Substance Misuse Specialist Clinical Practitioner – Children & Families Service

Fixed-Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity to 31 March 2026

The Office for Health Improvements and Disparities published national statistics (Feb 2023) that indicated that the majority of young people (58%) who accessed drug and alcohol services were already engaged with community or other mental health services for treatment.

The London Borough of Hackney and City of London are in receipt of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment & Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) which will be used to fund the recruitment of a Specialist Clinical Practitioner to support and directly work alongside our busy Substance Misuse Team that engages with young people between 6 – 25 yrs of age who live, work and learn within Hackney and the City of London. The grant will cover the post for the period up until the end of March 2026, with the possibility of the post holder’s contract being extended beyond this if further funding is awarded.

The post holder will be committed to Anti-Racist Practice and will work as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team, undertaking direct work with families with a range of complex presenting difficulties including emotional and behavioural difficulties, abuse and neglect, developmental trauma, relationship and attachment difficulties, deliberate self harm and substance misuse problems. You will help young people to negotiate and understand consequential thinking and develop appropriate and healthier coping strategies, all the while supporting a dedicated team of recovery workers to support and safeguard young people within both The City of London and Hackney areas.

The aim of this role is to have an immediate positive impact upon young people and service users measured by the amount of representations / reduction of multiple treatment episodes.

The successful candidate will be able to –

-Provide highly specialised clinical interventions to children and families using evidence-based approaches; including CBT and family therapy, trauma-focused interventions, psychodynamic therapies, dyadic development and psychotherapy , attachment-focused interventions.

-Exercise professional responsibility with autonomy for assessments communicating effectively with professionals as well as with children and families.

-Carry and work with a manageable caseload where it has been identified that direct clinical support can be offered and effective

An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 18 May 2025 (22:59)

Interview date: W/c 09 June 2025

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk