At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.
- Company: Join Waythrough, one of England's largest mental health charities.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, pension contributions, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Fully on-site role with excellent career growth and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care and experience in staff development required.
The predicted salary is between 31030 - 41980 £ per year.
**Location:** 5–6 Burleigh Court, Barnsley, S70 1XY, United Kingdom
**Salary:** £31,030 – £41,980 per annum
**Contract:** Permanent, Full Time - 37 Hours Per Week
**About Waythrough**
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
**Make a real difference in your community**
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
**About the Role:**
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Lead Practitioner to support the day-to-day functioning and performance of our service in Barnsley. This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about leadership, service development, and supporting people affected by substance use. As a Lead Practitioner, you will provide guidance, supervision, and line management to Recovery Coordinators and Support Workers while also supporting the wider management team. You will carry a small caseload where required, ensuring high-quality assessments, risk management, care planning, and recovery-focused interventions are delivered. You will play a key role in improving service delivery, supporting staff development, analysing service performance data, and working collaboratively with partner agencies to improve outcomes for people accessing our services. This is a fully on-site role with no hybrid working option available. The role will require flexibility to work across both Barnsley sites depending on service need and capacity.
**Key Responsibilities:**
- Support the Service Manager and Area Manager in the operational delivery of the service.
- Provide leadership, guidance, supervision, and line management to staff and volunteers.
- Manage and support the development, performance, and wellbeing of team members.
- Carry a small caseload of clients where required, including assessments, risk assessments, care planning, and ongoing support.
- Deliver and support evidence-based interventions including Brief Interventions, Motivational Interviewing (MI), PSIs, CBT, and ITEP.
- Coordinate and support the delivery of group work sessions, outreach, and targeted interventions aimed at reducing health inequalities within Barnsley.
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to enhance service delivery and outcomes.
- Analyse service data and contribute to continuous service improvement and evidence-based practice.
- Support the team to achieve KPIs, contractual targets, and quality standards.
- Ensure accurate and timely record keeping and reporting.
- Promote accessibility and inclusion within service delivery, particularly for underrepresented groups.
- Deputise for the Service/Area Manager in their absence.
- Reduce substance-related harm to individuals and the wider community.
- Promote and uphold workplace values of being honest, committed, and inventive.
**About You**
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent/higher qualification).
- Experience leading, supporting, and developing staff, including delivering effective supervision.
- Strong understanding of evidence-based interventions including MI, PSI, CBT, and ITEP.
- Experience completing comprehensive assessments, risk assessments, and support planning.
- Ability to extract, analyse, and report on management information.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Experience maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programmes including Outlook.
**Desirable experience includes:**
- A relevant professional qualification such as addiction studies, counselling, social work, or therapeutic qualifications.
- Experience working with drug and alcohol services.
- Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System.
- Understanding of best practice frameworks including NICE, DOH, NTA, NMC, Care Quality Commission, and Caldicott Standards.
**Additional Information:**
- Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role (HMPPS clearance where relevant).
- Safeguarding training will be required on commencement of employment.
- This role is fully office/site based.
- Flexibility to work across multiple sites is essential.
**What We Offer**
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
- Life assurance (3× annual salary)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
- Recognition and long service awards via our *Way to Go* and *Aspirations* portals
- £500 *Recommend a Friend* bonus
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
**Inclusion and accessibility**
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date: 2026-07-13
Lead Practitioner in Barnsley employer: Recovery Focus
Waythrough is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a real difference in the community, offering a supportive work culture that values employee wellbeing and professional growth. With comprehensive benefits including generous annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and opportunities for continuous development, employees are empowered to thrive in their roles while contributing to meaningful change in mental health and social support services in Barnsley.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Practitioner in Barnsley
✨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 Recovery Focus.
✨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 Recovery Focus!
✨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 Recovery Focus, 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 Recovery Focus 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 Lead Practitioner in Barnsley
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 Recovery Focus:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Recovery Focus! 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 Recovery Focus
✨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.
