Substance Misuse Jobs

The policy and engagement officer will play an integral role in engaging with charities and other organisations across the substance misuse field to support Collective Voice to influence decision-makers to improve England’s drug and alcohol treatment and recovery system and to champion the role of charities in delivering it.

Collective Voice is the national alliance of voluntary sector drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services.  We advocate for a system that reduces harm and nurtures recovery and the vital role of charities in delivering this.

In a typical week you might draft a response to a government consultation on national policy, support a meeting to convene and collate the views of the field on a key issue, write our weekly e-bulletin to engage and inform stakeholders, brief the Director on a policy issue before they meet officials in Whitehall, take minutes at a board meeting, or write a blog analysing and explaining policy developments.

Forming a team of just two with the Director, the post holder will work closely with the Director across all functions of the organisation.  This represents, therefore, a significant opportunity for professional development.

Key responsibilities

1. Advocating for treatment and recovery (40%)
• Support Collective Voice to develop authentic, empowering and influential public positions on policy and campaigning issues
•Research and draft high quality influencing materials, including formal policy submissions, briefings, blogs and articles
• Develop expert knowledge in specific areas relevant to CV’s strategy and make recommendations for proactive and reactive responses
• Represent Collective Voice at external meetings and events, including some public speaking
• Develop relationships with relevant stakeholders in national and local government, policy and advocacy charities and beyond

2. Building the field (35%)
• Work with the Director to build our work to convene the field, currently through Collective Voice’s groups and events (online and in person) including providing administration and chairing where appropriate.
• Engage and convene organisations across the field and wider partners to gather intelligence, good practice and canvas opinion to inform policy positions
• Manage a range of projects, setting and meeting own deadlines and managing simple budgets where needed
• Coordinate Collective Voice’s social media, weekly e-bulletin and blogs to engage and inform the field and support delivery of our strategy

3. Strengthening our Collective Voice (20%)
• Contribute to the strategic and organisational development of Collective Voice, working alongside the Director
• Support governance by organising board meetings, writing minutes and papers and communicating with trustees
• Be a proud ambassador for the organisation and the wider sector at all times • Manage contractors and/or junior staff where appropriate
• Work flexibly and pragmatically within the constraints of a small organisation with a high profile
• Provide general administrative support appropriate to a charity of this size

4.Developing self and values (5%)
Proactively pursue formal and informal learning opportunities and create own development plan
• Actively participate in line-management and appraisal processes

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024 we embarked on our new 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to join our London Wide service as a member of Crisis’ Housing First team. Working across London the team delivers person-centred, flexible, open-ended packages of support, advice and assistance to people who are/have been homeless for many years and who have been multiply excluded from services.

Location: Based at Crisis Skylight London, 50 – 52 Commercial Street, E1 6LT with a possibility to work from home in line with Crisis’ Hybrid Working Policy. This role would require you to travel around London doing outreach.

About the role 

As a Housing First Peer Support Worker will deliver high quality peer support in line with Housing First principles. You will establish open and trusting relationships with people who are and have been homeless, enabling them to access and sustain accommodation and enable exercise choice and control over their lives.

About you 

To be successful in this role you will be able to deliver non-judgmental, peer support using your own lived experience of substance use and/or alcohol dependency to support and empower people with long histories of homelessness and who are multiply excluded. 

We are looking for someone who’s values and behaviours align with Housing First’s key principles and can work in a non-judgemental way. You will understand how traumatic experiences can impact a person’s wellbeing and will support members to focus on their strengths, goals, and aspirations.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds. 

Working at Crisis 

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.  

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including: 

• A competitive salary. Please note, our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy. 
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5% 
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave. 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm 
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly 
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website) 

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career. 

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply? 

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 12 January 2025 23:55

Interview date and location: Wednesday 22 January 2025 in person at Crisis Skylight London, 50 – 52 Commercial Street, E1 6LT

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?
We strongly discourage applicants from using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. This is so we can run a fair, transparent process which gives all applicants an equitable chance of success. We want to hear about your own experience and perspectives in your application and if shortlisted, during the interview too.

