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Job summary

Main area
Substance Misuse
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Fixed term: 8 months (Subject to extension dependant on funding.)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
455-NLFT-0911-A
Employer
North London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Old Court House, Enable-Alcohol and Drug Services
Town
Enfield
Salary
£36,943 - £44,900 Per annum including Outer London Allowance
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

North London NHS Foundation Trust logo

Diversion and Inclusion lead worker

Band 5

Thank you for your interest in North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT).

As of 1 April 2026, NLFT has formally merged with Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust—marking the start of an exciting new chapter. This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation at a time of transformation, where we are strengthening access to mental health services, responding more effectively to complex and specialist needs, and advancing our work in education, research and innovation.

By bringing together our combined expertise, we are building a stronger, more collaborative Trust—one that delivers consistent, high-quality care and improved outcomes for the diverse communities we serve.

At the heart of our approach is The North London Way. We are committed to:

  • Working collaboratively at every level, guided by our shared values
  • Shaping a positive, inclusive culture where staff and service users thrive
  • Empowering our teams with the skills, tools and autonomy to drive meaningful change
  • Delivering excellence and continuously improving the quality of care we provide
  • Embedding research, innovation and technology across our services
  • Taking a trauma-informed approach in everything we do

We are proud to be an inclusive employer that values diversity. We actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly from our local communities, and are committed to creating opportunities for everyone—including apprentices, veterans and care leavers.

The North London Way to deliver: Better Mental Health, Better Lives, Better Communities.

Our trust website is:  https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/ 

As a values‑driven Trust, we recruit through our values. Our selection processes focus on behaviours, attitudes, and examples that reflect our organisational values and commitment to compassionate, high‑quality care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.

We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit  https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.

North London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to fair and transparent recruitment and requires applicants to provide accurate information, as misleading details may affect their application or employment and may be verified in line with the Fraud Act 2006. For further information please visit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.

Job overview

The Diversion and Inclusion Lead Worker is a Band 5 role within North London NHS Foundation Trust Substance Misuse Service, responsible for leading and coordinating inclusive, trauma-informed approaches to drug and alcohol service delivery. Based across Enfield sites, the postholder works collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to develop diversion pathways, improve access to treatment, and reduce health inequalities for individuals experiencing substance misuse and complex needs. The role combines operational leadership, partnership working, and direct service user engagement to support improved outcomes and prevent escalation into acute or criminal justice systems.

Main duties of the job

·       Lead the development and delivery of diversion pathways to reduce unnecessary contact with criminal justice, emergency, and inpatient services.

·       Provide specialist leadership on inclusive, trauma-informed practice to ensure services meet the needs of marginalised and high-risk groups.

·       Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners to improve engagement, retention, and treatment outcomes.

·       Deliver and coordinate harm reduction initiatives, including Naloxone provision, safer use advice, and overdose prevention.

·       Provide advice, guidance, and case consultation to staff on diversion, inclusion, and risk management approaches.

·       Develop strong partnerships with criminal justice agencies, healthcare providers, local authorities, and community organisations.

·       Support service development through co-production, audits, data collection, and quality improvement activities.

·       Deliver training and support staff development on inclusive practice, inequalities, and trauma-informed care.

·       Manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, including assessment, care planning, safeguarding, and treatment coordination.

·       Maintain accurate clinical records and ensure compliance with Trust policies, governance requirements, and data protection standards.

 

Working for our organisation

Our values

The Trust’s values are:

  • Compassion
  • Respect
  • Being Positive
  • Working together

NHS VALUES

 It is recommended that where possible the NHS values below are reflected in job descriptions. Please go to the NHS Confederation website for further information www.nhsconfed.org

RESPECT AND DIGNITY

We value each person as an individual, respect their aspirations and commitments in life, and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits. We take what others have to say seriously. We are honest about our point of view and what we can and cannot do.

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY OF CARE

We earn the trust that is placed in us by insisting on quality and striving to get the basics right every time – safety, confidentiality, professional and managerial integrity, accountability, dependable service and good communication. We welcome feedback, learn from our mistakes and build on our success.

COMPASSION

We find the time to listen and talk when it is needed, make the effort to understand and get on and do the small things that mean so much – not because we are asked to but because we care.

Improving lives

We strive to improve health and well-being and people’s experiences of the NHS. We value excellence and professionalism wherever we find it – in the everyday things that make people’s lives better as much as in clinical practice, service improvements and innovation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

Service Delivery and Caseload Management

  • Manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, completing assessments, risk management, and personalised care plans.
  • Deliver one-to-one interventions, harm reduction advice, and recovery-focused support, including substitute prescribing processes and outreach.
  • Support service users to access a wide range of health, housing, social care, and community services.

Diversion and Inclusion

  • Lead the development of diversion pathways to reduce unnecessary involvement in criminal justice, emergency, or inpatient services.
  • Ensure services are inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible to marginalised groups.
  • Deliver targeted outreach to engage underrepresented populations and those not currently accessing services.

Harm Reduction

  • Coordinate harm reduction initiatives including Naloxone distribution, needle exchange, and overdose prevention.
  • Provide specialist advice to staff on reducing risks such as overdose and blood-borne viruses.

Partnership and Multi-Agency Working

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with criminal justice agencies, healthcare providers, housing, and voluntary sector organisations.
  • Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings (e.g. safeguarding, IOM, housing, and criminal justice panels).
  • Support co-production with service users and community stakeholders to influence service design.

Leadership, Training and Service Development

  • Provide leadership, training, and guidance to staff on inclusion, diversion, and trauma-informed practice.
  • Contribute to audits, data collection, service evaluations, and continuous quality improvement.
  • Support service development plans, innovation, and delivery of key performance indicators.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Health and social care
  • Basic education
  • other relevant qualification
Desirable criteria
  • Drug and alcohol related qualification

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria
  • Experience required to do the job
  • Demonstrate relevant knowledge gained in previous employment or elsewhere

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential criteria
  • Specific skills that will enable candidate to fulfill job role, including IT skills
Desirable criteria
  • previous knowledge experience working with Thesus/RIO

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential criteria
  • Should include team working, interpersonal skills and written and verbal skills, importance of a positive “can do” attitude and a positive attitude to change

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleJob share policyAge positiveImproving working livesCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthAccredited Living Wage Employer

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sabrina Miller-Cummings
Job title
Operational Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02083796010
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