At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals on their recovery journey and strengthen family relationships.
- Company: Join Waythrough, a leading mental health and social support charity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, pension scheme, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and meaningful impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community and help others lead healthier lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in substance misuse support and strong communication skills.
Location: HMP Frankland, Durham, DH1 5YA
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Shifts: Monday to Friday 08:00am - 16:00pm (30 min early finish on a Friday)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
About the role
Working as part of a team to provide collaborative recovery planning case management to support substance users (drug and alcohol) across all stages of an individuals’ recovery journey, from assessment and engagement through to sustained recovery and volunteering through accredited peer mentorship. Supporting families and significant others in collaboration with the people who use our service to reconnect with or strengthen their relationships and gain a better understanding of recovery and the impact on their relationships. The Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker will support service users across all stages of custody including transition planning for transfer or release back into the community collaborating with partner agencies to ensure an effective continuation of care. This role is based within a Category A prison, supporting adult men with complex needs. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from men to help increase representation within the team. All applicants will be considered fairly based on their skills, experience and suitability for the role.
What you will do
- Manage a service user caseload, devising, implementing, and reviewing on-going recovery plans and treatment, liaising closely with the full range of workers and skills within the service team, including family members and significant others as appropriate.
- Conduct strength-based triage/screening assessments and comprehensive assessments with service users.
- Collaborate with partner agencies to undertake shared assessments, key working, and interventions to promote individual service user progression from engagement, through structured treatment to self-sustained recovery.
- Facilitate service user access to treatment and community resources to increase recovery and social capital, supporting service users and their families within their local community, including Community outreach and collaborative working with Community services.
- To lead effective case management for allocated service users, families and carers including on-going processes such as risk assessments, risk management plans and safeguarding assessments and plans.
- To improve outcomes for children, parents/carers, and families of services users by reducing the impact of drug and alcohol related harm on family life and promote positive family involvement in recovery. Using evidence-based interventions to address specific needs of families including parental skills, mental health and health and well-being.
- Develop and deliver quality programs and packages of work/psychosocial interventions that meet local need across both group work and one to one format. Promoting SMART Recovery and the Think Family approach.
- Identify and prevent potential harm to service users and others by following local and organisational safeguarding guidelines, including referral to and engagement with relevant safeguarding authorities.
- Support delivery of key service functions through actively participating in drug screening, duty work, access to BBV testing and immunisation service provision, community needle exchange services and the ongoing delivery of appropriate, tailored alcohol and drug harm reduction interventions.
- Promote visible recovery across the service and ensure peer support opportunities are relevant and accessible for all service users, families, and carers. Supporting families and service users during their loved one’s transition within the prison system through, where possible, planned preparation for release or transfer. This will include partnership working with Community and prison-based services.
What you will need to succeed in the role
- Knowledge of harm reduction approaches in relation to substance misuse (where relevant to post).
- Understanding of and ability to implement interventions, including brief interventions MI, PSIs, CBT and ITEP.
- Working with models of service delivery and issues relating to recovery planning.
- Working with best practice frameworks e.g. NICE, DOH, NTA, NMC, Care Quality Commission & Caldicott Standards.
- Delivering 1-2-1 and group therapeutic interventions.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and resilience whilst supporting families intensively, sometimes in stressful situations.
What We Offer
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays).
- Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%.
- Life assurance (3× annual salary).
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay.
- Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave.
- Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications.
- 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals.
- £500 Recommend a Friend bonus.
- Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership.
- Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good.
- Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year.
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please contact our recruitment team.
Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker in Belmont employer: Waythrough
Waythrough is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a strong commitment to impactful change, we offer a supportive work culture, generous annual leave, and various well-being initiatives, making it a fulfilling place to work for those passionate about guiding individuals towards recovery. Join us in a role where your contributions truly matter, and be part of a diverse team dedicated to making a difference in people's lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker in Belmont
✨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 Waythrough.
✨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 Waythrough!
✨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 Waythrough, 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 Waythrough 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 Recovery Coordinator/Family Worker in Belmont
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 Waythrough:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Waythrough! 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 Waythrough
✨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.
