Jobs are being advertised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde at the UK’s first official drug consumption room.
The health board are hiring for two roles, an operational manager and nurse team leader, at the new service based at the Hunter Street Health and Social Care Centre in the East End of the city.
The £2.3m facility – the first of its kind in the UK – is expected to be completed within six months in a bid to help tackle Scotland’s drug death crisis.
The site will allow addicts to inject drugs such as heroin under the supervision of health professionals.
Applications for the two full-time roles with the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service close on March 31, 2024.
The job advert reads: “The Glasgow SDCF will provide hygienic environments where illicit drugs (purchased off the premises) can be consumed under clinical supervision with the onsite availability of sterile injecting equipment, advice on injecting technique, overdose assistance, on-site health & social service.
“As well as responding to medical problems and emergencies that arise from injecting drug use, we will provide a range of other health and psychosocial interventions, as well as linking with services in the third sector
“It is anticipated that benefits will include engagement with people who use drugs in vicinity, reduce drug-related health harms, reduce infectious disease transmission, increase access to treatment, care, and support services, reduce stigma and supporting vulnerable people to engage with appropriate services.
“This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a unique new service, the first of its kind in Scotland, and indeed the UK.
STV News“The Safer Drug Consumption Facility will provide a welcoming, clean, and compassionate service to people who are injecting drugs.
“The service will run over seven days, between 9am and 9am, 365 days per year.
“We will have a multi-disciplinary team to provide support as required to those using the facility. We will provide a range of health and psychosocial interventions, as well as linking with services in the third sector.
“This facility will be person centred and care will be determined by people’s immediate needs.
“As a management post, the post holder will play a key role in setting a positive, trauma informed culture and providing day to day management for health and social care staff.”
The Scottish Government has backed the plans but some MSPs have raised concerns about the impact on the local area, including on businesses.
Glasgow City CouncilThe UK Government doesn’t support the plans, saying there is no safe way to take illegal drugs, but said it wouldn’t seek to block the pilot.
Work to transform the centre to a fully working drug consumption facility began on Monday, March 11 and is expected to be finished in six months.
A report by the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said the centre required “significant building redesign”.
Officials said it faces challenges around ventilation in the space as well as “ensuring that any fumes from any substances are extracted from the injecting room booths and do not impact on any staff that need to be present in this room”.
The report said that because the pilot project will be the first of its kind in the UK, there is no current guidance on its ventilation requirements.
Glasgow City CouncilOfficials have sought advice from international drug consumption rooms as well as Police Scotland, which disposes of drugs at a facility in Gartcosh.
Glasgow City Council is also seeking an exclusion that would allow them to attach an external smoking shelter to the centre.
“This will be key to retaining service users on site after they have injected, in a way that meaningful dialogue can take place in the aftercare area,” the report added.
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