Health and Wellbeing Practitioner in Aylesbury

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Substance Misuse Practitioner to join our integrated healthcare team, delivering vital support to adults experiencing drug and alcohol challenges within a criminal justice setting. Working within a holistic Health and Wellbeing framework, you will provide psychosocial substance misuse interventions and accredited treatment programmes to individuals entering prison who are identified as having alcohol or drug-related needs. The service adopts a person-centred approach, offering both harm reduction and abstinence-based treatment pathways tailored to individual recovery goals.

In this role, you will manage a diverse caseload and be responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing SMART care plans, and delivering structured 1:1 and group interventions. This includes facilitating therapeutic group work and delivering structured treatment programmes where appropriate. A key aspect of the role is supporting individuals through their recovery journey and preparing them for release. You will work collaboratively with a range of internal and external partners, including housing, employment services, healthcare teams, probation, gym services, and external drug intervention teams to ensure continuity of care. You will also contribute to service performance targets set by commissioners, with a strong focus on outcomes and recovery progress. Additional responsibilities may include second signatory duties and oral swab testing to complement clinical provision. Flexibility is essential, as the role may involve evening and weekend work, as well as occasional travel across sites within your service cluster to maintain consistent service delivery.

You are a motivated and empathetic professional with a strong understanding of substance misuse and the complexities faced by individuals within the criminal justice system. You are committed to supporting recovery and empowering individuals to make positive, sustainable changes in their lives.

Essential knowledge and qualifications:

• A good understanding of the criminal justice sector
• Knowledge of the challenges facing individuals with substance misuse issues
• Awareness of recovery-focused approaches and interventions
• Level 3 Counselling qualification
• Relevant counselling experience, ideally within a criminal justice or similar setting

Skills and experience:

• Proven experience working within substance misuse services
• Experience conducting comprehensive assessments and developing SMART care plans
• Ability to deliver structured interventions in both 1:1 and group settings
• Experience facilitating therapeutic group work
• Skilled in motivational interviewing techniques
• Working knowledge of CBT and motivational counselling approaches
• Strong IT and case management skills

Qualifications:

• Diploma in Health & Social Care (or equivalent)
• Recognised counselling qualification (or currently working towards one)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of and commitment to 12-step recovery approaches
• Experience delivering counselling to individuals in prison or those affected by substance misuse
• Lived experience of addiction or the criminal justice system (with appropriate recovery timeframes)
• Previous experience working within prison settings or 12-step programmes
• Experience engaging in and utilising clinical supervision

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important.

Joining us as an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.