Job Title:  Project Worker 

Service:  Medically Supervised Injecting Facility, Riverbank, Dublin

Report to:  Clinical Nurse Manager

Objective:  To effectively deliver services for addiction and co-existing Mental Health issues while the client is experiencing homelessness. 

Type of Contract:  Contract of Indefinite Duration

Location:  Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF), Riverbank, Dublin 8        

Who We Are

Merchants Quay Ireland is a national voluntary organisation who helps people who are Homeless and those caught in addiction. We provide frontline services , practical supports, pathways towards recovery and innovative responses to the issues of drug use and homelessness in Ireland.

Our Vision is one of an “inclusive society” where the integration and well-being of all is supported and everyone is treated with Dignity and Respect.

Our Mission is to work as a collaborative community to reduce the harm caused by addiction and homelessness. We provide accessible, high quality and effective services, which meet the complex needs in a non judgemental and compassionate way.

Medically Supervised Injecting Facility ( MSIF) – What is it?

A MSIF is a hygienic, safe, medically supervised healthcare environment where people can inject drugs, obtained elsewhere, under the supervision of trained health professionals. It offers a compassionate, person-centred service which reduces the harms associated with drug injecting. A MSIF can help health service staff to reach and support vulnerable and marginalised people, who often do not, cannot, or no longer engage with existing health services. There are now approximately 90 of these facilities worldwide, in Europe, Canada, and Australia. There is significant evidence gathered from these facilities of their benefits to people who use drugs and the wider society.

Health and client dignity are a critical part of this holistic support, and this is a great opportunity for a Project Worker to be enthusiastic, passionate and client-focused. This is a unique opportunity for any nurse to develop skills in terms of planning and start-up of an innovative program to support the overall health and wellbeing of the client group that we serve.  This is the first MSIF to be developed and opened in Ireland and being involved with this will allow the successful candidate to bring innovative practice into the area of homelessness and working with people who inject drugs (PWID).

Job Responsibilities

Clinical processes:

• Observe and monitor client’s wellbeing throughout their visit to MSIF.  
• Use communication skills to develop rapport with clients.
• Provide opportunistic interventions for safer injecting and health promotion.
• Engage with clients to identify health needs and refer to relevant members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Follow the Clinical Nurse Managers direction and assist as required during client emergencies. Use observation and communication skills to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment

Operational processes:

• Undertake clinical role in accordance with MSIF’s Internal Management protocol, clinical policies and procedures.
• Record all client observations and/or interactions on the relevant MSIF forms and in the MSIF database.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and managers to achieve MSIF’s objectives. 
• Participate in clinical quality improvement and research activities.
• Develop and maintain skills in overdose management, incident de-escalation and management, infection control, vein care and safer injecting practices, and health promotion.
• Management of infection prevention and control, actively cleaning booth between client use, and following all IPC protocols.
• Participate and comply with all quality management systems and processes.

Client relationship:

• Treat all clients, and visitors with dignity and respect  
• Foster social inclusion and client participation in the operation of MSIF
• Maintain a high standard of conduct and work performance to promote our reputation with key internal and external stakeholders. 

People Leadership:

• Actively engage and participate in MSIC’s performance management framework and review processes.
• Attend MSIF meetings and training activities. 
• Always take care of the safety of yourself and others and safely undertake work by policies, procedures and instructions (written or verbal).
• Take responsibility for actively skilling up colleagues +/- being prepared to act as a mentor for new/less experienced staff.
• Provide a range of rehabilitation and aftercare supports targeting service users including those exiting drug and/or alcohol treatment programmes, psychiatric hospital care or exiting prison. To establish and develop links between services that ensure service users access the full range of care and treatment services to meet their needs.
• Provide education, information, advocacy and treatment support to service users 
• Refer the client to the appropriate agencies I.e. mental health teams, drug treatment services 
• Assess the needs of service users and match their needs with the appropriate evidence-based interventions and arrange input from other relevant agencies where necessary
• Have an individual integrated care plan which is based on a comprehensive assessment of their needs, with appropriate treatment, rehabilitation and recovery goals, agreed upon with the service user.  Ensure service users are case-managed and tracked as they move through the continuum of care. 
• Formulate and implement a referral pathway and plan for those transitioning from the service
• Provide a range of therapies including brief interventions, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, cognitive behavioural therapy and any other therapies as appropriate
• Work closely with community, voluntary and statutory services to ensure that service users can access support in relation to other needs i.e. housing, employment and education etc.
• Provide care and support that offer both a harm reduction and recovery ethos reflecting a person-centred approach to care 
• Support service users through the process of regaining their capacity for daily life from the impact of problem drug/alcohol use, mental health challenges and reintegrating into their communities.

Reporting

• Produce standard monthly and quarterly reports for the Clinical Nurse Manager and/or Head of Day Services in line with funding agencies requirements and compile any ad hoc information requests relating as required.
• Compile and report on complaints and compliments received as required 
• Responsible for ensuring that statistics/data are kept updated on the CRM system at all times 
• Responsible for maintaining a complete, accurate and up to date record for each treatment episode on the HRB on-line web-based system

General Responsibilities

• To support and participate in all audits and/or evaluations
• To comply with all requirements in relation to all the appropriate documentation for the service such as client files, accident reports, service user complaints, minutes of meetings etc.
• To communicate effectively and to maintain appropriate accountability to the Clinical Nurse Manager
• In conjunction with the Clinical Nurse Manager to continuously develop the role to ensure that all aspects of the service are managed effectively and in line with service requirements
• To become familiar with and ensure that all MQI’s policies and procedures are being adhered to particularly those relating to Health & Safety, HR, Confidentiality, Boundaries and staff code of conduct etc.
• Compile and report on complaints and compliments received as required
• Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Clinical Nurse Manager

Qualifications & Experience

• Have a relevant qualification (minimum QQI Third Level 7 or equivalent) e.g. social care, addiction, community or youth work together with qualification/training in a mental health course, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and/or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Relapse Prevention.  
• Have a minimum of 1 years relevant employed work experience in addiction, community development, health & social care, mental health services, education or related fields including experience in crisis support, key working, and case management.
• Have an understanding of the current National Drugs Strategy, Substance Misuse Strategy, National Drug Rehabilitation Framework, logic model reporting, QUADS and/or Safer Better Healthcare (SBHC) Standards, Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone and Mental Health act 2001.

Salary:  €36,372 - €40,798 per annum (dependent on experience)

Hours:  Full time 37.5 hours

Days:  Monday to Sunday 

Location:  Riverbank, Dublin 8