Internally your job title will be Recovery Support Worker.

You have a good understanding of the harm caused by alcohol and drug use to adults, young people, children, families and society and a sympathetic approach to people who misuse them. You’d also like to be part of an organisation that counts on the professionalism, insight, expertise and passion of its staff to inspire individual recovery for the people they work with. Welcome to Aquarius as a Recovery Support Worker.

We’re part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. We know that recovery can look and feel very different to each and every one of us. But we also know that if we provide the right support, at the right time, we can inspire recovery nationwide and that recovery is possible for everyone.

Right now, we’re looking for a self-motivated individual to join us at our Recovery Near You service in Wolverhampton. This is a substance misuse service that works with adults aged 18+ and is run in partnership with Nacro and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. Your challenge? To provide advice, support, advocacy and key work for recovery plans and undertake elements of assessment and case management as directed. You’ll work not only from Aquarius offices, but also in primary care, arrest referral, hospital and youth settings and other outreach settings as required. And, all the while, we’ll expect you to operate in a way that recognises and values diversity and understands the functional model of substance misuse, the Recovery Agenda and the problems caused by alcohol and drug misuse.

Preferably with a NVQ 2/3 in Social Care, or willing to attain this, you are used to working to policy and procedural requirements that include child protection, vulnerable adults, confidentiality and health & safety. We’ll also be looking for good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and fulfil data requirements. A flexible approach is important too, as is commitment to taking a client centred approach to providing services and working in a way that recognises and values diversity.

When applying, please upload a CV and supporting statement which should clearly outline your skills and experience.

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some really great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities. Learning and development is important to us, and we are pleased to be able to offer a wide range of apprenticeships. We hire apprentices into specific roles as well as offering apprenticeships to the workforce. Anyone can apply to undertake an apprenticeship relevant to the role as long as they are in a permanent post and have successfully passed probation.

This is a fixed term role ending on 31 March 2026.

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37.5 hours per week

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or anyone from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic group.

Aquarius was a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. On 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship merged with Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius became a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind was renamed Waythrough to reflect the new organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary.

You have an understanding of drug, alcohol, and health related issues, and experience of working with adults in an addictions, housing or social care setting. All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Complex Needs Practitioner.

Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. We are part of ‘One Recovery Buckinghamshire’ (ORB), a partnership between Inclusion (MPFT NHS Trust), Aquarius, and Build on Belief providing support for alcohol and drug issues across Buckinghamshire.

We are looking for two Complex Needs Practitioners to join our team in Aylesbury.

You will:

• Engage people in a variety of interventions, using a person-centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes.
• Work flexibly across the community and withing our multi-agency partnership settings. Your caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health and social care.
• Work with people to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the person’s wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to knife crime, 5 step family work, exploitation, physical and emotional health as well as substance misuse.

To succeed, you’ll:

• Have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies).  Alternatively, we’ll consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.
• Be an energetic and confident self-starter.
• Have experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies and health professionals and engaging effectively with clients in a variety of settings.
• Have a flexible approach, excellent record keeping and report writing skills and a willingness to work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, on an outreach basis, with a central hub base at our head office.

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some really great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities. Benefits include:

• 32 days holiday + bank holidays
• Cultural celebration day
• Access to blue light card discounts
• Flexible working

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37 hours per week.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or anyone from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic group.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted. 

Learning and development is important to us, and we are pleased to be able to offer a wide range of apprenticeships. We hire apprentices into specific roles as well as offering apprenticeships to the workforce. Anyone can apply to undertake an apprenticeship relevant to the role as long as they are in a permanent post and have successfully passed probation.

Aquarius was a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. On 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship merged with Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius became a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind was renamed Waythrough to reflect the new organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary

Do you want to play a key role in supporting an end to rough sleeping by leading an innovative team?  

