Substance Misuse Support Worker

Substance Misuse Support Worker who has a good understanding of safeguarding, is empathetic with the ability to use tact and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive issues is required for an Approved Premises based in Bristol, South West England.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the gender-specific nature of this role, applications can only be accepted from women candidates. This includes all women whose legal gender is female, including those who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). Gender is considered to be a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

SALARY: circa. £29,000 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Bristol, South West England

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS: 37 Hours per Week, Monday to Friday

JOB OVERVIEW

We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Substance Misuse Support Worker who has a good understanding of safeguarding, is empathetic with the ability to use tact and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.

Working as a Substance Misuse Support Worker you will play a vital part in the team at a trauma-informed residential service in Bristol. The home supports women as they transition back into the community following time in prison or as part of a community order. With space for up to 26 residents, the home offers intensive, wraparound support from an all-women team trained in trauma-informed care. Most residents present a high or very high risk of serious harm, and every colleague plays a vital role in managing that risk to safeguard the residents and protect the public. Through personalised support, structured supervision and a programme of purposeful activity, the team helps women address the root causes of their offending, rebuild stability, and reduce the likelihood of reoffending — aiming for better outcomes not just for the women, but for their families and communities too.

As a Substance Misuse Support Worker you will be responsible for a resident caseload, initial assessments and creating a plan tailored to the individual’s needs.

A successful candidate will ideally have worked in a residential setting or have experience working within the criminal justice sector and have knowledge of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Trauma Informed approaches.

This is a rewarding opportunity that will allow you to support and encourage residents back into the community with the skills and confidence they need.

DUTIES

Your duties as a Substance Misuse Support Worker include:

• Help create a welcoming and inclusive environment, enabling residents to reach their potential and stop re-offending

• Manage a caseload of residents with substance misuse issues, including assessments, tailored plans, ongoing support, and progress reviews

• Support residents into peer-led recovery networks and refer them to relevant clinical and non-clinical services

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of harm minimisation, particularly for drug and alcohol users, with specific experience in Naloxone

• Train colleagues and mentors in addiction and substance misuse knowledge

• Deliver regular one-to-one and group sessions on substance misuse (e.g., Harm Minimisation, recovery support, CBT)

• Design and lead purposeful activities to help residents achieve positive change, reduce re-offending, and reintegrate into the community

• Work effectively, individually and as part of a team, to deliver high-quality support that meets the organisation’s contract requirements

• Manage risk to ensure a safe environment for residents, staff, and the community, promptly reporting any concerns

• Provide written or verbal updates for MAPPA, professional, and stakeholder meetings

• Implement safeguarding policies to protect children and vulnerable adults within the premises and the wider community

Successful candidates will be required to undergo and pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Trauma Informed approaches
• Knowledge of relevant accessible digital substance misuse Interventions

• Experience of deploying motivational strategies to develop individuals

With ideally experience of:

• Delivery of group and individual programmes to support positive change and reduce reoffending

• Knowledge of local service providers

• Support those with substance misuse or mental health problems

• Deliver community engagement/volunteering projects.

• Coaching/mentoring

• Experience of working in a therapeutic environment

• Experience of working with complex individuals who pose a risk of harm

• Experience of working with women

DESIRABLE

• Level 3 NVQ/Diploma in Health and Social Care or equivalent relevant subject

• Evidence DANOS competencies/ RCGP / Diploma

• Recent criminal justice sector operational knowledge

• Experience of working with women in the criminal justice or social care sector

• Good understanding of resettlement pathways, including behavioral change and desistance approaches to reducing re-offending

BENEFITS

• 27 days annual leave (pro-rata) + Birthday Day off (with the opportunity to buy additional days)
• 2 paid Volunteer Days
• Pension – 5% Employee 5% Employer
• Healthcare Cash Plan, incl. 3 x salary life assurance
• Annual salary review
• Refer a friend scheme
• Free access to Benefit Hub – an online portal with access to a wide range of retail discounts, cycle to work scheme, and additional voluntary benefits
• All meals provided while on shift by our in-house cooks

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this job vacancy, please submit your CV and a short Covering Letter detailing how you meet the requirements for this role to our Recruitment Team who will review your details. CV’s of Job Applicants meeting this requirement will be submitted to our Client for consideration. By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.

JOB REF: AWDO-P13692

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