Experience

WDP (Westminster Drug Project)

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Prison Link Practitioner (Hackney Drug Interventions Programme

  • Sep 2013 - Present

  • Visiting prisons and engaging clients with substance misuse issues. • Liaise with prison Substance Misuse Teams to obtain court, and release dates for clients in order to arrange release appointments; discuss how to support the client whilst they are in prison and upon release; and gain awareness on any risks the client may pose. • Provide resettlement support and make arrangements to continue their prescription of substitute medication (if needed). • Facilitate groups at HMP Thameside for Hackney prisoners fortnightly, where substance misuse and its consequences are explored. • Identify and write appointment letters to clients who have an imminent court date, or due for release. • Assess the client and write court reports making recommendations detailing their social and substance misuse histories, in view of receiving a community sentence, rather than a custodial sentence. • Manage a large caseload of clients who are in the community, where I conduct triage assessments, risk assessments, create Care Plans for their recovery and provide support by engaging them in weekly structured keyworks. • Liaise regularly with external agencies, for example Probation and Social Services. Arrest Referral Practitioner in Stoke Newington & Shoreditch Police Stations • Assess clients who have been arrested and tested positive for either Opiates or Cocaine. Court Practitioner in Thames Magistrates Court • Assess and complete Restrictions on Bail (RoB) forms in order for the client to receive bail with restrictions, which include substance misuse support in the community whilst awaiting their next court hearing. Show less



CRI - Crime Reduction Initiatives

• Borehamwood

• Recovery Worker

  • Feb 2013 - Jul 2013

  • Used ITEP maps and motivational interviewing skills to engage clients in structured keyworking and support in developing relapse prevention techniques with a goal of abstinence. • Care planning using SMART objectives with regular reviews; created and reviewed risk management plans; facilitated structured groups with recovery focused interventions; ran the weekly Alcohol Clinic - a drop-in service for those addicted to alcohol. • As a Duty Worker, I conducted triage and risk assessments, drug and alcohol screening, arranged appointments for referrals received as well as provided advice to service users. • Liaising between the client and Prescribing Team regarding prescriptions for substitute medication. • Provided harm minimisation and overdose tolerance advice; a needle exchange service; and carried out blood borne virus testing. • Regular liaison, as well as referrals to Social Services, Community Mental Health Team, Assertive Outreach Team, Job Centre Plus, Hospitals, GPs, and Pharmacists. • Organised inpatient alcohol detox, which included pre-detox support, liaising with detox centre staff and establishing a robust aftercare plan. Show less



Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust (RAPT)

• HMP Wormwood Scrubs

• CARAT Worker

  • Dec 2008 - Jan 2013

  • Conducted comprehensive assessments; engaged clients in structured one to ones; made appropriate referrals to other agencies (internal and external); provided holistic support; developed clients’ relapse prevention techniques; duty worker on the high dependency detox wing; attended post course reviews; conducted care planning reviews. • Provided advice on harm minimisation, blood borne viruses, and overdose tolerance. • Supported clients with Parole Board hearings, Licence Recall hearings, and assisted in achieving what was stated on their sentence plan. • Facilitated DANOS standard (IDTS) psychosocial groups as well as a four-week structured drug/alcohol treatment programme. • Liaised with different agencies, such as Probation, Healthcare, Prison Officers, DIP teams, housing services; mental health services, and residential rehabs. • Arranged release and prescribing appointments with the DIP Team. • Facilitated in securing a place in a residential rehab. Further Development Acquired: Prison Data and Quality Improvement Training; IDTS (Integrated Drug Treatment System) Awareness Training; Supervising Volunteers and Peer Mentors; Offending Behaviour Training; Mental Health Awareness; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST); Relaxation Techniques (learnt in India – yogic sleep). Show less



HM Prison and Probation Service

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Mental Health Unit - Administration Officer

  • Apr 2003 - Jun 2006

  • Drafted statements under the Home Secretary’s authority for the Mental Health Tribunal with due concern for statutory targets. • Liaised with psychiatrists, courts, prisons and other criminal justice agencies to obtain information ensuring swift provision of all relevant data. • Undertook prison transfer work where patients who were deemed to be mentally disordered are transferred under the MHA 1983 to a secure hospital; managed risk assessments, drafting transfer warrants and appropriate correspondence. • Considered patients’ annual statutory reports requiring high level of analysis. • Represented the Mental Health Unit at visits to high and medium secure psychiatric hospitals, prisons and conferences. Show less