This role is available on a fixed term contract until 13/12/2025 (Maternity Cover)

We have an exciting role available for a motivatSed and passionate leader to join the No Second Night Out (NSNO) team as Service Manager, where you will have the opportunity to lead our Staging Post team in Lewisham. The NSNO Staging Post project offers additional assessment and reconnection support to clients over a 28 day period, ensuring those at risk of rough sleeping can be directed to services suitable to their immediate, medium and longer term needs. In the rewarding role of Service Manager, you will:

• Oversee the day to day running of the service, support and manage a team across the project.
• Work closely with outreach teams, local authorities, other housing providers, landlords and charities to identify and improve pathways out of rough sleeping.
• Provide line management and motivational support to a high performing team.
• Liaise with partner agencies to build and maintain effective relationships to support effective service delivery. 
• Work on site in Hither Green 4 days a week, with flexibility to work from home 1 day.

About you

We are looking for a motivated and passionate manager to lead and support a team across the project. You will have a genuine interest in the overall aims of the service, and demonstrate:

• A creative and dynamic approach, with excellent communication skills, and the ability to build relationships and negotiate with a wide range of partners and external audiences.
• The ability to operate in a fast paced environment and manage a varied workload and multiple priorities.  
• Knowledge and understanding of the housing and support needs of people experiencing homelessness.

NSNO is the largest assessment service commissioned in the UK for people experiencing rough sleeping. St Mungo’s have been delivering this innovate service since 2011, the team continue to use their expert knowledge, learning and proven success as part of the Pan London Rough Sleeping Service to provide a rapid response, and intervention to ensure no one needs to sleep rough. If you want to play a part in the positive impact of this integral service, we encourage you to apply!  

How to apply

To view the job description and guidance on completing your application form, please click on the ‘document’ tab on the advert page on our website.

Please visit the St Mungo's careers page on our website for further information and to apply. 

Closing date: 10am on 13 January 2025

We are working hard to create a diverse and fully inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and we welcome applications from all under-represented groups, particularly Global Majority candidates who are underrepresented at this management level.

We are looking for people to join our team across Camden as a Support Worker (known internally as a Project Worker). Across our services we support people through semi-independent Housing, specialist mental health or complex needs accommodation and a variety of other accommodation options. We are committed to working with a Recovery Based Approach and supporting people to meet their individual needs. Why not join the team to support our clients on their recovery journey by:

• Working with clients to identify their personal aims and ambitions and work towards achieving them.
• Providing practical and personal support in an approachable, caring and person centred way.
• Work as part of a dedicated team to provide safe, high quality, positive and inclusive service to clients.
• Working as part of the dedicated team on a weekly shift rota including early and late shifts, weekends and bank holidays.
• For some of these role’s staff can claim an additional 20% pay premium for hours worked between 8pm and 8am Monday to Friday, and all hours worked on Saturday and Sunday. 

About you

Above all we are looking for enthusiastic people who have a genuine desire to support people to transform their lives.

If you have a good understanding of the complex issues faced by homeless people; personal experience of homelessness yourself and some experience of supporting vulnerable people through a process of change, we encourage you to apply.

If you have good interpersonal and listening skills; patience and resilience we will provide you with the knowledge and training, you need to work with clients in a holistic and person-centred way.

St Mungo's are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from all under-represented groups.

How to apply

To view the job description and guidance on completing your application form, please click on the ‘document’ tab on the advert page on our website.

To find out more and apply please go to the St Mungo’s careers page on our website.

Closing date: 10 am on 10th January 2025

Interview and assessments on: 23rd / 24th January 2025

What we offer

• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• A Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
• Great Pay and Other Benefits

The Hepatitis C Trust is the UK patient-led charity for hepatitis C. The arrival of highly effective drugs allows us to cure almost everyone who has access to them. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.  

We are looking for a passionate and skilled Peer Coordinator who has excellent communication and organisational skills to join the Team. Creativity and innovation welcome!

Do you have experience of working with marginalised people in the community in particular, supporting people from addiction into treatment and health care? Have you been affected by hepatitis C or have you supported anyone who has hepatitis C? 

You will work closely with the University College London Hospital Find & Treat team supporting all aspects of the service, including, testing, publicity, awareness and driving the outreach van. Driving licence essential.

