Hostel In-Reach Recovery Worker - Thanet in Margate

Are you passionate about supporting people affected by drug and alcohol use to make positive, lasting changes in their lives? We are looking for a Dedicated Skilled Worker to join our team, working within an integrated healthcare framework to provide specialist support to adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing substance misuse issues. Based across Thanet and Canterbury, you will provide support to service users living in supported accommodation and hostel settings.

You will carry a smaller caseload, allowing you to provide an enhanced and flexible level of support to individuals with high levels of complexity and those who may experience significant barriers to engaging with services. Our approach is underpinned by Trauma-Informed principles, recognising the impact that trauma, homelessness, substance use and other complex needs can have on an individual's ability to engage with support. You will build trusting relationships with service users, helping them to identify their goals, access appropriate services and make meaningful progress towards recovery.

A key part of your role will be understanding the unique needs of people who are at risk of rough sleeping and working collaboratively to coordinate their care. This will include liaising closely with housing support workers, healthcare professionals and partner agencies, as well as facilitating access to primary care and other community services.

You will be responsible for completing comprehensive assessments, developing and reviewing risk management plans and SMART care plans, and delivering structured interventions tailored to individual needs. You will also have opportunities to facilitate groups and use motivational interviewing techniques to encourage positive engagement and support recovery.

Working collaboratively is essential to this role. You will develop strong relationships with colleagues, commissioners and partner agencies to ensure continuity of care and contribute towards the outcomes and targets set by Forward and local commissioners. The role requires flexibility, which may include some evening and weekend working and, with reasonable notice, travelling to other projects within your cluster to provide support and maintain continuity of care for our service users.

You will be an experienced substance misuse professional who is passionate about supporting people with complex needs and helping them overcome barriers to accessing services. You will have experience of working within substance misuse services and be confident in completing assessments, managing risk, developing SMART care plans and delivering structured interventions. You will be able to build positive, professional relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds and use a person-centred, trauma-informed approach to your work.

You will also have:

• Experience of working within substance misuse services.
• Experience of carrying out comprehensive assessments, risk management plans and the design and implementation of SMART care plans.
• Experience of delivering structured interventions to service users.
• Experience of facilitating groups.
• Experience of using motivational interviewing techniques in both one-to-one and group settings.
• Strong IT skills and confidence in maintaining accurate and timely records.
• An understanding of continuity of care, holistic care needs and community services.
• Experience of promoting and supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external partner agencies.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• The flexibility to work across different settings and, where required, evenings and weekends.

You will have a good understanding of:

• The issues and challenges faced by people who use drugs and alcohol.
• The Recovery Agenda and principles of recovery-focused support.
• Safeguarding and your responsibilities when working with vulnerable adults.
• The challenges faced by people at risk of rough sleeping and the barriers they may experience when accessing services.
• Trauma-Informed approaches and the importance of creating safe, respectful and supportive environments.

Qualifications: Level 3 Diploma in Substance Misuse or equivalent qualification.

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 of the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us as 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
• 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.

Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.

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.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

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.

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.