Substance Use Caseworker (Recovery Lead) in Aberdare

Service Location: Flexibility to work across all areas of Cwm Taf Morgannwg, where appropriate is essential.

Base: To be agreed on appointment

Hours: 37 hours per week. Some evening and weekend work may be required to meet the need of the service.

Reports to: Contract: Permanent, in line with funding.

The Service: The aims of CTM Substance Use Service are to engage people who use drugs or alcohol, and or their concerned others, to access support to make positive life changes. This includes early intervention, engaging and assessing service users, needle exchange, brief interventions, outreach, training, case management, health promotion and harm reduction initiatives and recovery and aftercare services. Barod services are provided in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, and professional manner and in a way that demonstrates courtesy and respect for individuals using substances, and sensitivity to their unique personal situations and experiences.

Role Purpose: The Substance use caseworker (Recovery Lead) will work within the Recovery Service element of the service. They will co-ordinate all recovery activities and the Barod Bespoke Online System (BBOS) within Cwm Taf Morgannwg, to support service users within their recovery journey to support them to move into long term sustained recovery and community integration. They will be responsible for ensuring service users have access to spaces that are well managed, well equipped and well directed to enhance recovery journeys. This post will promote recovery by creating a culture that empowers, learns from lived and living experience and meets people where they are with what they need. This role will also support the Single Point of Contact system which accepts referrals into the treatment system as well as the Treatment and support service, by managing relevant cases where needed.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To work alongside colleagues within the Integrated Substance Use System to deliver a range of substance use recovery interventions to people identified as having substance use needs.
• To support the development and delivery of a co-designed Barod Bespoke Online System (B-BOS) to support people in their substance use and recovery journey.
• To collaborate with people with lived and living experience to develop and monitor the ongoing effectiveness of BBOS.
• To support the development of volunteers and peers to provide recovery support via one to one work and group activities.
• To collaborate with other agencies, including Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, third sector agencies and local authority teams, to provide a holistic integrated substance use service.

Responsibilities:

• To develop, train, manage and motivate a team of service user volunteers and peers to provide high quality support and practical assistance.
• To identify and manage a range of suitable community based venues for the delivery of recovery activities.
• Record the expenditure for activities and support the management team to maintain and plan the budget.
• To be responsible for advertising and promotion of the work through a variety of methods in a creative manner including social media/networks, website, ‘word of mouth’, local advertising and producing information for publications, leaflets and web page.
• Maintain an up to date programme of recovery-based activities and projects, detailing all aspects of the running and outcomes of such events, in line with Barod policy.
• Develop, deliver, provide ongoing support and promote the BBOS system.
• Provide structured relapse prevention support on a one to one basis.
• Deliver a range of recovery interventions in group settings, including structured relapse prevention groups and diversionary activities.
• To develop relationships with key local partners to maximise the opportunities for social re-integration, skill development, and peer/social/family support.
• To record data and outcomes in accordance with Barod policy to ensure the integrity of information included in Quarterly and Annual Reports to commissioners.
• Provide training or talks to internal staff or external organisations as required.
• To develop your own knowledge and practice, attend supervision and team meetings so as to fulfil your role as an effective member of the team.
• Enter data onto the relevant case management systems, such as Palbase.
• Enter data onto all other required databases such as NEO.
• Engage service users via open access at the base, on a rota basis.

Other Duties:

• Contribute to the development and review of organisational policies and procedures as and when appropriate.
• Positively promote and represent Barod in the public / external arena including engaging with media.
• To adhere to all Barod policies and procedures.
• To ensure the undertaking of appropriate monitoring, review and evaluation procedures.
• To undertake appropriate administrative tasks.
• To co-operate with requests from Barod management and administration.
• To take up Barod’s arrangements for support and supervision and participate in all relevant internal meetings.
• Retain and maintain all information (paper and electronic) in line with service level agreed guidelines and statutory protocols, such as GDPR.
• Undertake other reasonable duties as requested, but which may not be specified within the job description.

Person Specification: Ideally all these requirements must be met by the candidate on appointment. However, in certain circumstances a candidate may be appointed who does not meet a particular requirement. This is providing that the shortfall can be made good in a reasonable time, and the candidate brings other skills, knowledge or experience which are valuable to the role and the organisation.

Qualifications and Training: Level 3 in Advice and Guidance (or equivalent) or willingness to work towards.

Experience in any of the following areas:

• Safeguarding
• Substance Awareness
• Harm Reduction
• Psychosocial Interventions

Role-related Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Flexibility to work at multiple locations and flexible working hours outside the normal working week.
• Ability to establish and maintain clear boundaries in respect of personal and professional responsibility.
• Time management skills – excellent ability to plan, prioritise and manage own workload and time in a fast paced, demanding role.
• Ability to problem solve, work under own initiative and able to work under pressure.
• Commitment to Barod values and mission.
• Possesses a ‘can do’, positive attitude.
• Previous experience of working within the substance use sector or similar field.
• Experience of working in a support role within the community.
• Understanding of substance use treatment pathways.
• Understanding/knowledge of ACEs and their impact.
• Experience of a trauma-informed approach.
• Experience of facilitating group work and/or therapeutic interventions.
• Experience or knowledge of community engagement.
• Experience or knowledge of marketing and promoting services.
• Experience of delivering training in a professional capacity.
• Experience or knowledge of managing or working with volunteers.

Role Specific Requirements / Interpersonal Skills:

• Flexibility to work at multiple locations and flexible working hours outside the normal working week.
• Ability to establish and maintain clear boundaries in respect of personal and professional responsibility.
• Time management skills – excellent ability to plan, prioritise and manage own workload and time in a fast paced, demanding role.
• Ability to problem solve, work under own initiative and able to work under pressure.
• Commitment to Barod values and mission.
• Possesses a ‘can do’, positive attitude.

Other: Full, current driving licence and use of a car which is insured for business use is an essential requirement of this role. Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

Location: Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Pontypridd, Bridgend.