The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme is looking for a National Practice and Policy Lead who will be responsible for establishing, leading and supporting our organisation to enhance its harm reduction capabilities. The role spans policy and practice development, training and development, quality assurance, service development and will work closely with our National Harm Reduction Lead.
Position Description
Position Title: National Policy & Practice Lead
Reporting to: National Operations Manager
Location: Christchurch
Hours: Between 32-40 hours per week by negotiation
Purpose of the Position:
The National Policy and Practice Lead will work closely with the National Harm Reduction Lead to identify and prioritise practice development needs and staff education, develop and implement practice manuals, guidance, and operational policy, establish and lead the national communities of practice, and quality assurance.
The appointee will work from the NZNEP National Office, some travel will be required as the position has a national focus.
Primary Accountabilities:
Practice manuals & procedures
Identification and prioritization of practice development needs and education:
- Review, identify and update existing practice manuals:
- National Practice manual
- Staff Manual
- Distribution Policies and Procedures
- Pharmacy manual
- Other manuals as required
- Review and develop standard operating procedures, processes and guidelines as required.
Resources
Take ownership for updating current and developing and new client and staff resources.
- Consult with NZNEP leaders, operational staff and national office to refresh, update and add to new resources
- Work with external stakeholders where required to build accurate and evidence-based resources
Staff training and development
Lead the development of training resources
- Identify the training needs of both national office and regional staff.
- Develop training models on core harm reduction topics and to support new services.
- Design training to ensure high engagement and buy-in from staff of all levels.
- Oversee the training material and resources available to staff.
- Coordinate the provision of training by other partners and providers, for example the Burnett Foundation
- Support regional teams as required with the delivery of training based on the NZNEP Induction and Practice Manuals.
Quality assurance
Establish quality assurance plans, processes & procedures:
- Reinforce learning and identify areas for improvement
- Develop post training implementation plans
- Develop KPIs to measure service delivery effectiveness
- Regularly review staff practice and support leaders to improve practice
- Coordinate with regional leaders to improve learner outcomes
Community of Practice
Develop relevant Communities of Practice (e.g. PIEDs, Hep C, Drug Checking) to build organisational capacity and capability and support continuous learning
- Co-ordinate members from different regions.
- Develop guidelines for CoPs.
- Align the CoP agenda with the organisational goals.
- Co-ordinate meeting and discussions either face to face or online.
- Provide regular feedback / recommendations to National Operations Manager and Regional Managers
- Determine the appropriate rewards or recognition for participating members.
Service development
Contribute to the design of new services and develop supporting practices and policies
- Provide input into funding applications
- Contribute to service model design
- Identify and develop new organisational capabilities
- Develop required training, policy, practice and resources
Stakeholders & projects
Build relationships with key stakeholders and identify opportunities to collaborate
- Contribute to new projects and initiatives and attend relevant sector meetings.
- Develop relationships with other harm reduction providers
- Leverage existing resources developed by workforce agencies
General Provisions
- Works closely with the National Harm Reduction Lead, regional managers and staff
- Works within agreed plans and timeframes.
- Evaluates the success of projects and contribute to reports as required.
- Develops and maintain effective communication and positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Complies with health and safety guidelines including the identification of hazards and their subsequent elimination, isolation or minimization.
Person Specification
The Policy & Practice Lead should have general knowledge of harm reduction, drug use & mental health and addiction services, with a demonstrated track record of developing and implementing new services, procedures & policies and staff training. Previous experience in the Mental Health & Addiction and Alcohol and Other Drugs sectors is preferred. Lived experience of drug use is desirable and would be an advantage
Key Competencies:
- Focus on service delivery - providing excellent service to others as the primary focus of ones actions, achieved through developing and sustaining productive relationships and evidence based practice.
- Valuing diversity - appreciating the strengths, insights and ideas of all individuals and advocating for the ideas of diversity.
- Continuous quality improvement - setting high standards of performance for self and others, assumes responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments of tasks.
- Communication - Excellent written & verbal communication skills. Ability to lead & facilitation group discussions.
- Good computer skills - competent user of MS Office.
- Time management - ability to organise your time effectively to complete your tasks.
- A team player, and ability to work as part of a team.
If you would like to discuss the position please contact philippa@nznep.org.nz or submit your application to julie@nznep.org.nz.