Alcohol Policy UK

Jobs and events: Alcohol Academy Programme Lead; Hospital Alcohol Liaison and other events

Jobs: Alcohol Academy Programme Lead

The Alcohol Academy is seeking a part-time Programme Lead to lead on the delivery of its work to support local alcohol harm reduction across England. The Academy is a small social enterprise which aims to foster effective alcohol harm reduction through the delivery of events, information and networking for local leads.    

Details: 17.5 hours per week at £20,529 pro rata, 1 year fixed term. London (with some travel)

See here for for the person specification, job description and details of how to apply. Closing date: Monday 15th August 2011.

Forthcoming events

An event focusing on alcohol work within hospital settings takes
place in Bradford on 17th October 201. 'Alcohol Care & Management in the General Hospital Setting' seminar flyer here. 

New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group 2012: The 2012 conference will take place from 24-27 May in Wales and will have behaviour change pioneer Professor Steven Rollnick speaking.

An event for Social Workers covering drug and alcohol treatment takes place on 17th November in Manchester. A Westminster Forum Projects event explores 'a new approach to responsible drinking?' (cost from £80 - 190 +vat). 

An event releasing SIPS brief interventions findings is expected to take place in London on 30th November - watch this space. Further regional events for alcohol leads are being planned by the Alcohol Academy - next will be for alcohol roles in the North East in October, in partnership with Balance.

Alcohol Awareness week is reported to be 14-20 November, more details to follow from Alcohol Concern and here.

Jobs: Sheffield alcohol policy research posts

The University of Sheffield's school of health and related research (ScHARR) are seeking senior and junior researchers to continue their work on Alcohol Policy Effectiveness. All posts are funded for 3 years, with a start date of 1 Nov 2010 or soon thereafter. Closing date 9 September with interviews in late September/early October.

Jobs: IAS seeks new Director

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) is seeking a new Director and invites expressions of interest, accompanied by a CV, addressed to the Chair of the Board, Institute of Alcohol Studies, Elmgren House, 1 The Quay, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK, PE27 5AR or by email to helen@ias.org.uk, by 31 May 2010.

A job description for the post can be found here. Further information about the IAS will be supplied on request. A salary commensurate with the responsibilities of the post will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Jobs: Strategic Alcohol Lead, Essex

The Guardian jobs site has advertised the position of Strategic Alcohol Lead for Essex County Council:

'Working on behalf of the Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership (EDAP), you will play a significant role in establishing a County-wide approach to the issue of alcohol misuse in relation to crime and disorder, harm reduction, treatment and public health. You will work with Stakeholders to maximise the potential for joint planning, working and funding across the Partnership in order to establish a coordinated and integrated approach across the County that meets local need and contributes to County and District Strategic Priorities. You will lead on the revision of the EDAP Draft Alcohol Strategy and in the production of a County-wide EDAP action plan.'

Interview date: 2nd March 2010.

Closing date: 12th February 2010.

Jobs: Commissioning Officer - Alcohol

Wiltshire council is recruiting to the unusual but welcomed position of a Commissioning Officer for alcohol.

Department: Community Services (DCS)

Salary: £23,405 - £25,940

Closing Date: 06/10/2009

Reference: DCS09/54

Hours: Permanent Full Time

Location: Trowbridge

For further details see the Wiltshire Council jobs page

For informal enquiries please contact : Eleanor Stirling, Joint Commissioning Manager for Substance Misuse on: 07780954398, or email Eleanor.stirling@wiltshire.nhs.uk

Public health strategist job, Camden PCT (focus on alcohol)

• Post: Public Health Strategist
• Employer: Camden PCT
• Salary: £44,076 - £51,676
• Closing Date: 10/09/2009
• Interview Date: 23/09/2009

Details here

Jobs: Alcohol Programme Manager, NHS Wirral

Job Title: Alcohol Programme Manager

Employer: NHS Wirral

Salary: £37,996 to £45,596 pa

Closing Date: 13/08/2009 

From the NHS jobs site:

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated individual to lead the effective management and delivery of an alcohol programme at sub-regional level. The post will provide strategic leadership, support and project management for the alcohol agenda across Cheshire and Merseyside PCTs and Local Authorities. The post will shape and influence policy development, write, consult and implement a Cheshire and Merseyside wide strategy and develop appropriate multi-agency partnerships to ensure a co-ordinated approach to alcohol.

For further information and the job description see here.

BMA continues calls for minimum pricing and advertising ban

Last week the British Medical Association (BMA) annual conference passed a motion to continue calling for a minimum price and a ban on alcohol advertising. The decision comes as previous calls to introduce minimum pricing have been rejected by the government, with the Prime Minister arguing that they would not 'punish the sensible majority'.

However many groups such as the BMA reject this argument based on research that shows the limited impact a minimum price would have on moderate drinkers - in research drawn up by the university of Sheffield "Moderate drinkers would only pay an extra £12 a year, whereas a harmful drinker, because they buy so many more units, would pay an extra £163 a year." (see story here).

However not all GPs at the BMA conference supported the motion with accusations of 'nanny-state politics', as highlighted in reports from the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.

Earlier in the year the Chief Medical Officer called for a minimum price in his annual report which was widely backed by health professionals. Scotland are also set to move forward with minimum pricing measures.

Instead Brown's government have focused on increasing duty and a new mandatory code. The code plans to ban irresponsible promotions  and take other measures such as ensuring pubs and bars offer smaller measures. The proposals are currently out for consultation until 5th August 2009. A short Alcohol Concern survey is also available on the code.

See here for the BMA's 'Memorandum of evidence from the BMA to the Health Select Committee inquiry on alcohol'

Jobs: Alcohol Strategy Coordinator, Medway council

Medway are seeking an alcohol strategy coordinator to sit in the Medway Public Health Team, a directorate which crosses NHS Medway and Medway Council.

• Alcohol Co-ordinator (Ref: CA0656C)
• Salary: PO1 £27,573 - £35,953 per annum
• Hours: 37 per week
• Location: Gun Wharf, Chatham
• Closing date: 17 July 2009.

See here for further details on the NHS jobs site.

For any informal discussion about this post please contact Aeilish Geldenhuys, Senior Public Health Manager on 01634 333147. For an application pack or to apply visit www.medway.gov.uk or phone 01634 333333 Mon to Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-1pm or 01634 332843 24-hour answerphone. Alternatively email jobs@medway.gov.uk quoting the reference.

Job: East Midlands Regional Alcohol Manager

East Midlands Regional Alcohol Manager

• 1 year secondment or fixed term contract
• Salary: £37,106 to £44,527 pa
• Closing Date: 15/04/2009

An exciting opportunity is available to join the Regional Directorate of Public Health team in the East Midlands if you are committed to preventing and reducing alcohol related harm. Against a background of increasing alcohol related hospital admissions across the region, the postholder will provide expertise and support to PCTs, Local Authorities and Strategic Partnerships to accelerate improvements in prevention and treatment services.

With a minimum of three years experience at a senior level, you will need to demonstrate evidence of strategic leadership and the ability to manage complex projects. As an effective change agent, you will have excellent communication, influencing and relationship building skills with the ability to work across traditional boundaries. In commissioning and providing improvement support, you will have the ability to interpret data and an understanding of evidence based approaches to reducing alcohol harm.

This post is based in Nottingham, with some expectation of travel within the region and to Department of Health offices in London. Informal discussion for this post is encouraged, please contact Kath Childs, Senior Public Health Specialist Manager on 0115 971 4786. For an offline application please call 0116 295 1173 and quote the vacancy reference or you can access further details here, quoting reference: 592-WCCS-0241-B