Alcohol Assertive Outreach Clinician

Alcohol Assertive Outreach Clinician

The closing date is 04 January 2026

To case manage a small group of clients with complex mental, physical health and social care needs who are high users of emergency and inpatient services. The post holder will work collaboratively with these clients to identify and manage their priorities, supporting recovery while reducing unplanned hospital admissions. With the expansion of the Alcohol Assertive Outreach Team across South London-Lewisham, Bexley, Greenwich and Bromley-this role forms part of a regional initiative that integrates care across acute hospital sites and community services.

Main duties of the job

1. Manage a small caseload of clients with complex and multiple needs, including assessment, care planning, implementation and regular review.
2. Conduct assertive outreach visits in the community, including attending clients' homes and other agreed locations, to maintain engagement and support those reluctant to access services.
3. Proactively engage clients in alcohol treatment pathways, including structured psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions, using motivational and trauma informed approaches.
4. Act as an advocate for clients-supporting access to services related to housing, benefits, physical and mental health and social care-while helping remove barriers to engagement.
5. Undertake dynamic risk assessments to ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients, staff and volunteers in varied community and hospital based settings.
6. Maintain up to date and accurate clinical documentation, sharing relevant information with partner agencies to ensure coordinated care and risk management.
7. Support and supervise volunteers and contribute to informal guidance for Band 5 colleagues, ensuring safe and effective involvement across the service.
8. Contribute to service evaluation, quality improvement and research projects aligned with the AAOT's evidence based model.
9. Participate in regular supervision, appraisal and ongoing professional development, including fulfilling all mandatory training requirements.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research and training.

SLaM employs around 5,000 staff and serves a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services, including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently we provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be assigned a primary hospital base at one of these participating sites:

• Princess Royal University Hospital Bromley
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich

Candidates should express their site preferences on application and during interview; while these will be considered, final placements will be determined based on service capacity and needs.

In line with the team's growth, some work will also be carried out across the area as service needs dictate. The role will also include the supervision and support of Band 5 clinicians as delegated by senior colleagues, offering day to day guidance and oversight.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (RMN/RGN), Qualified Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, or other relevant health/social care professional registration (A)
• Post registration qualification relevant to the client group or setting (I)
• Evidence of continued professional development (A/I)

Experience

• Recent and relevant experience working with alcohol dependent or mental health clients in a community setting
• Demonstrated clinical knowledge of alcohol dependence and associated co morbidities, gained through training and/or direct work
• Experience of inter agency or multi disciplinary working
• Understanding of structured alcohol interventions, brief interventions, pharmacological treatment options and motivational interviewing
• Awareness of the physical health risks related to alcohol use and ability to recognise deterioration in physical health
• Experience managing a caseload autonomously
• Experience using clinical or case management databases to record activity
• Experience supporting carers and/or working with volunteers
• Experience of mentoring or supervising junior staff or peers

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of structured alcohol interventions, brief interventions, pharmacological treatment options and motivational interviewing
• Awareness of the physical health risks related to alcohol use and ability to recognise deterioration in physical health
• Familiarity with the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, particularly in the context of clients with alcohol dependence and complex needs
• Effective workload management and ability to respond promptly and flexibly to changing priorities
• Ability to engage and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients who are hard to reach

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.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£44,485 to £52,521 per annum incl. of outer HCAs