Substance Use Practitioner - Surrey Youth Justice Service

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We achieve this in two ways: firstly, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services; secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help.

Our Young People and Families (YPF) hub provides early intervention, targeted and specialist support services to those in crisis, leaving care, missing from home or with substance misuse or mental health problems. Our services support people no matter what their situation – and have demonstrated a high success rate.

We are seeking a driven and enthusiastic practitioner to join Catch22 Surrey Young People’s Substance Use Service (SYPSUS). This role will be seconded from Catch22 to Surrey Youth Justice Service (SYJS), based within the centralised YJS. Ideally, we require practitioners to have relevant experience in delivering specialist substance misuse interventions to children and young people, as well as the wider experience of associated risk factors. However, we would encourage applications from qualified youth and community workers who have experience of working with vulnerable young people with complex needs.

You must be able to demonstrate:

• The skills to deliver therapeutic interventions, such as brief solution focused interventions, and motivational interviewing.
• Contributing to systemic practice.
• Abilities to assess and identify early indicators of risk.

You will need:

• A relevant qualification such as youth work, counselling, or relevant experience of therapeutic delivery, and alternative suitable qualifications.
• At least three years’ experience of treatment delivery with young people and families within the relevant fields.
• Good communication, organisational and ICT skills.

Responsibilities:

• To work alongside Surrey Youth Justice Service, as part of the virtual health team contributing to the health pre-assessment pathway and health action plan for young people up to the age of 18 years, either through direct contact with children and young people, or with professionals, parents, and carers.
• To offer accurate information on assessment and therapeutic interventions available through Catch22 SYPSMS and contribute to assessment and care planning related to targeted and specialist interventions for children and young people with substance misuse issues.
• To provide sustained support to a pre-defined caseload of young people who are referred by means of effective assessment and care planning.
• To act as a link worker between SYJS and Catch22 SYPSMS, ensuring delivery of an integrated provision for children and young people.
• To work alongside SYJS providing consultation and guidance.
• To assess levels of presenting risk associated with substance misuse, and provide support in managing this risk.
• In partnership with SYPSMS colleagues, to deliver training and workshops to support and upskill staff.
• To identify and develop resources to support professionals working with children and young people with substance misuse issues.

Qualifications:

• Relevant qualification in either youth work studies, counselling, health and social care or equivalent.
• Skills, knowledge and experience relevant for the job.

Additional Information:

• Salary: Up to £27,000- dependent on knowledge skills, and experience
• Hours of Work: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent
• Flexibility: Opportunities for flexible homeworking available (main office is in Leatherhead)
• This role requires an up to date driving licence, access to a vehicle, MOT and business insurance.
• You may be required to work out of hours, including evenings and weekends where necessary, in addition to travel around Surrey on a daily basis, and occasional travel around the UK.
• Enhanced Disclosure ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.
• Please note, we will conduct an online search as part of our due diligence checks for successful candidate(s). This will involve a search of all publicly available information online and in social media.