Assessment Recovery Worker - Canterbury in Kent

About the Role

Are you passionate about supporting people to make positive and lasting changes in their lives? We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Assessment Recovery Worker to join our integrated healthcare team, providing specialist support to adults affected by drug and alcohol misuse. In this rewarding role, you will work within a client-centred treatment framework, delivering both harm reduction and abstinence-based interventions tailored to individual needs. You will manage a diverse caseload, undertaking comprehensive assessments, developing SMART care plans, and delivering structured one-to-one and group interventions that support recovery and well-being. Working collaboratively with healthcare providers, housing services, employment agencies, probation services, and other community partners, you will play a vital role in ensuring continuity of care and positive outcomes for service users. You will also contribute to achieving key performance targets, including recovery outcomes and service quality standards. This is a dynamic role that requires flexibility, including occasional evening and weekend working. There may also be opportunities to support other projects within the local service cluster to ensure continuity of care for clients.

About You

We are seeking an experienced and motivated professional who is committed to empowering individuals on their recovery journey. You will bring:

• Experience working within substance misuse services.
• Proven ability to complete comprehensive assessments, risk assessments, and develop effective SMART care plans.
• Experience delivering structured psychosocial interventions in both one-to-one and group settings.
• Strong facilitation skills and confidence leading therapeutic groups.
• Experience using motivational interviewing techniques to support behaviour change.
• Excellent IT and administrative skills.
• A sound understanding of holistic care, continuity of care, and community-based support services.
• A commitment to promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in all aspects of your work.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and practice.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by individuals affected by substance misuse and the principles of the Recovery Agenda.
• A Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (or equivalent qualification).

Desirable experience and knowledge include:

• Understanding of the 12-Step Recovery Model and addiction recovery principles.
• Knowledge of community support services and the criminal justice sector.
• Experience working in community or custodial settings.
• Familiarity with NHS health and well-being outcomes.
• Experience engaging with clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Personal lived experience of addiction recovery (minimum three years in recovery) or previous imprisonment (minimum five years since release), where appropriate and relevant.

If you are committed to helping individuals overcome barriers, achieve sustainable recovery, and improve their quality of life, we would love to hear from you. Join us and become part of a team making a genuine difference in the lives of people and communities every day.

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

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• BHSF 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.

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with Lived Experience of addiction, offending, or homelessness. Some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around 3 years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances. When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To find out more about Forwards commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview. If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the Eligibility to Work in the UK requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.