Rough Sleeper Substance Misuse/ Support Officer

Overview

Title: Rough Sleeper Substance Misuse Officer

Salary: £25,700 – £27,500 (pro-rata) per annum, depending on experience

Hours: 24 hours per week (Mon-Thurs, 9:30-4:30 with a one hour unpaid lunch break)

Duration: Fixed term contract starting until 31 March 2026 with possible extension

Location: Between the KCAH office and various temporary accommodation locations in Kingston borough.

Desirable: Have use of a car and have a full UK driving licence

Responsible to: The Bridge Service Manager

Responsible for: No direct line management but as a member of the team you will be required to give direction to volunteers and students.

Role Overview

The Bridge is an exciting new project within KCAH. You will work with individuals who have substance use issues who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness. The service connects individuals to Kingston Wellbeing Service (KWS), the specialist drug and alcohol service for the local borough. The aim is to engage individuals who are ambivalent about accessing specialist services or who struggle to sustain engagement due to chaotic use and vulnerable housing.

Individuals access The Bridge during drop-in sessions which you will run safely while maintaining an element of fun. The Bridge provides high quality support delivered in a strength-based, person-centred way.

You will run a specialist needle exchange, supplying equipment alongside safer injecting and harm minimisation advice.

You will identify the needs of service users and facilitate regular group sessions alongside volunteers to meet those needs.

You will conduct home visits to those in KCAH or SPEAR properties identified as having issues engaging with KWS around their substance use. You may also be required to seek out individuals that are sleeping on the streets.

You will offer structured one-to-one support sessions, drawing up individualised SMART goals and objectives.

Offer practical support with benefit enquiries and act as an advocate when required.

Role Responsibilities

• Run a busy drop-in service ensuring that it is a fun and appealing place to be whilst maintaining safety of staff and service users.
• Offer a specialist needle exchange service, providing equipment with safer injecting and harm minimisation advice.
• Conduct outreach visits to those vulnerably housed or street homeless.
• Facilitate one-to-one sessions with service users using motivational interviewing and other techniques to support their needs.
• Develop and agree individualised SMART comprehensive Support & Safety Plans addressing needs and ambitions to promote engagement with treatment services.
• Work proactively to prevent service users from dropping out of structured treatment and re-engage if they do.
• Deliver harm reduction and recovery-based interventions for service users with drug and alcohol problems and related mental health issues.
• Promote health and wellbeing by facilitating activities and interventions for service users.
• Prevent homelessness by working closely with KCAH’s Housing Crisis Intervention Service and other housing providers.
• Lead practical tasks or act as an advocate, e.g., liaising with GP, assisting with benefit enquiries, or helping complete and submit forms.
• Support and facilitate the delivery of group work and activity programmes using evidence-based and innovative approaches.
• Maintain accurate and timely client records through the case management system in line with KCAH policies and procedures.
• Recognise and respond to aggressive, inappropriate or challenging behaviour per KCAH policies.
• Support delivery of community reintegration activities on-site and in the community.
• Be responsible for key service operations including compliance with policies, data collection, and quality monitoring.
• Risk assess daily, adhere to health and safety legislation, and maintain premises and equipment.
• Contribute to a positive working environment and the wellbeing of staff, volunteers, students and service users.
• Work within the timetable to maintain a friendly and supportive environment, including building security.

3. General

• Understand, uphold and work within the ethos, aims and objectives of KCAH.
• Represent the organisation, raise its profile and promote its cause.
• Contribute positively to team meetings and management initiatives.
• Prepare for and participate in supervision and appraisals; identify training and development needs.
• Notify the Service Manager of occurrences affecting the service, including safeguarding concerns.
• Provide written records and reports as required by the organisation.
• Travel as needed to attend meetings, training courses, conferences and other events.

This job description covers the range of duties and will be reviewed from time to time. It is KCAH’s aim to reach agreement on changes; if an agreement is not possible, KCAH reserves the right to change this job description.

Within the confines of legislation and as a condition of being able to commence employment with KCAH, the successful candidate will be required to provide documentation to prove that they are able to work in the UK.

Person Specification

Criteria Requirement

E

Essential Criteria

D

Desirable Criteria

Criteria Measure

A

Application

I

Interview

Below is a list of the criteria required to apply for this role; please address each point in your application.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge of both the homelessness sector and the drug and alcohol treatment sector and the issues faced by service users.

E

A/I

Knowledge and understanding of addiction recovery, mental health and the welfare benefits system.

E

A/I

Excellent organisation and time management skills.

E

A/I

Experience of carrying out assessments and the design and implementation of SMART support plans.

D

A/I

Experience of delivering practical skills.

E

A/I

Commitment to and understanding of health and wellbeing outcomes; a strength-based approach; a psychologically informed environment; trauma informed care.

E

A/I

The ability to prioritise and carry a diverse workload with competing demands.

E

A/I

Experience of delivering structured interventions to service users and using methods such as motivational interviewing.

E

A/I

Experience of facilitation of 1:1 work & therapeutic groups.

E

A/I

Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems.

D

A/I

Strong IT skills.

D

A/I

Personal Attributes

Proactivity – Quick thinking with the ability to use initiative.

E

A/I

Resilience – Solves problems; learns from mistakes to aid growth.

E

A/I

Adaptability – Works in fast-paced, changing environments.

E

A/I

Confidence – Communicates clearly and concisely with good eye contact.

E

A/I

Team Work – Works well with colleagues to deliver results.

E

A/I

Open to Feedback – Receptive to constructive feedback for development.

E

A/I

Innovative – Continuously seeking better ways of working.

E

A/I

Qualification

Possession of a recognised qualification in CBT, Motivational Interviewing or related substance misuse work.

D

A/I

Other

Have use of a car and a full UK driving licence.

D

A/I

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 6 months

Pay: £17,133.33-£18,333.33 per year

Expected hours: 24 per week

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

• London KT2 6QL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Certificate of Higher Education (preferred)

Experience:

• Substance Misuse: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 21/09/2025