-level Recovery workers, under the clinical supervision of the Senior Substance Misuse Practitioner/Nurse/Substance Misuse Manager.
• To assist in the training and development of other new members of staff, students and visitors to the service.
• To actively promote the Substance Misuse Service and Interventions within the prison setting.
• To maintain accurate healthcare records in line with NMC Guidelines and Trust policy.
• Assist the senior substance misuse nurse in providing clinical advice and support within the prison and other partnership agencies.
• Ensure that the requirements of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, are known, understood and adhered to, within the context of substance misuse.
• To deliver psychotherapeutic treatment sessions, dependent on qualification and experience.
• Educate, co-ordinate, administer and supervise prescribed treatment for patients in accordance with current policies.
• Promote and maintain harm reduction strategies in the treatment and prevention of associated communicable diseases e.g. Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, supporting the Hepatitis C Trust in working towards Hep C eradication.
• Maintain good practice in handling and disposing of contaminated waste and equipment, according to current policy, utilising all opportunities to attend training sessions and updates in the area.
• Ability to assess and respond to patients at risk of suicide or self-harm using the appropriate clinical intervention, prison service ACCT procedure, drug screening and referral to appropriate part of the integrated service.

Person Specification
Security Vetting (Essential): The application includes evidence of the required years of UK residency to meet prison vetting standards
Employment (Essential):

• First level registered nurse RMN/RGN
• Experience of assessing patient conditions, triaging services and providing appropriate clinical interventions
• Experience of working effectively within a multi-disciplinary team
• Awareness of current issues in substance misuse field, local and national strategies
• Excellent and effective communications skills both verbal and written
• Negotiation and mediation skills

Desirable

• Awareness of other issues relating to offender health
• Significant demonstrable skill within the field of substance misuse, with evidence of appropriate continued learning
• Experience of working within a criminal justice setting
• Experience of close working relationships with a variety of statutory and non-statutory organisations

Behaviours and values (Essential):

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role
• Flexible and reliable
• Displays excellent interpersonal skills
• Skilled communicator and negotiator

Desirable

• Evidence based therapeutic skills
• Experience of delivering training

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: HMP Nottingham, 112 Perry Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG53AG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Chloe Green, chloe.green2@nhft.nhs.uk, 01158724474

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