Trainee Recovery Worker - Gillingham in Medway

Looking to start a rewarding career where you can make a real difference? We are looking for a passionate and motivated Trainee Recovery Worker to join our team in Medway on a 35-hour per week, 12-month fixed term contract. This is an exciting opportunity to start a rewarding career supporting individuals on their recovery journey while gaining hands-on experience and working towards a recognised qualification (subject to eligibility criteria).

Throughout the traineeship, you will receive full support, mentoring, supervision, and regular reviews to help you develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the role. You will shadow experienced team members, gain practical experience, and learn how to support service users in a professional and compassionate environment.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Supporting service users through tailored recovery plans
• Assisting with assessments, risk reviews, and treatment interventions
• Co-facilitating group sessions and recovery programmes
• Working closely with partner agencies and multidisciplinary teams
• Helping clients access clinical and community-based support
• Maintaining accurate records, data collection, and reporting
• Developing skills in case management and client support

What We Are Looking For:

• A genuine passion for supporting people and improving lives
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to learn and develop professionally
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment
• Commitment to completing the traineeship and associated learning

If you are ready to build a meaningful career where you can make a real difference every day, we would love to hear from you.

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 of the employees who work for us is 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 of 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 Forward's commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work:

Dependent on the 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 follows safer recruitment practices and supports a culture of openness and accountability.