The Post: Project Manager, Drug and Alcohol Services, Extern
The Post Holder: Lauren McCann
The most rewarding part of the job is seeing people turn their lives around and getting involved in treatment which, with hard work, allows them to get their families back, get into stable accommodation and find employment.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I began my career in 2014 in the Simon Community where I worked for four years in a homeless hostel as a project worker. I became very interested in the area of harm reduction – which is a way of helping someone to reduce the impact that drugs or alcohol can have on their health, but in a safe and manageable way – and was given the opportunity to complete numerous courses on the subject. I then spent four years as a project worker with Extern’s Low Threshold Service, which focuses on early intervention and harm reduction for people who misuse substances, of which I am now the manager. I am currently managing the Southern Low Threshold Team, Belfast Drug and Alcohol Connections Service and am a member of the Southern Trust Step 2 Partnership, all of which are funded by the Public Health Agency.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Health and Social Care was a subject I particularly enjoyed because it allowed me to study and identify the needs in society. I was allowed to complete two placements for this – one in a school and one in a hospital – and it ignited my passion for working within this sector.
Did you go on to Further/Higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
I completed a BSc Hons in Psychology at the University of Ulster Coleraine. I’m currently completing a PgDip in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders at Queen’s University Belfast through a bursary from the Public Health Agency and will hopefully be graduating next January.
How did you get into your area of work?
I’ve always had an interest in working with those that are most vulnerable in our society. I also had a friend who worked with people who are homeless and he encouraged me to apply for my first job within the Simon hostel.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Very much so, yes. I’ve always felt a great sense of empathy towards others and have been very aware of the needs that exist to help people with problem substance use within my local community and the barriers they face with getting support and treatment. I felt that I wanted to do what I could to support them too.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Yes, there is a requirement for both the Connections and the Low Threshold Services to have a minimum of an NVQ Level 4 in a relevant field e.g. Health and Social Care or Social Work, and at least one year’s relevant experience working in the field of substance use.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
Yes, there are opportunities within Extern to volunteer for our services and to do bank work. We’re also the leading provider of student social work placements in the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland, so that’s another pathway into working with us.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
This can be a very challenging area of work, so you need to be empathetic, respectful, professional and compassionate. These are the main values I and my teams strive to uphold.
What does a typical day entail?
As an outreach service, the Low Threshold team make appointments with service users with varying degrees of alcohol and substance use and visit them where they are most comfortable – that could be in their homes or somewhere like a café. They provide one-to-one harm reduction interventions such as putting in place alcohol management plans or carrying out needle exchange.
The Connections Service works within the local community, organising events to signpost to drug and alcohol supports in the area and responding to the needs of the local community by providing information sessions and highlighting health campaigns throughout the year such as Dry January/ Feelgood February and Alcohol Awareness Week.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
For me, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing people turn their lives around and getting involved in treatment which, with hard work, allows them to get their families back, get into stable accommodation and find employment. The most challenging part of the role is the nature of the complex lives we work with and what comes with that. We regularly come across safeguarding concerns and have to intervene in crisis situations which can be upsetting and difficult to manage.
Why is what you do important?
Without our services many people wouldn’t be given the opportunity to take back control of their lives. The work my colleagues and I do also reduces risk and gives people who are using substances or alcohol to dangerous levels a chance to remain safe and to develop a trusting relationship where they know they are not alone.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
This line of work is very much a vocation, and not just a job. So, if you have a strong sense of compassion and want to give people a sense of ownership and value, then this is the line of work for you.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
I would love to work with animals.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Take your time, you can’t win every battle and lean on your colleagues and your management for support and guidance.
Describe your ideal day off.
I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, so my ideal day off is taking her somewhere for the day and making memories.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Looking for a job description that excites you, then checking to ensure you meet the requirements. You need to ensure you fill in the application fully to evidence how you meet the criteria. These kinds of details really do matter!
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