Job summary
Op Courage Veterans Mental Health Service
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Are you passionate about supporting veterans, transitioning military personnel and reservists experiencing substance misuse, addictive behaviours, and mental health difficulties?

Op Courage - South East offers support to Veterans and Reservists within the geographical regions of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. A veteran is an individual who has service one or more days in the British Military, and it is this group of people that Op Courage works with on a holistic level.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated practitioner to lead on substance misuse within the Op Courage Veterans Mental Health Service. This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of those who have served in the Armed Forces.

This post offers the Trust's £2,000 Golden Hello **or** Relocation Incentive for Band 6 Nurses & Practitioners, (pro rata and subject to terms and conditions; please see attached Protocol Document for full details).

Main duties of the job
About the Role
As the Specialist Substance Misuse Practitioner, you will provide expert assessment, formulation, and psychosocial interventions for veterans presenting with substance misuse and addictive behaviours alongside complex mental health and social care needs.

You will act as the service lead for substance misuse, supporting colleagues through consultation, training, and the development of best practice across the team. Working autonomously and collaboratively, you will manage a defined caseload, undertake comprehensive assessments, formulate risk management plans, and deliver evidence-based interventions tailored to individual needs.

You will work closely with families, carers, statutory services, and third-sector organisations to ensure veterans receive holistic, person-centred care and support throughout their recovery journey.

About us
We are an expanding and exciting specialist service within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, working regionally in the south east and nationally as part of the NHS Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

Details
Date posted: 15 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 354-PC-20735-1
Job locations: Wentworth House, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities

• Lead on substance misuse and addictive behaviour interventions across Op Courage.
• Complete comprehensive mental health, substance misuse, risk, and social care assessments.
• Develop and review person-centred care and recovery plans.
• Deliver specialist psychosocial interventions, including individual and group work.
• Provide consultation, advice, and training to multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Assess and manage clinical risk, including safeguarding concerns.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to coordinate care and support.
• Support service development, quality improvement, audit, and clinical governance activities.
• Provide supervision, mentorship, and support to junior staff and students.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and outcome measures.

Person Specification
We are looking for an enthusiastic clinician who:

• Is a Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC).
• Has significant experience working with individuals experiencing substance misuse and co-occurring mental health difficulties.
• Demonstrates strong assessment, formulation, and risk management skills.
• Has experience delivering evidence-based psychosocial interventions.
• Is confident working autonomously while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Has excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for veterans and military communities.
• Evidence of supervising staff.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK Professional Registration.

Employer Details
This post will be based in Sussex, however there will be an expectation to travel across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with current registration [mental health/LD/Adult], appropriate to the job role
• Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Knowledge/Experience
Essential

• Significant post qualifying experience in the relevant care group
• Experience of working alongside people with complex health problems in the designated care group
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience of providing a range of clinical interventions to people in the designated care group with a variety of health problems
• Experience of working consultatively with professionals
• Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
• Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non statutory teams and agencies
• Experience of working within the CPA process
• Understanding of clinical governance
• Previous experience of working in the community

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Service Manager
Jane Bray
jane.bray8@nhs.net

Supporting documents
Please refer to the attached job description for full details.