University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust are looking for a proactive, knowledgeable Lead Alcohol Clinical Nurse Specialist to lead the Alcohol Care Team (ACT). 

The ACT is a comprehensive 7-day service funded as the region’s early implementer site, part of the NHS long-term plan. Under your leadership, the alcohol care team will demonstrate improvement in patient outcomes, target patients with the greatest need, offer consistent support to clinical teams, and reduce the burden on acute services.   

All applicants are encouraged to make contact with us for an informal discussion to learn more about the service and the role prior to submitting an application. 

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast. 

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients. 

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

The Band 7 Lead Alcohol Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide Nursing leadership to enhance the effectiveness of the service, and reduce the risk of unsafe management of adult patients with alcohol dependence across all divisions in UHS, as well as contributing to the clinical rota.   
 
You will work across professional, departmental and Trust boundaries to develop and support patient-centred seamless care, with responsibility for leading nurse-led alcohol care initiatives. 

You will be a skilled Practitioner in the assessment and management of alcohol use disorder, able to deliver care meeting up to date national guidance and research. Interventions will include Identification and brief advice (IBA), medically assisted alcohol withdrawal (MAAW) and motivational interviewing (MI). 
 
You will need to maintain a level of competence to provide specialist clinical advice and support to staff within the hospital and other agencies concerned with substance misuse more broadly; supporting the development of policies and procedures within the hospital for substance use clients and services. 
 
ACTs provide a liaison service to teams across UHS for some of the most complex and vulnerable patients who have often experienced significant levels of trauma and have complex social situations as well as comorbid physical and mental health conditions. As such the supervision and development of the team requires an experienced team leader.