Registered General Nurse– Full time & Part time. Housing First(MDT)

BACKGROUND

The Housing First model provides immediate access to stable housing for people experiencing homelessness, particularly those with complex needs. The key principle of this model is that housing is considered to be a human right and that this should be the starting point of supporting a person to recover from other issues such as addiction and poor mental or physical health. This means that there is no requirement for the homeless person to be ‘housing ready’ or to have addressed their addiction problems before moving into a permanent home. Health and addiction issues are addressed after housing has been secured, by providing wrap-around supports that are delivered by community based multidisciplinary health and intensive case management teams. These supports help people to maintain their tenancy and transition to recovery, independence, and community integration. The Housing First core values adopted in practice, include respecting individual choice and control, and the promotion of person-centred, tailored support that is open-ended and unconditional.

The Ana Liffey Drug Project (lead agency) and Coolmine Therapeutic Community (ALDP/CTC) as a consortium, were successful in securing the health tender for the Housing First initiative in the Dublin region. A new community-based multidisciplinary health team (MDT) is being established as part of this project, to provide the wrap-around health supports for the Housing First clients across the Dublin region.

The MDT will work in close collaboration and coordination with the Intensive Case Management Teams. Interagency engagement and partnership working with a wide range of statutory and NGO stakeholders will also be undertaken.

The ALDP/CTC MDT consists of senior nursing/therapeutic/clinical leadership, general and specialist nurses (mental health & intellectual disabilities), multi-task attendant, clinical psychologists and occupational therapists - with sessional support provided from a GP and Dentist.

JOB SUMMARY

The Registered General Nurse plays a pivotal role within the Housing First Multidisciplinary Health Team. Based in Dublin, this community-focused position will support clients with complex health needs through the delivery of accessible and flexible nursing interventions. The nurse will conduct health assessments, support care planning, undertake relevant nursing interventions, including harm reduction, and overdose management, while collaborating with addiction, housing, and primary healthcare services to ensure integrated care pathways. Working under the guidance of the Clinical Nurse Manager, the nurse will contribute to service planning, audits, and quality improvement initiatives. This full-time role requires professional autonomy, ethical practice, and a commitment to recovery-focused care. The successful candidate will demonstrate clinical competence, knowledge of social inclusion issues, and a passion for supporting marginalised populations.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The purpose of this role is to provide holistic, community-based nursing care to Housing First clients. The nurse will participate in providing wrap-around health services that promote recovery, dignity, and wellbeing. The role aims to reduce health inequalities, improve access to care, and enhance tenancy sustainment through integrated, multidisciplinary collaboration. It also contributes to service development, workforce training, and continuous evaluation to ensure high standards of care. The nurse will empower clients to achieve better health outcomes and social reintegration, aligning with the Housing First values of choice, respect, and person-centred support.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Professional

• Practice nursing according to the ‘Code of Professional Conduct’ as laid down by An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing Midwifery Board of Ireland) and Professional Clinical Guidance.
• Comply with the relevant national, regional and local Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines, policies, protocols and legislation.
• Work within the scope of practice and take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.
• Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and be accountable for his or her practice.
• Be aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to their area of practice.
• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the HF clients.
• Follow appropriate lines of authority within the HSE and the ALDP Nurse Management Structure.
• Maintain professional standards and contribute to audits, risk management, service improvement and the embedding of evidence-based practice.
• Participate in service planning, policy development, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Build effective working relationships with statutory and voluntary agencies, ensuring coordinated pathways of care for the client.
• Contribute to data collection and evaluation to inform service outcomes.

