At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families affected by substance misuse and develop meaningful interventions.
- Company: Join The Forward Trust, a social enterprise dedicated to breaking cycles of crime and addiction.
- Benefits: Flexible working, training opportunities, wellbeing days, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in families' lives and support their recovery journeys.
- Qualifications: Experience in family support and strong communication skills required.
- Family
- Connection
- Worker
- Vacancy
Type: Permanent The Connections Service sits within Forward’s Substance Misuse Directorate and plays a vital role in supporting the families and significant others of people affected by substance misuse.
We know from our own research, client focus groups and more than 10 years’ experience of family support that addiction can have a profound impact on the people around the individual.
Families can often feel confused about addiction and treatment, helpless about what they can do to support their loved one, and isolated when that person is in prison or receiving treatment in the community.
The Connections Service exists to change that.
As part of this role, you will help ensure that families and Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) have access to the right information, advice and support at the right time.
You will work alongside clients, colleagues and partner organisations to develop meaningful family interventions that complement individual treatment and recovery journeys.
Our approach recognises that clients and their families need separate, distinct pathways of support, while also creating opportunities for those pathways to come together where appropriate and beneficial.
You will therefore have an important role in identifying family needs and helping to deliver effective interventions across both prison and community settings.
You will also contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of family work across the organisation.
This will include supporting service improvements, monitoring outcomes, collecting and analysing information, and contributing to audit, research and reporting activity.
Ultimately, this is a role where your work can make a genuine difference — helping families better understand substance misuse, strengthening relationships and enabling families to play a positive and informed role in ongoing recovery.
About You We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting families affected by substance misuse and who can build trusting, effective relationships with clients and their families.
You will have experience of providing support to families and dealing sensitively with family-related issues that may affect people accessing prison or community services.
You will be confident working with a diverse client group and able to respond sensitively to different backgrounds, experiences and needs.
You will bring
- Experience of supporting families and addressing family-related issues within prison and/or community services.
- The flexibility to respond to the changing needs of the service as it develops.
- A positive, solution-focused approach, with the ability to identify key issues quickly and clearly.
- Strong negotiating, influencing and communication skills.
- Experience of developing and implementing service improvements.
- The ability to engage effectively and sensitively with people affected by substance misuse.
- An understanding of the voluntary sector and the contribution it can make to recovery and wellbeing.
- A strong understanding of, and sensitivity to, diversity and equality issues.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages and databases.
- An understanding of a range of substance misuse treatment approaches, including the 12-step model.
- Knowledge and experience of using database monitoring systems.
- Experience of overseeing the collection, recording and collation of information, including statistical data, for audit, research and reporting purposes.
- A thorough understanding of service-user-led support groups and the important role they can play in maintaining ongoing recovery.
Above all, you will be someone who believes that recovery is stronger when families and significant others are supported, informed and included.
If you are compassionate, proactive and committed to improving outcomes for individuals and the people who matter to them, we would love to hear from you.
About Us 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 an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -
- Flexible working
- Support for Families
- 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 Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.
To Apply 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
Family Connection Worker in Crewe employer: Forward Trust
The Forward Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome the challenges of crime and addiction. Located in Hertfordshire, we offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, flexible working arrangements, and comprehensive training and development opportunities. Our commitment to social impact, combined with family-friendly policies and a collaborative environment, makes us an ideal place for passionate professionals looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Connection Worker in Crewe
✨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 Forward Trust.
✨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 Forward Trust!
✨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 Forward Trust, 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 Forward Trust 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 Family Connection Worker in Crewe
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 Forward Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Forward Trust! 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 Forward Trust
✨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.
