Criminal Justice Senior Worker/ Practitioner in Birkenhead

Change Grow Live are a charity dedicated to the belief that we can make a difference to our Service Users lives, offering support and respect in a safe environment, treating each user as an individual and working with them to find the right treatment and care options. Our values – Open, Compassionate, Bold – guide us every day as we work to empower individuals, foster growth, and help them embrace life to the fullest.

If you’re passionate about transformative support, we’d love you to join us as a Senior Worker/ Practitioner in the Wirral Service! At Change Grow Live, we believe that our team members share one defining quality: they care. We are committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of those we support, creating safe and respectful spaces where each individual's needs shape our approach to recovery and support.

Working as a Criminal Justice Senior Worker/ Practitioner with Change Grow Live is a rewarding role where you can utilise your people skills to make a real difference in the lives of those suffering with substance misuse problems. Supporting our service users from point of entry into the service and through their recovery journey, helping with social re-integration, harm reduction strategies and enabling them to lead purposeful and meaningful lives. This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain valuable managerial experience while line managing Recovery Coordinators. This role is based at our Wirral site and there may be some evening and weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Provide unwavering support to service users from their initial contact with our service throughout their treatment and recovery journey.
• Implement tailored interventions aimed at reducing the harm caused by substance use, either through group sessions or one-on-one engagement.
• Ensure service users receive a comprehensive, recovery-focused detoxification plan, including pre-detox preparation and post-care support.
• Collaborate with other organisations and the community to enhance the recovery resources available to service users by referring them to mutual aid groups and other networks.
• Advocate for the involvement of family members, service users, and the community.
• Serve as a voice for service users in accessing partnership services and support the team lead in driving successful partnership relationships.
• Work closely with service users to facilitate their social (re)integration, enabling them to lead fulfilling and purpose-driven lives.
• Lead on our mentoring and volunteer programmes, expanding the mentor offer, supervising and developing skills of our peer mentors and volunteers.
• Carry a caseload of complex clients, developing personalised treatment journey plans.
• Deputise for the Team Lead when required along with supporting staff.

About you:

• Have a strong understanding of substance misuse issues and experience of working within a similar field ideally within prison/criminal justice.
• Be an excellent communicator, both verbal and written with good IT skills.
• Proactive and able to work on own initiative with excellent time management and prioritising skills.
• Have a good working knowledge of mental health interventions, services, and good practice.
• Be a supportive team player with strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work in partnership with a wide range of professionals, agencies, and internal/external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage change successfully in a way that prioritises the needs of service users.
• Experience of working with people who have multiple and complex needs.
• Understand the importance of information governance processes and commit to follow and apply all necessary safeguards.
• Seek out learning opportunities to improve and broaden your professional knowledge and skills and to contribute and oversee the learning and development of others.
• Ability and experience of delivering mentoring training and supervision sessions to mentors and volunteers.

What We Offer

• Enjoy a dedicated weekly Wellness Hour, access to our Wellness Hub, and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your mental and emotional health.
• We’re committed to your development, with extensive training, funded learning, and pathways into senior or specialist roles.
• Benefit from transparent pay, a contributory pension scheme, and additional support through our wellbeing resources.
• Start with 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), increasing to the maximum 30 days over five years of service.
• Join a supportive, values-led team where you’ll feel encouraged and valued from your very first day.
• Where possible, we’re open to discussing working patterns that help you maintain a healthy work–life balance.
• Enjoy discounts on shopping, cinema trips, holidays and more, along with our Refer a Friend scheme.

Please ensure that when completing your application form and supporting statement, you reflect on the details outlined in the job description and criminal justice addendum. This will help us understand how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role.

Direct applications only; we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy. Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Salary is subject to review in line with the 2025/26 pay award.

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 28 to 30 (£32,002.35 - £34,214.20)

Closing Date

22/5/2026

If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:

Amy Prosser | amy.prosser@cgl.org.uk | 07766406503

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.