Recovery Navigator - Orpington Probation - On-Site

We are looking for passionate and motivated Recovery Navigators to join our Dependency and Recovery Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of individuals involved in the criminal justice system, supporting them to overcome barriers, achieve recovery goals, and reduce reoffending.

Working within a hybrid model, you will be part of a flexible, multidisciplinary team delivering services across a cluster of community locations. You will manage a diverse caseload of adult male prison leavers and individuals subject to community orders through Probation Services, providing person-centred support throughout their recovery journey.

As a Recovery Navigator, you will complete comprehensive assessments, develop collaborative action plans, and deliver structured one-to-one, group, and virtual interventions. You will build trusted relationships with service users, helping them navigate treatment pathways, access appropriate support services, and remain engaged with recovery-focused interventions. The role involves working with individuals whose substance use may be accompanied by mental health challenges, social exclusion, and other complex needs. You will provide practical guidance, motivational support, and continuity of care while encouraging engagement with statutory and community-based services.

You will work closely with probation staff, treatment providers, healthcare professionals, and partner agencies to ensure individuals receive the support they need to achieve positive outcomes. Accurate case recording, effective risk management, and maintaining high standards of service delivery will be central to your role. There may also be opportunities to develop as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in specific areas of need or vulnerable groups, providing specialist advice and support to colleagues across the wider team.

This is predominantly a Monday to Friday role, working 09:00-17:00, although some flexibility may be required to meet service needs. Occasional travel across London and attendance at Head Office for training and development activities may also be required.

You are an enthusiastic and resilient professional with a genuine passion for supporting people to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. You will have experience working within substance misuse services, the criminal justice sector, or a related health and wellbeing field. You will understand the challenges faced by individuals involved with probation services and possess the skills needed to engage and motivate people from diverse backgrounds.

You will bring:

• Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice sector.
• Strong experience within substance misuse services or a closely related field.
• Experience managing complex caseloads, conducting comprehensive and risk assessments, developing SMART action plans, and maintaining high-quality case records.
• Experience delivering both one-to-one and group interventions using motivational and trauma-informed approaches.
• Experience working alongside treatment providers, healthcare services, and partner agencies.
• The ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and meet performance targets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and confidentiality, including a strong understanding of GDPR requirements.

Desirable experience includes:

• Personal lived experience of addiction recovery (minimum three years in recovery) or previous imprisonment (minimum five years since release).
• Experience providing counselling, support, or wellbeing interventions to prisoners or individuals affected by substance misuse.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the 12-Step recovery approach.
• Understanding of the Recovery Agenda and recovery-focused practice.

Most importantly, you will be someone who believes in people's potential to change and is committed to supporting individuals to build healthier, safer, and more fulfilling futures.

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.

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.

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.