Job summary
Join Our Team as an Alcohol & Substances Specialist Nurse
Are you passionate about making a difference in patients' lives through expert care and leadership? We are seeking a dedicated Alcohol & Substances Specialist Nurse to play a vital role in our acute hospital Alcohol & Substances Care Team.
About the Role:
- Assess patients care needs and develop tailored care programmes
- Implement and evaluate care plans for specific patient groups
- Support the holistic care of all patients across the hospital
- Undertake assertive outreach to support patients into treatment
- Safeguard & advocate for vulnerable members of our community
Leadership & Support:
- Promote evidence-based practice across the team
- Support the Alcohol Service Manager in the smooth running of the service and deputise in their absence
- Represent the team at partnership meetings
What We Offer:
- An opportunity to shape and deliver specialist Alcohol & Substances Services
- A supportive environment committed to professional development and excellence in patient care
Make a difference in your communityjoin us today
Previous recent applicants need not apply.
Main duties of the job
Are you a healthcare professional with expertise in managing clients with complex substance use issues? We are seeking a dedicated nurse specialist to provide expert care for vulnerable members of our community.
About the Role:
- Deliver clinical expertise in the identification, assessment, treatment, and management of individuals who use drugs and alcohol, including those at increasing risk, experiencing harm, or dependency
- Provide hospital-to-home detoxification services and offer advice, treatment, and management for dependent drinkers and drug users across hospital settings
- Support improved standards of care through practice supervision, clinical audits, evidence-based approaches, and professional teaching
- Play a key role in clinical governance and contribute to continuous service improvement
Leadership & Collaboration:
- Support the Trust-wide Alcohol & Substances Steering Group to enhance care and reduce drug and alcohol-related harm
- Help develop pathways for seamless transition to community services
- Contribute to case management of frequent hospital attenders and undertake assertive outreach as needed
What We Offer:
- An opportunity to deliver and influence specialist alcohol and drug services
- A collaborative, supportive environment focused on improving patient outcomes and reducing harm
Details
- Date posted: 03 November 2026
- Closing date: 16 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 6
- Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year Per annum
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 236-UEC-NM239-26
- Job locations: Rochdale Infirmary, Whitehall Street, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL12 0NB, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: http://www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.ukPerson Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Degree / Diploma in Nursing studies or equivalent
- Registered Nurse with current NMC registration (Part 1 Adult / General Level 1 or 2)
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential
- Knowledge, experience and understanding of the specialist tools used to assess and treat alcohol and opiate withdrawal related symptoms
- Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD)
- Evidence of experience in delivering training
- Communicates succinctly, clearly and accurately both verbally and in writing
- Be an effective team member who is able to relate to colleagues at all levels of the Trust with tact and diplomacy
- Ability to coordinate your workload and supervise junior members of the team, ensuring high quality, safe and effective patient care
- Ability to travel to different geographical locations across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
Desirable
- Leadership Training
- Training qualification
- Experience of the use of clinical systems
- Demonstrate initiative to proactively problem solve with a solution focus
- Ability to use reflective practice, to continuously improve the standard of patient care
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).
About us
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and Salford, to save and improve lives.As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and collaborating closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we are always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.Employer details
- Employer name: Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
- Address: Rochdale Infirmary, Whitehall Street, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL12 0NB, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/