JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Dual Diagnosis Project Worker
Service: Open Access Service
Reports to: Clinical Nurse Manager
Contract: Contract of Indefinite Duration
Objective: To effectively deliver services about the treatment of addiction and coexisting Mental Health issues while the client is experiencing homelessness.
Location: Riverbank House, Dublin 8
Who We Are –
Merchants Quay Ireland is a national voluntary organisation who helps people who are Homeless and those caught in addiction. We provide frontline services , practical supports, pathways towards recovery and innovative responses to the issues of drug use and homelessness in Ireland.
Our Vision is one of an “inclusive society” where the integration and well-being of all is supported and everyone is treated with Dignity and Respect. Our Mission is to work as a collaborative community to reduce the harm caused by addiction and homelessness. We provide accessible, high quality and effective services, which meet the complex needs in a non judgemental and compassionate way.
MQI Open Access Service ( OAS) is a crisis day centre that provides a safe, non – judgmental space for individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with addiction. This essentials offers hot meals, showers, clean clothing, harm reduction (Needle Exchange) and crisis support
OAS is located in our Riverbank Building, 13 – 14 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8.
Service Delivery
Provide a range of rehabilitation and after-care supports targeting service users including those exiting drug and/or alcohol treatment programmes, psychiatric hospital care or exiting prison. To establish and develop links between services that ensure service users access the full range of care and treatment services to meet their needs.
Provide education, information, advocacy and treatment support to service users
Refer the client to the appropriate agencies I.e. mental health teams, drug treatment services
Assess the needs of service users and match their needs with the appropriate evidence based interventions and arrange input from other relevant agencies where necessary
Have an individual integrated care plan which is based on a comprehensive assessment of their needs, with appropriate treatment, rehabilitation and recovery goals, agreed upon with the service user. Ensure service users are case-managed and tracked as they move through the continuum of care.
Formulate and implement a referral pathway and plan for those transitioning from the service
Provide a range of therapies including brief interventions, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, cognitive behavioural therapy and any other therapies as appropriate
Support service users who are engaging in a detoxification programme
Work closely with community, voluntary and statutory services to ensure that service users can access support about other needs i.e. housing, employment, education etc.
Provide care and support that offer both a harm reduction and recovery ethos reflecting a person-centred approach to care
Ensure regular service user reviews take place where appropriate with probation, health services and any other agency the service user is engaged with
Support service users through the process of regaining their capacity for daily life from the impact of problem drug/alcohol use, mental health challenges and reintegrating into their communities.
Responsible for working in partnership to maximise benefits that can be achieved for individuals by utilising wider resources and support networks that are available locally
Reporting
Produce standard monthly and quarterly reports for the Clinical Nurse Manager and/or Head of Day Services in line with funding agencies' requirements and compile any ad hoc information requests relating as required.
Compile and report on complaints and compliments received as required
Responsible for ensuring that statistics/data are kept always updated on the CRM system
Responsible for maintaining a complete, accurate and up-to-date record for each treatment episode on the HRB online web-based system
General Responsibilities
Comply with all verification visits by funding agencies
To support and participate in all audits and/or evaluations
To comply with all requirements about all the appropriate paperwork for the service such as client files, accident reports, service user complaints, minutes of meetings etc.
To communicate effectively and to maintain appropriate accountability to the Clinical Nurse Manager
Attend and participate in relevant committees as advised by the Clinical Nurse Manager
In conjunction with the Clinical Nurse Manager to continuously develop the role to ensure that all aspects of the service are managed effectively and in line with service requirements
To become familiar with and ensure that all MQI’s policies and procedures are being adhered to particularly those relating to Health Safety, HR, Confidentiality, Boundaries and staff code of conduct etc.
Compile and report on complaints and compliments received as required
Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Clinical Nurse Manager
Qualifications Experience
Relevant qualification (minimum QQI Third Level 7 or equivalent) e.g. social care, addiction, community or youth work together with qualification/training in a mental health course, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and/or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Relapse Prevention.
Minimum of 1 years relevant employed work experience in addiction, community development, health social care, mental health services, education or related fields including experience in crisis support, key working, and case management.
Understand the current National Drugs Strategy, Substance Misuse Strategy, National Drug
Rehabilitation Framework, logic model reporting, QUADS and/or Safer Better Healthcare (SBHC) Standards, Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone and Mental Health Act 2001.
Benefits
- Sick Pay Scheme (following the probationary period)
- Minimum 23 days Annual Leave plus one Good Will Day
- Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
- Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment)
- Learning and Development programme
- Bike to Work Scheme
- Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and Compassionate Leave)
- Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave, scholarship foundation)
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
The deadline for applications is 7th August 2026.
