At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide expert support on substance misuse to families in need.
- Company: Tyre Hill House, a supportive residential family centre.
- Benefits: Flexible working patterns and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a multidisciplinary team dedicated to child safety and family support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families facing challenges.
- Qualifications: Experience in substance misuse and relevant qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 37338 - 44962 £ per year.
Join Tyre Hill House. Tyre Hill House is an aspirational residential family centre providing assessment and support for parents and children who need intensive, round-the-clock support while questions about parenting capacity, child safety and sustainable care are understood. Many of the families who come to Tyre Hill will have experienced adversity, trauma, care experience, domestic abuse, mental health difficulty, substance misuse, learning needs or social isolation. Our aim is to provide assessments that are safe, fair, structured and child-centred, while also giving parents clear support, teaching and feedback. We are strengthening our multidisciplinary model around families. This includes residential family support, social work assessment, psychology, parenting and early years expertise, domestic abuse, substance misuse, and dedicated support for care-experienced parents.
Role Purpose
The Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner will provide specialist alcohol and drug misuse expertise within Tyre Hill House's evidence-led residential family assessment and change model. The postholder will help the multidisciplinary team understand the impact of alcohol use, drug use, dependence, relapse risk, recovery, harm reduction, emotional regulation and associated lifestyle risks on parenting, child safety and the child's lived experience. The role combines substance misuse assessment, direct psychosocial intervention, harm reduction advice, relapse prevention, recovery planning, consultation, staff support, contribution to formulation, recording and specialist input into final analysis and recommendations.
Key Responsibilities
- Substance misuse assessment and intervention
- Recovery planning, harm reduction and relapse prevention
- Contribution to parenting assessment and capacity to change
- Contribution to the Tyre Hill model
- This role is a core part of assessment delivery, not an external advisory add-on
- Safeguarding and regulatory responsibilities
- MDT and formulation responsibilities
- Recording, assessment and evidence responsibilities
- Consultation, staff support and workforce development
Person Specification
Essential experience, knowledge and skills required:
- Experience of working as a substance misuse worker, drug and alcohol practitioner, recovery practitioner, treatment practitioner, family safeguarding substance misuse practitioner or equivalent
- Strong knowledge of alcohol and drug misuse, dependence, recovery, harm reduction, relapse prevention and risk management
- Experience of undertaking substance misuse assessments and developing recovery or relapse prevention plans
- Experience of delivering structured one-to-one psychosocial interventions
- Experience of using motivational approaches to strengthen commitment to change
- Understanding of the impact of substance misuse on children, parenting, attachment, emotional availability, routines and family functioning
- Ability to assess risk and contribute to risk management planning
- Experience of working within multi-agency or multidisciplinary settings
- Ability to provide consultation and advice to non-specialist colleagues
- Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information clearly
- Strong written skills, including assessment, risk analysis and report contributions
- Understanding of safeguarding children and adults at risk
- Ability to work with parents who may feel scrutinised, ashamed, fearful, defensive, ambivalent or mistrustful
- Ability to adapt communication and intervention for parents with learning needs, neurodivergence or trauma histories
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory, inclusive and culturally sensitive practice
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries in an emotionally demanding residential environment
- Ability to use supervision and reflective practice appropriately
- Commitment to evidence-informed practice and continuous learning
Qualifications
Essential:
- Relevant qualification or demonstrable specialist training and experience in substance misuse, health, social care, counselling, youth work, criminal justice, psychology or a related field
- Safeguarding children training at an appropriate level
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to substance misuse, harm reduction, relapse prevention, recovery, safeguarding and risk management
Working Arrangements
We welcome applications from candidates seeking a range of working patterns and contracted hours. Applicants should indicate their preferred number of working days within their application. We are open to considering a variety of arrangements and are keen to build a team with complementary skills, experience and availability. The final mix of appointments and contracted hours will be determined following recruitment and agreed in line with service requirements and the approved staffing budget.
Next Steps
For further information, please contact Julie Elias for a full job description. To apply, please send your CV and accompanying letter outlining how you meet the requirements for the role. The role will require a full disclosure barring service (DBS). Closing date for applications is Thursday 16 July 2026. We reserve the right to close applications earlier.
Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner in London employer: Tyre Hill House
Tyre Hill House is an exceptional employer dedicated to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment for professionals passionate about making a difference in the lives of families facing adversity. With a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration, employees benefit from continuous professional development opportunities and a culture that values anti-discriminatory practices. Located in a nurturing residential setting, staff are empowered to contribute meaningfully to assessments and interventions, ensuring both personal and professional growth while working with a diverse range of families.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner in London
✨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 Tyre Hill House.
✨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 Tyre Hill House!
✨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 Tyre Hill House, 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 Tyre Hill House 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 Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner in London
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 Tyre Hill House:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Tyre Hill House! 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 Tyre Hill House
✨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.
