Alcohol Specialist Nurse

Job Overview

We are seeking a dedicated Band 6 Alcohol Specialist Nurse for a 12-month fixed-term or secondment position, working 30 hours weekly at Frimley Park Hospital and affiliated locations. This role involves delivering expert alcohol assessments, brief interventions, and coordinating care for patients with alcohol-related conditions. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams and external substance misuse and mental health services to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care and make appropriate referrals.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist alcohol assessments and brief interventions across hospital departments.
• Promote Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C) screening as a standard assessment tool.
• Support capacity building throughout the Trust by educating staff on alcohol awareness, screening methods, and alcohol brief advice, including leveraging NHS learning platforms.
• Coordinate the emergency department and inpatient alcohol support services alongside senior colleagues.
• Identify emergency department visitors and inpatients affected by acute or chronic alcohol-related problems.
• Provide education, management strategies, and optimize care for patients and their caregivers.
• Develop protocols and integrated care pathways for managing alcohol withdrawal and related conditions collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Offer training and education on alcohol misuse identification and management to primary and secondary care staff.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: NMC registration and a nursing degree or equivalent required; leadership courses and advanced communication training are advantageous.
• Experience: Demonstrated post-registration expertise working with multidisciplinary teams, ideally in gastroenterology, hepatology, emergency, or related wards. Experience with alcohol misuse patients, staff supervision, and mentorship is preferred.
• Skills: Strong communication skills, ability to adapt in fast-changing environments, independent and team-working capabilities, and awareness of national/local alcohol initiative agendas.
• Special Requirements: Willingness and ability to travel between multiple FHFT sites.

About Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Frimley Health serves over 900,000 individuals across multiple counties and is committed to being an inclusive employer with disability confidence. The Trust fosters career development, offers extensive professional and leadership training, and supports flexible working arrangements to balance staff wellbeing and service needs.

The Trust is focused on significant investments in infrastructure, sustainability aligned with NHS Net Zero goals, digital innovation including a new electronic patient record (Epic), and quality improvements designed to enhance care delivery and operational efficiency.

Additional Information

This role is part of a responsive seven-day service aiming to enhance patient recovery, minimize avoidable admissions, and support timely discharge while empowering patients and families to manage health.