Senior Learning & Development Officer – Drug Trends and Emergency Responses
Scottish Drugs Forum
40,937 - 44,699 per year
Remote
Full-time
Listed 5 days ago
JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title Accountable to Salary Working Hours Term Based Senior Learning & Development Officer – Drug Trends and Emergency Responses Workforce Development Programme Manager £40,937 - £44,699 35 hours per week Permanent, subject to continued funding Home-based, will require regular travel throughout Scotland and attendance at our Glasgow office as required. Scotland Area covered Special Conditions Possible evening work National travel About Scottish Drugs Forum: Established in 1986, Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) is a membership-based charity with a mission to improve Scotland’s response to drug-related issues. We influence this through our work by striving for compassionate, inclusive, evidence-informed policy and practice. Job Summary The Workforce Development Team deliver a wide range of learning and development opportunities aimed at enhancing the skills, knowledge and confidence of the workforce who engage with people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs across Scotland. The Senior Learning and Development Officer for Drug Trends and Emergency Responses plays a pivotal role in enhancing Scotland’s capacity to address emerging drug trends and in leading preparedness and coordinated responses to incidents, outbreaks, and clusters of harm. The post contributes to Scottish Drugs Forum Strategic aims by: • Building national and local capacity to understand, anticipate and respond to • drug trends. Improving the quality and consistency of workforce responses to emerging substances, changing patterns of use and associated risks. • Strengthening partnership working between Injecting Equipment Providers (IEPS), substance use services, public health and emergency response structures. • Enhancing preparedness to respond rapidly and effectively to outbreaks of infection, toxicology alerts and clusters of harm. This role provides leadership across a national portfolio of work, supporting workforce development, policy implementation and multi-agency coordination in relation to drug trends and emergency responses. Learning & Development 1. Lead the development of national learning and development programmes focused on emerging drug trends. 2. Develop and deliver training covering drug trends, injecting equipment provision, wounds, injecting-related risks, bacterial and viral infections, harm reduction and risk mitigation. 3. Support the development of new techniques and initiatives, including web-based programmes and virtual learning materials. 4. Coordinate national and local training requests across all Alcohol & Drug Partnership (ADP) areas, ensuring drug trends and emergency preparedness are embedded across workforce development activity. 5. Link workforce development and training activity to recognised quality principles, standards, and Scottish Government policy. 6. Use a range of evaluation approaches to assess the impact of workforce development and training. 7. Support the development of staff across the organisation as needed. Drug Trends, Intelligence & Emergency Response 8. Engage regularly with SDF’s Chief Executive Office to ensure real-time knowledge and information informs high‑level external meetings. 9. Translate drug trend intelligence into practical guidance for frontline services. 10. Work closely with Public Health Scotland, Scottish Government, Health Boards and ADPs to ensure drug trend intelligence informs emergency planning and response. 11. Produce high-quality digital and hard-copy resources to support services in responding to rapidly evolving drug-related risks. 12. Lead SDF’s contribution to preparedness and response to outbreaks of infection, toxicology alerts, and clusters of overdose or drug-related deaths. 13. Provide specialist input to Incident Management Teams and Problem Assessment Groups. 14. Establish and maintain national networks of services ready to respond at short notice to emerging risks. 15. Strengthen collaboration between IEPs, treatment services and related services to improve coordinated responses to drug trends and emergencies. 16. Contribute to the dissemination of best practices and emerging trends through participation in relevant forums. Partnerships, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement 17. Chair the Scottish Needle Exchange Worker Forum (SNEWF), a national professional network with over 100 active members, sharing intelligence on drug trends, supporting consistent national responses, and strengthening professional practice. 18. Collaborate with Scottish Government, Health Boards and ADPs to shape policy and support implementation in line with national strategy, guidance and emerging evidence. 19. Build and maintain strong working relationships across public health, NHS bodies, the third sector and community organisations. 20. Support partnership approaches across policy consultations, seminars, internal working groups, and membership activity. Reporting & Administration 21. Maintain and develop mailing lists, identify key training stakeholders and contribute to communications activity. 22. Uphold operational policies and procedures, and participate fully in supervision, appraisals, and team meetings. 23. Take responsibility for personal and professional development in line with organisational priorities. 24. Provide detailed written reports on work undertaken, appropriate for a variety of audiences. 25. Assist with reporting to the SDF Board, Scottish Government, and other funders as required. 