This role will deliver tailored, one to one support and case work to support and resolve both immediate, crisis situations experienced by people and on a longer-term basis in the community. In the main people we support are Irish or of Irish descent including the Traveller Community. However, our services are open to all.

Additionally, part of the role will include working across the project team and wider role of ICCM in early intervention and prevention.  Informing and supporting community-based advocacy, awareness, and public campaigns to inform and increase knowledge and education of the community on how to access help, and the availability of support which is open to people as needs develop. Thus, increasing the wider public and social value of ICCM and brining more service users in to receive one to one support when needed. 

This will attract and support our community by making our services local, appropriate, and accessible to those who mainly do not access mainstream services. This will include advocacy and representative services in order for people to secure welfare benefits, enabling people to access the financial benefits they are entitled to.

This will support people experiencing mental and physical health issues, substance misuse, facing legal issues, those who require debt management, threatened with eviction, domestic abuse, and bereavement. This will be done mainly on an outreach basis across Manchester, supporting people in their own homes, in care homes, hospital and where they are resettled to their home environment.

The overall aim of the service is to improve quality of life, access to appropriate support services and improved health and wellbeing outcomes by acting as an advocate and to negotiate with other agencies, where necessary, on our client’s behalf.

Key Responsibilities:

• To make contact with members of the Irish and Traveller communities across Manchester.
• To provide Advocacy and Support via outreach, accompanying to appointments, advocacy to other agencies to address presenting needs who are vulnerable and ‘at risk’ through age, poor physical or mental health, homelessness, risk of homelessness, drug and alcohol use, offending, abuse, and social and cultural isolation.
• Undertake an initial assessment of service users’ needs, presenting issues and risks and to develop a care plan working alongside other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• To offer comprehensive information, advocacy, advice and support services to our community to meet individual needs and achieve positive outcomes.
• Make referrals to statutory and community and voluntary organisations working in partnership to achieve the best level of care and support.
• Develop care plans in order to improve the health of our communities, working with service users and relevant agencies
• To attend and participate in meetings and forums highlighting community issues, cultural needs and experiences.
• To support volunteers and students at ICCM. Volunteers will also support service users to meet presenting needs as highlighted in the assessment and care plan.
• To maintain accurate and up to date records of all areas of work.
• To closely monitor progress of work and report this to your line manager.
• To present accurate and clear reports on all cases as requested by the Advocacy & Advice Manager.
• Attend appropriate networking and training opportunities for personal and professional development.
• To attend and participate in team meetings.
• To participate and engage in supervision and appraisal provided by your line manager.
• To attend conferences and seminars locally, regionally and nationally as directed by line manager.
• To promote the work of ICCM as requested by your line manager.
• To work as an accountable member of the staff team, working within the Charity's policies and procedures
• It is the nature of the work at ICCM that staff are expected to work in a flexible way, when the occasion arises, when tasks not specifically covered in their job have to be undertaken for the benefit of our beneficiaries.
• To ensure you fully embrace ICCM’s values in all your work:

Our client is the UK’s only theatre company and participatory arts charity focused on addiction. They develop, nurture and produce new writing and performances that are related to substance. For the very first time, they are recruiting a new Senior Development Manager and Prospectus are pleased to be leading the search.

The Senior Development Manager will lead the development and delivery of fundraising and income generation across a range of revenue streams, including trusts, foundations, corporate partners and individuals. The Senior Development Manager will take a proactive response to managing pre-exiting relationships with funders and use previously produced fundraising scoping exercises to develop new relationships with fundraisers.

The selected candidate will ideally be considering the next step in their fundraising career and would be looking to take on more responsibility in a fundraising-friendly environment. You will be supported directly by the CEO and Development Committee, made up of expert fundraising leaders and so the selected candidate will be someone willing to learn and jump in to managing a wide portfolio.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.      
 
 In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon. 

You have an understanding of drug, alcohol, and health related issues, and experience of working with adults in an addictions, housing or social care setting. All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Complex Needs Practitioner (Recovery Worker).

Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. We have over 40 years’ experience of providing evidence-based, high quality services that help change behaviour and change lives. We are part of ‘One Recovery Buckinghamshire’ (ORB), a partnership between Inclusion (MPFT NHS Trust), Aquarius, and Build on Belief providing support for alcohol and drug issues across Buckinghamshire.

We are looking for two Complex Needs Practitioners (Recovery Worker) to join our team in High Wycombe.

You will:

• Engage people in a variety of interventions, using a person-centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes.
• Work flexibly across the community and withing our multi-agency partnership settings. Your caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health and social care.
• Work with people to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the person’s wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to physical and emotional health, meaningful use of time, family and relationships, community engagement and activities, accommodation, physical and emotional health, offending and substance misuse.

To succeed, you’ll:

• Have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies).  Alternatively, we’ll consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.
• Be an energetic and confident self-starter.
• Have experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies and health professionals and engaging effectively with clients in a variety of settings.
• Have a flexible approach, excellent record keeping and report writing skills and a willingness to work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, on an outreach basis, with a central hub base at our head office.

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some really great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities. Benefits include:

• 32 days holiday + bank holidays
• Cultural celebration day
• Access to blue light card discounts
• Flexible working

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37 hours per week.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or anyone from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic group.

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted. 

Learning and development is important to us, and we are pleased to be able to offer a wide range of apprenticeships. We hire apprentices into specific roles as well as offering apprenticeships to the workforce. Anyone can apply to undertake an apprenticeship relevant to the role as long as they are in a permanent post and have successfully passed probation.

Aquarius was a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. On 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship merged with Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius became a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind was renamed Waythrough to reflect the new organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary.

Rough Sleeper Outreach Worker

Location: London N15 6HR

Salary: £26,250 - £34,650 per annum

The organisation is a vibrant and growing charity with over 30 years' experience working with individuals, families and communities affected by health and social inequalities across the country with a focus on improving people’s wellbeing. The organisation is one of England’s most successful home-grown charities. They have over 1,100 staff and around 100 volunteers providing services for over 20,000 people. Their specialist services include substance use, clinical, employment training and education, housing services, housing support and health, young people, and families’ services.

The Role

As an Outreach Practitioner you will support people who are homeless or vulnerably housed to increase access to substance misuse support, to sustain accommodation and ultimately move into settled accommodation.

Your duties will include but not limited to:

• You will deliver satellite provisions at co-locations such as GPs, probation, hostels etc.
• You will deliver harm reduction, brief interventions as well as being responsible for the care planning, risk assessing, and case management for service users allocated to you.
• You will have previous voluntary or paid experience of working in a client facing role and using active listening skills on a day-to-day basis.

Skills and Qualifications

• Ideally the successful candidate will have experience within a similar role as well as experience within the sector. 
• You must be proactive problem solver, empathetic as well as motivated to do this role as well as being passionate about delivering a high standard of care to some of their most vulnerable service users. 
• You must me comfortable with lone working as well as being at ease working in a variety of settings.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement (27 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 32 after 1 years’ service)
• Annual leave purchase scheme
• Enhanced occupational sick pay
• Enhanced employer contribution to your workplace pension
• Death in service benefit
• Free Will writing
• Eyecare vouchers
• Blue light card discount
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities, including free training courses
• Work-life balance- flexible working and family friendly policies
• Happy, Healthy You! – their wellbeing offers for their workforce
• Employee Assist Programme and Support Networks

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable organisation, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.

Wintercomfort for the Homeless is a respected and long-standing part of homeless service provision in Cambridge. By joining our team, you will be helping to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Job title: Reconnection Project Worker
Responsible to: Line Manager
Location: Overstream House or at other locations within Cambridge
Working pattern: 5 days a week, Mon- Friday
Hours of work :37.5 per week
Length of appointment: 15 months - fixed term contract
Salary: £29,000

About Us

Wintercomfort works with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or with a history of homelessness. We provide services to aid every stage of recovery - from immediate basic welfare needs to long term help in identifying and dealing with the problems which are undermining their stability, and enabling them to engage with education, employment and specialist health services. National statistics rank the numbers of rough sleepers in Cambridge within the highest 20 UK local authorities.

