At a Glance
- Tasks: Support recovery planning and family engagement for substance-misusing offenders in a collaborative team.
- Company: Waythrough, an equal opportunities employer focused on impactful recovery work.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, pension contributions, life assurance, and professional development support.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while gaining valuable experience in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Knowledge of harm-reduction approaches and experience in delivering therapeutic interventions.
The predicted salary is between 25877 - 34240 £ per year.
Location: HMP Durham | Working Hours: 37 hours/week (08:00‑16:00 Monday‑Thursday, 08:00‑15:30 Friday) | Contract Type: Fixed term until August 2027 | Salary: £25,877.80‑£34,240 (full earning potential)
As a Recovery Coordinator and Family Worker, you will collaborate with a multi‑disciplinary team to facilitate recovery planning, case management, and family engagement for substance‑misusing offenders at all stages of their recovery journey.
Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of service users, devising, implementing and reviewing ongoing recovery plans and treatments.
- Conduct triage/screening assessments and comprehensive assessments, liaising with peer workers, family members and other stakeholders.
- Collaborate with partner agencies to deliver shared assessments and interventions, promoting progression from engagement through structured treatment to self‑sustained recovery.
- Facilitate access to treatment and community resources, including outreach and collaboration with community services.
- Maintain risk assessments, risk management plans and safeguarding assessments for service users, families and carers, using an online case‑management system.
- Produce reports and provide advice to managers and colleagues through meetings, supervision and telephone conversations.
- Deliver evidence‑based interventions for families (e.g., parental skills, mental health, health and wellbeing) in group and one‑to‑one formats, promoting the Think Family approach.
- Identify and prevent potential harm to service users and others, following safeguarding guidelines and involving relevant authorities when necessary.
- Support drug screening, duty work, BBV testing, immunisation, needle exchange and harm‑reduction interventions.
- Promote peer support opportunities and visible recovery across the service.
- Assist families during transitions within the prison system, planning for transfer or release in partnership with community and prison‑based services.
Qualifications
- Knowledge of harm‑reduction approaches in substance misuse.
- Current understanding and ability to implement brief interventions (MI, PSI, CBT, ITEP).
- Familiarity with best‑practice frameworks (NICE, NHS, NTA, NMC, Care Quality Commission, Caldicott).
- Experience delivering 1‑2‑1 and group therapeutic interventions.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and resilience in intensive, sometimes stressful, family interactions.
- Experience working within models of service delivery and recovery planning.
Benefits
- 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 1 year + bank holidays).
- 4.5% employer pension contribution, matched up to 6.5%.
- Life assurance (3× annual salary).
- Enhanced sick pay and family‑friendly pay.
- Birthday leave and 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 the Way to Go and Aspirations portals.
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus.
- Cycle to Work scheme, Credit Union membership and Blue Light Card discounts.
- Free will‑writing service and wellbeing initiatives.
Equal Opportunities & Accessibility
Waythrough is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of the supported issues. We are a Disability Confident Scheme signatory and provide adjustments to enable fair participation. For assistance with the application process, please contact recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk.
Closing Date 22 July 2026
Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker in North East employer: Recovery Focus
Waythrough is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With generous benefits such as 27 days of annual leave, enhanced sick pay, and access to a 24/7 online GP, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact in the lives of substance-misusing offenders and their families at HMP Durham.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker in North East
✨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 Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker in North East
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.