26. Maintain accurate records of work planned and undertaken in line with Scottish Drugs Forum requirements. Provide line management support to Officer’s (where required). a. Undertake full line management responsibilities including supervision and annual b. c. d. e. appraisals. Ensure staff feel engaged, motivated, valued and with opportunities for development. Ensure work is of a consistent high standard and that objectives are met. Regularly review the capacity and skills requirements of the team, in conjunction with the Programme Manager, to meet objectives, and assess the developmental needs of staff. Ensure appropriate development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure continual improvements. To input into discussions about Programme Development a. b. c. d. e. Participate in regular meetings to share and exchange information. Ensure that staff understand and adhere to all internal and external policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines. Identify possible opportunities to further develop SDF’s work. Support SDF’s wider funding activities as appropriate and support the writing of funding applications. Keep the Programme Manager informed of all significant operational matters. To actively promote SDF’s membership to key stakeholders. To promote Scottish Drugs Forum a. b. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of policy agendas and key influencing priorities for SDF through active engagement with external agencies, stakeholders and policy makers. To identify and produce material for inclusion in SDF’s publications a. b. To ensure that all relevant information is passed onto Communications lead. To provide material for inclusion in SDF’s annual reports and e-bulletin. Teamwork Teamwork is a vital aspect to the success of SDF, and all members of staff are expected to: a. Take part in regular team and inter-departmental meetings. b. Cover for absent staff where applicable. c. Integration in wider SDF team. Responsibilities of all SDF Staff: All staff are expected to: a) To demonstrate an awareness and commitment to the ethos and objectives of SDF. b) To adhere to all internal and external SDF policies, procedures, systems and guidelines and to contribute constructively, as required to their ongoing development. c) To undertake other duties relevant to the post and on occasion wider duties pertinent to SDF’s strategic objectives and appropriate to the seniority of the post. d) To actively participate in supervision, appraisals, team meetings and to accept responsibility for identifying and meeting professional development and training needs as part of an ongoing process. e) Maintain positive and constructive working relationships with all members of your immediate team and the wider SDF team, to ensure that all staff are kept up to date with all relevant issues and developments. f) Maintain confidentiality, as appropriate, with sensitive or privileged information, g) including day-to-day observance of Data Protection guidelines. If necessary, from time to time, to work outside normal working hours for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be given. h) Secure premises, including setting alarm, as necessary. i) Have regard for your own personal health and safety and that of those around you. This job description is intended to outline the post at this stage of development. It is not an exhaustive list and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Post holders will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively and flexibly to changing organisational needs. See next page for Person Specification February 2026 Senior Learning and Development Officer – Drug Trends and Emergency Responses Person Specification Relevant Experience ▪ Extensive experience and skills in developing, planning, and delivering Essential accessible training and events ▪ Strong understanding of drug trends, emerging substances and market changes ▪ Minimum of 2 years’ experience working within substance use field, harm reduction or drug treatment ▪ In depth knowledge of harm reduction, drug treatment and public health responses ▪ Display extensive working experience within a relevant sector: voluntary, health or social work ▪ Experience of managing group dynamics ▪ Experience of delivering specialist training in the area of substance use ▪ Experience of contributing to emergency or outbreak responses ▪ Experience of working in a national, strategic or policy role ▪ Experience of carrying out training needs analysis ▪ Ability to use blended learning approaches Desirable ▪ Educated to degree level and/or relevant professional/vocational qualification ▪ Evidence of continuing professional development in relevant subject area Essential Qualifications ▪ Training/learning and development qualification ▪ Relevant professional or vocational qualification in health-related field Desirable ▪ Ability to translate complex drug trend intelligence into clear, practical Essential Job Related Skills guidance ▪ Strong communication skills encompassing training facilitation, producing training materials and assisting with evaluation and monitoring ▪ Evidence of ability to engage effectively with diverse groups with different needs ▪ Proven record of producing clear written materials and reports. ▪ Ability to present information clearly and appropriately at service and strategic level meetings ▪ Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work independently to tight deadlines ▪ Proven ability and commitment to working collaboratively as part of a diverse team ▪ Competence in Microsoft Office and digital platforms Personal Attributes ▪ Evidence of key interpersonal and other core skills such as communication, active listening, empathy, compassion, patience, cultural sensitivity, respect for diversity, healthy working boundaries, non-judgemental attitudes, and an ability to manage conflict ▪ Self-motivated and able to work on own initiative ▪ Strong commitment to partnership working and service improvement ▪ Ability to work confidently with a wide range of stakeholders including people who use services, frontline staff, and policy leads ▪ Willingness to travel extensively and deliver training across Scotland ▪ Willingness to work out with normal hours Work Circumstances ▪ Ability to drive and access to a car. Protection of Vulnerable Groups ▪ This post is subject to Membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme and a disclosure satisfactory to SDF as the post holder will be working with protected adults Essential Essential Desirable Essential