Clinical Practice

• Undertake nursing / health assessments, care planning, clinical interventions, monitoring, reviews and discharge planning in line with Housing First fidelity.
• Facilitate any nurse led clinic (as dictated by client needs), including the provision of nursing interventions such as wound care, harm reduction interventions, overdose management etc.
• Ensure supports provided are accessible, flexible, and person-centred, embedding the clients voice to promote recovery, dignity, and wellbeing at all times.
• Collaborate with members of the multidisciplinary team, including those from the addiction, housing, and homeless services to ensure integrated care pathways.
• Manage a caseload as appropriate and evaluate and support any internal and external referrals to relevant services within this caseload through a population health approach.
• Supervise the multi-task attendants assigned supports with the clients actvities of daily living.
• Participate in any discharge planning process, once a client is hospitalised, working with the multi-disciplinary team and follow-up post discharge.
• Participate in clinical team meetings, case conferences, homeless action team meetings and strategy meetings, as required.

Education, Training & Development

• Take responsibility for own learning and development needs and actively contribute to the learning and development of those they work with.
• Develop and use reflective practice techniques to inform and guide clinical practice.
• Participate in the clinical / workplace induction of new nursing and / or support staff.
• Contribute to the identification of training needs that are pertinent to the clinical area of the role.
• Identify and contribute to the continual enhancement of learning opportunities within a population health framework.
• Participate in regular performance / clinical reviews with the assigned nursing manager.
• Share best practice approaches in line with Housing First values and support workforce development through training in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, dual diagnosis, and health-specific interventions.

Health & Safety

• Comply with the current legal requirements for the safe administration and storage of medicines.
• Comply with safety risk management procedures and participate in their development in conjunction with relevant staff and in compliance with statutory obligations.
• Observe, report and take appropriate action on any matter which may be detrimental to client care or well-being or inhibit the efficient supports being provided as part of the clients care plan.
• Be aware of the principles of risk management and be individually responsible for risk management issues in their area of work.
• Work in a manner to minimise risk with particular reference to domiciliary visits that must be undertaken as per localised policy and procedure agreed.

Administration

• Ensure that records are safeguarded and managed as per HSE / local policy and in accordance with relevant legislation.
• Act as an information source to colleagues within community health organisations and the acute hospital framework.
• Maintain records and submit activity data / furnish appropriate reports as required.
• Contribute to policy and procedure development and performance monitoring of the HF health MDT services supported.
• Maintain professional standards with regards to the client’s health data and confidentiality.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways, individual care plans and shared care arrangements.
• Contribute to ongoing monitoring, audit and evaluation of the service as appropriate
• Accurately record and report all complaints to appropriate personnel according to local service policy

The above key duties and responsibilities is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved. Consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Essential:

Education

• Candidates must be registered in the General division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) or entitled to be so registered.

Experience, Attributes, Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Clinical Knowledge / Experience

• Demonstrate Practioner competence and professionalism and a high level of clinical knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
• Display evidence based clinical knowledge, competency in making autonomous client care decisions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of health, social and childcare legislation as appropriate to the role.
• Demonstrate understanding and/or experience of health promotion and infection control practices.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the ‘Primary Care Strategy’ and key developments within the Primary Care services.
• Demonstrate awareness of homeless strategies / social inclusion issues.
• Demonstrate insight into addiction issues.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the principles of Housing First.

Planning and Organising

• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising own client case load, with sound prioritisation skills to manage presenting needs.
• Awareness of resource management and the importance of value for money.

Leadership and Teamwork

• Demonstrate the ability to build and maintain relationships including the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Desirable

Social Inclusion, Addiction and Homelessness

• Experience working with people who are marginalised or socially excluded will be a distinct advantage.
• Experience working with Service Providers providing services to people who are marginalised or socially excluded will be a distinct advantage.

To apply for the role

Please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter to jobs@aldp.ie in MS Word or PDF format before 5pm on, Monday, 22nd of June.

Please ensure that you clearly mark your application “RGN – Full time / Part-time” in the subject line of the email.

If you have any questions specific to the role advertised and the Housing First Health Multidisciplinary Team, please reach out to jobs@aldp.ie.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for the final week of June.

Ana Liffey Drug Project is supported and funded in Dublin through HSE DNCC Addiction Services, North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and Probation Services.