Today, the charity is the only day-time service in the city, providing year-round advice and support for homeless or vulnerably housed people. Over the past three decades Wintercomfort has continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the homeless community.

About the Project

The Reconnection Project Worker will provide holistic and practical assistance to help reconnect people to the area where they are locally connected, either via a homeless application or outside of the statutory pathway. You will provide clients with a personalised case management support plan leading to long- term housing outcomes.

About You

The successful candidate will have Previous experience of support work that effectively engages individuals with opportunities for self-development, an understanding of substance misuse, mental health and issues associated with social exclusion and a constructive, flexible and positive approach towards working with vulnerable excluded people.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out comprehensive Service User assessments; offer support and advice around reconnection or accommodation offers and enter clients and service offer details onto Inform and other data bases.
• To draw up effective action plans with Service Users and through case management offer support and advice around reconnection.
• To keep abreast of current housing legislation, welfare benefit legislation and other matters relevant to successfully support and enable Service Users to move on.
• To work closely with relevant Local authorities and Partners to identify and assess Service Users for the reconnection service- to prevent rough sleeping.
• To work firmly and persuasively with individuals to explain the role of the reconnection service and the benefits of reconnection.
• To provide as appropriate Service User advocacy to secure suitable accommodation in their area of local connection, or in some other location.
• To support reconnection as necessary for example through arranging; travel arrangements; accommodation offers, family mediation, the initiation or reinstatement of care support package.
• To actively collect follow up information with regards to the outcome of reconnections and report to the Line manager any need/gaps in the key area that is acting as a barrier to successful reconnection
• To liaise effectively with the Outreach Workers, Housing Officers, police and other agencies.

Closing date: Monday 6th January 2025

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Equality of Opportunity at Wintercomfort

We are committed to a proactive approach to equality, which includes supporting and encouraging all underrepresented groups, promoting an inclusive culture and valuing diversity. We make selection decisions based on personal merit and an objective assessment against the criteria required for the post. We do not treat job applicants or members of staff less favourably than one another on the grounds of sex (including gender reassignment), marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability (including HIV status), sexual orientation, religion, age or socio-economic factors.

Screening Check Requirements

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. If you do not have the right to work in the UK already, any offer of employment we make to you will be conditional upon you gaining it. We will ask to see original paperwork confirming your right to work in the UK.

This role requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Any offer of employment we make to you will be conditional upon the satisfactory completion of this check; whether an outcome is satisfactory will be determined by Wintercomfort for the homeless.

No agencies please.

Ref: TCW-24

Are you a proactive, compassionate and collaborative individual with a passion for supporting vulnerable people involved with the Criminal Justice System, gang involvement/ risk of, substance use and learning difficulties and supporting them to progress successfully into education, training and employment?

If so, join St Giles as a Trainee Caseworker in our Skills and Employment team, where you will support the delivery of a high-level service in which you will be responsible for one-to-one customised support that will enable our clients to overcome their employment and wider barriers and make progress with their personal goals and ambitions.

About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role

As a key part of an energetic and highly motivated team, you will be responsible for engaging, motivating, advocating for and supporting a small caseload of clients experiencing a range of barriers, including involvement with Criminal Justice System, gang involvement/ risk of, substance use and/or learning difficulties to achieve set engagement and employment targets. 

Working alongside a caseworker, we will count on you to develop and deliver one-to-one and group activities which are engaging and high quality, while also supporting the caseworker to engage employers and work collaboratively with local agencies.

What we are looking for

• Willingness to engage people via outreach and promotion including liaising with relevant local agencies to generate referrals
• The ability to manage a small caseload and support people to progress closer to the labour market and to support colleagues to achieve overall project targets
• The desire to provide a person-led support service that responds to an individual’s employment, wider needs and aspirations.
• A willingness to support trainers with small group workshops and activities on employability and soft skills, drop-in sessions and workplace visits
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, verbal and written

As an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will require an Enhanced Child and Adult with Child Barred DBS Check.

We actively encourage people with personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group to apply for this role.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

Closing date 1 January 2025.