At a Glance
- Tasks: Support service users on their recovery journey and deliver psychosocial interventions.
- Company: Change Grow Live, a charity focused on making a difference in people's lives.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, wellness hours, pension scheme, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team and enjoy a friendly work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the lives of individuals while growing your own skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in substance misuse and excellent communication skills required.
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 core values are ‘Be open, be compassionate and be bold’ and our team members apply these daily to achieve our mission of helping people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.
We are currently recruiting a Recovery Support Worker to work as part of the Southwest Prisons service delivering psychosocial interventions to service users across HMP Portland and HMP The Verne. Our ideal candidate will have the skills and experience to assess and engage with our service users, ensuring that they access the right intervention at the right time, in an approach that best meets their needs. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience of substance misuse issues, looking to take the next step in their career with a charity that will support your continued personal and professional development. This position may include evenings, weekends and bank holiday working.
Where: HMP Portland and HMP The Verne, Southwest Prisons
Hours: Full time, 37.5 per week
Contract: Permanent
Responsibilities
- Support service users from point of entry into the service and through their treatment/recovery journey
- Deliver psychosocial interventions as part of the Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service within the prison estate
- Work in partnership with other healthcare providers as part of an Integrated Health and Wellbeing model
- Advocate on behalf of the service users who are unwilling or unable to engage in treatment
- Proactively follow up with service users that miss appointments to increase opportunity of engagement
- Contribute to risk management processes, including prison ACCT process as appropriate
- Work with service users to support social (re)integration, enabling them to lead meaningful and purposeful lives: promoting recovery, resilience, peer support and self-determination
About you
- Have an 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
- 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
- Able to travel between sites
What we will give to you
- 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each year’s service (pro rata for part time)
- Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week along with a ‘Wellness’ hub and Employee Assist Programme
- Contributory pension scheme
- A great selection of benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc.
- A friendly and supportive team
- Training, career development & progression opportunities
- Refer a Friend scheme.
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.
Salary Range (pro rata if part time) CGL points 20 to 21 (£26,296.03 - £27,165.10)
Interview Date: 4/8/2026
Closing Date: 24/7/2026
This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.
Prison Recovery Support Worker in Castletown employer: Change Grow Live
Change Grow Live is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and compassionate work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and service users. Located in Bromley, this role provides meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth, with a focus on making a positive impact in the community. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, generous leave, and the chance to collaborate with dedicated professionals in the field of recovery support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Prison Recovery Support Worker in Castletown
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Change Grow Live.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Change Grow Live!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Change Grow Live, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Change Grow Live or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Prison Recovery Support Worker in Castletown
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Change Grow Live:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Change Grow Live! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Change Grow Live
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
