Addictions Division Careers

It is an exciting time to join GMMH’s Addictions Division. Recent developments and investment have resulted in us being able to offer multiple positions across a range of disciplines and entry levels.

Our multi-disciplinary teams are caring and compassionate. They have experience working with people in health and social care settings, some share lived experience, all have the desire to support individuals to reach their full potential.

The Addictions Division comprises of community drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, a specialist inpatient detoxification unit and Greater Manchester wide homeless services. Achieve provide support for people experiencing problems with drug and alcohol use across Bury, Bolton, Salford and Trafford. We are an NHS led service, working with multiple agencies in a unique partnership model.  This partnership model enables us to work with patients in a holistic way focusing on the person and not the “problem”.

We currently have multiple vacancies within our teams including qualified nursing and non-qualified clinical roles, recovery coordinators, assessment workers and support staff. We also offer a variety of learning and development opportunities, from informal training to formal, recognised qualifications. If you have a passion to care for others and be part of an organisation that delivers life-changing services, we would love to hear from you!

Achieve work with and in communities. We value a healthy work/life balance, and the welfare of staff is a priority. Opportunities for flexible working can be explored.

Apply for a job, start a career! Join GMMH today!

 

Achieve Trauma Informed Care Team - established Nov 2021
Front L-R: Dr Jane Lawton, Dr Katy Flynn, CBT Therapist Claire Foster
Back L-R Dual Diagnosis Lead Cath Jeffers, Assistant Psychologist Kaisha Rimmer, Dr Chris Todd

 

• 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 (after 5 years) and 33 (after 10 years), plus bank holidays pro rata
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
• Access to continued professional development
• Involvement in improvement and research activities
• Health and wellbeing activities and access to staff wellbeing services
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel
   
• GMMH recognise that the people who work for us are our greatest asset and when they feel supported and happy in work this positivity reaches those very people we are here for – patients and service users. The Trust is committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive organisation and ensuring that we harness the talents of all our staff fully. The staff networks contribute to addressing and solving problems for all under-represented and disadvantaged groups and individuals within our organisation. The Addictions Division support membership and attendance within our staff networks.

 

                             

 

Holly, an Alcohol Detox Nurse, says:

“I am an Alcohol Detox Nurse at Achieve Drug and Alcohol Services, Salford and have worked here since January 2021. I started my nursing career in 2019 as an ICU Nurse shortly after I moved to Manchester, having qualified from my degree at home in Ireland a month prior. I have always taken a great interest in addictions and mental health, so when the opportunity arose to work as an Alcohol Detox Nurse, I jumped at the opportunity. I was nervous about making the change into a such a different field of nursing, however, my experience in working for Achieve has been incredibly positive and I was welcomed straight away. I quickly settled in with the great learning opportunities I was presented with, and I have been continually supported by my colleagues throughout my time here. Having worked in the service for around 18 months now, I feel confident in my role and find working with our diverse group of clients incredibly rewarding.

I work with a great team who are experienced in their field and feel privileged to work with people who are as passionate about supporting people through addiction and recovery as I am. My team are committed to providing safe and effective care in a non-judgemental environment that allows patients to feel comfortable, understood and involved throughout their treatment.

My role involves assessing those experiencing alcohol dependence, determining the safest route of detox, undertaking home detoxes and referring to inpatient services as appropriate. The clients that I work with are from varying backgrounds and have differing individual needs. This means that no two days are the same, keeping my work interesting and providing me with great job satisfaction.

I have been given lots of opportunities to progress in my career while working for Achieve. As someone living with ADHD who strongly believes in advocating for awareness, I am currently being supported by management to assist in the development of learning resources from a lived experience perspective. I have recently been given the opportunity to undertake the V300 Nurse Prescribing Course at Bolton University funded by the Trust, with an aim to start the course this year. I look forward to continuing to expand my knowledge and progress my career in our lively, friendly, compassionate team!"

 

 

Nasir Ahmed, Recovery Coordinator, says:

“One of the main reasons I enjoy working for Achieve is I love the challenge. The smile on the patient’s face after support is given is priceless. I get to meet a lot of people from all walks of life who have unfortunately lost their way due to drug or alcohol use. They can face a number of issues with housing, family etc. and just require support to point them in the right direction. The patients and their families feedback they are grateful that they are treated with respect and dignity.

Working with this client group can have its challenges, but with support from the management and colleagues we work together as a team and ensure we support each other, no matter what. The work is rewarding, and I get satisfaction knowing I care for people and help them build a better life away from alcohol and illicit substances."

 

 

Tonya Nettleton, one of the Operational Managers within Achieve, says:

“I have worked for GMMH Addiction services for over 20 years, each day is different. The best thing about working for addictions is being able to see on a daily basis how lives can turn around. Seeing our service users with a sparkle in their eyes and hope in their heart, really makes it worth going to work every day.” 


 

 

Eugen Negrutiu, Administrator, says

“I enjoy working here it’s the most inclusive working environment, feels like a second family. Not only have I got the opportunity and benefit to help people in need, but spiritually myself too. I’m grateful for the chance of working here, come and join us.”

 

Kate Hall, Head of Operations

“I qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse over thirty years ago in 1991 and began my career in addictions as a staff nurse in 1994.

Over the last twenty-seven years, I have worked in various roles, including being a keyworker (now called Recovery Coordinator), a Team, Operational and Service Manager in numerous community alcohol and drug settings across the North West of England and I worked as a Deputy Regional Manager with the National Treatment Agency between 2004 and 2006, whilst very interesting to be in a strategic role, I missed the challenges of being a service provider!

I returned to operational service delivery at the Trust in 2007 and am now the Head of Operations for the Addictions & Homeless Services, which includes large parts of GM and a 36 bedded inpatient detox unit on the Prestwich Hospital site.

Working across this sector I have contributed to publications such as the UKDPC Recovery Consensus Statement and Medications in Recovery and am a Specialist Advisor with the CQC.

I still feel as passionate about helping those experiencing multiple disadvantage as I did when I started as a student nurse in 1988 and will continue to challenge stigma every day! We have come a long way, but still have a long way to go! This is a very rewarding career and specialty to offer (and often carry) hope to those who have sometimes lost that hope and belief in themselves.”

 

Dr Tracey Myton, Consultant in Addiction Pyschiatry

“I am a consultant in addiction psychiatry. I have a fantastic job at a busy community addiction service in Bolton in a team of lots of different healthcare professionals. We see  people with a range of addictions and listen to their experiences. We are then able to be a part of their recovery through lots of different psychosocial and medical interventions.

I feel hugely privileged to work with this group and witness their courage in overcoming their addictions. Addictions is a great field of medicine because there are opportunities for people from lots of professional backgrounds and our work involves lots of liaison with other services. We need kind and compassionate people who are not afraid of challenging stigma.”  

 

Cathy Lovatt, Homeless Services and CBU Service Manager

“Hi

I am the Service Manager for the Chapman Barker Unit (specialist inpatient detox) and GMMH Homeless Services.

Working within GMMH Addictions services is a real privilege.  The staff are amazing, really person centred and supportive of one another. We pride ourselves on providing high quality, safe and trauma informed services. Our services have such a diverse mix of staff, with varying professional and lived experience backgrounds.  We have lots of training opportunities and even have our own training team providing evidence based, accredited courses. I was a student nurse in these services (many years ago) and definitely got the bug! We see some of the most vulnerable and complex people who have often experienced some form of the trauma in their lives, yet I would also say that they are the most brave, adaptive and inspiring people who can turn their lives around with the right the amount support and guidance.

Join our teams! You won’t regret it."