Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I am a Commissioning Officer and work across all three areas of drugs, alcohol and domestic abuse. I am responsible for performance managing commissioned treatment services, leading on alcohol related initiatives and publicity campaigns, contributing to updating wider performance targets across the city that the work of the team influences, as well as working on Domestic Homicide Reviews which is a statutory process put in place in 2011 by the Home Office to review the circumstances/input of agencies in any case where a death has occurred in a domestic setting which is non-accidental.

Primarily office based, though often required to attend various strategic and operational meetings across drug, alcohol and domestic abuse services. Representing the team on regional commissioner forum groups. Visiting providers in the course of performance management and providing one to one contact with managers of treatment services.

The subject matter of drugs, alcohol and domestic abuse are ones in which I am extremely interested in and find treatment of addiction and new developments to be of interest, as well as being able to use my experience of providing one to one support to vulnerable substance misusing individuals to help design services to treat them.

There are a number of challenges ranging from the commissioning of services in a difficult financial time, as well as the more emotionally difficult aspects of the job, such as working on domestic homicide reveiws. This can involve scrutiny of the situations people found themselves in before being killed and can be distressing.

Immediately post graduation I took a job as a Project Worker in a high intensity supported accommodation unit for individuals with substance misuse problems, mental health problems and offending behaviour. I spent 4 years at this project, working for the last year into the Manager's role, and felt that using that experience at a strategic level would be the next step in terms of working in this field.

Predominantly the knowledge of working with substance misusers that I gained in my first job post graduation. However, I have since completed an NVQ Level 4 Registered Manager's Award and a Certificate in Purchasing for Public Care (substance misuse) which is one unit of a master's qualification. All of this was given an excellent grounding by my undergraduate qualification in Sociological Studies.

A number of specific training courses such as about how to write an overview report for Domestic Homicide Reviews and commissioning, contract management. Main training has been the Certificate in Purchasing for Public Care (Substance Misuse) which is an official commissioning qualification.

Graduation July 2004 - January 2005

Temp work for Telewest as well as evening work in pub - whilst looking for first career opportunity.

January 2005 - May 2007

Project worker at supported accommodation for individuals with MH difficulties and substance misuse issues.

May 2007 - June 2008

Acted up as Deputy Manager of supported accommodation project.

June 2008 - June 2009

Acted up as Manager of supported accommodation project.

June 2009 - January 2011

Models of Care Co-ordinator
Sheffield Drug and Alcohol Action Team then internal transfer to current role as Commissioning Officer and team took on Domestic Abuse in April 2012.

Progression within this field, and would like to pursue MCIPS (masters qualification in procurement) or related Masters level qualification.

Ideally to start working one on one with vulnerable people, this can be begun with voluntary work, for example at a homeless shelter, or requesting voluntary placement or student placements in services as this can often supply helpful links with projects and staff members.