Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist Hereford - Job

Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist

The Role Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist

Herefordshire Council are seeking an experienced and analytically minded Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist to support a critical piece of public health work for 8 weeks. This work can be undertaken fully remotely.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of drug and alcohol services across the county. You will lead the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based needs assessment that will directly inform recommissioning decisions, service design and improved outcomes for residents.

We are looking for a professional who combines strong analytical capability with deep subject matter expertise in substance misuse and public health systems.

What will you be doing? Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist

You will deliver a robust Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment that provides a clear, epidemiological understanding of local need, service performance and future priorities.

Working closely with commissioners and partners, you will:

Analyse local, regional and national datasets (including treatment and population data) to identify trends, patterns and emerging risks
Assess the size, scale and nature of drug and alcohol misuse across Herefordshire, including high-risk and underserved populations
Review current service provision, identifying strengths, gaps and opportunities for improvement
Explore key issues such as relapse, continuity of care, and drug and alcohol-related deaths, drawing out actionable insights
Examine inequalities in access and outcomes across geography and demographic groups
Incorporate qualitative insight, including lived experience, to complement quantitative analysis
Benchmark performance against comparable areas and national indicators
Produce a clear, evidence-based report with practical recommendations to inform future service design and commissioning
Present findings to key stakeholders and partnership forums

This work will directly influence strategic decision-making around prevention, treatment and recovery services across the system.

About You Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist

We are looking for a specialist who can bring both technical analytical expertise and strong subject knowledge of drug and alcohol systems.

You will have:

Demonstrable experience delivering public health needs assessments, ideally within substance misuse or a closely related field
Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and translate them into meaningful insight
In-depth knowledge of drug and alcohol treatment systems, policy context and current best practice
Experience working with datasets such as NDTMS, OHID Fingertips or similar population health intelligence sources
A proven ability to identify unmet need, inequalities, and service gaps, and make evidence-based recommendations
Experience of engaging stakeholders and incorporating lived experience into analysis
Excellent written and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex findings clearly to a range of audiences
The ability to work independently, manage timelines, and respond to feedback in a collaborative environment

You will bring a balanced approach, combining analytical rigour with a practical understanding of what works in prevention, treatment and recovery systems.

Why this role matters Drugs and Alcohol Needs Assessment Specialist

This work will provide the evidence base for future commissioning and service redesign, helping to ensure services are responsive, effective and aligned to local need.

Your work will help identify how we can improve outcomes, reduce harm, and better support individuals and communities affected by substance misuse.

Apply Now

Job Description

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