At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing challenges with substance misuse and mental health in a community setting.
- Company: Join Aquarius, a leading charity making a real difference since 1977.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, pension contributions, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in people's lives while building relationships and fostering community support.
- Qualifications: Passion for helping others and experience in social care or related fields.
The predicted salary is between 27341 - 29500 £ per year.
Location: High Wycombe
Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £27,341 - £29,500
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Aquarius
Aquarius Action Projects is a long-established charity (since 1977) based in Birmingham with a national reach of contracts and Partnerships. Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough, a large charity that specialises in mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. 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:
Practitioners provide holistic support service for people with needs related to substance misuse, including needs that arise as a result of familial substance misuse. The purpose of the role is to engage people in a variety of interventions, using a person centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes. All practitioners work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, on an outreach basis with a central hub based at High Wycombe. The caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health, social care, schools and justice. A core part of the role will be working with people within their families and community networks to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the person's wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to knife crime, 5 step family work, exploitation, physical and emotional health as well as substance misuse.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Support and build relationships with people, and their families, who have a variety of needs related to substance misuse, either their own substance use or somebody else's.
- Hold a caseload and complete all recording and case management administration for your caseload accurately and promptly, adhering to GDPR and Data protection policies.
- Develop co-produced, outcome focused support plans that reflect each participant's personal strengths and goals. Support plans will be holistic, covering all aspects of the person's wellbeing.
- Co-ordinate interventions provided by other agencies to ensure that the right support is offered at the right time to enable the recipient to progress on their journey to recovery.
- Attend and participate in clinical case discussions, completing agreed actions.
- Engage people in a variety of interventions aimed at increasing choice and control in their lives, using a person centred, assertive outreach approach.
- Support people from the point of entry into our service, through their intervention and after-care.
- Provide screening, co-produced assessment, psychosocial interventions, integrated and outcome focussed care planning, after-care support, and onward transition to other services as required.
- Identify risk, completing and following risk management plans and reviewing them regularly.
- Identify and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns. This may involve supporting and educating family members, making safeguarding referrals to the local authority and participating in all relevant multi-agency meetings.
- Reduce drug and alcohol related harm to people within our local communities.
- Promote the engagement of people's family and foster a wider community network.
- Advocate for the person to access partnership services.
- Work with people to support positive, holistic outcomes in relation to their health and wellbeing.
- Follow the principles of the No Wrong Door Network to ensure that all people who use our service are enabled to access the correct support by referring or enabling access (including getting clients to appointments) to other services as appropriate.
- Act on advice and support from more senior staff as appropriate.
General
Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of developments in the field of alcohol, substance and an awareness of local community needs.
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
- 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
At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of substance use or recovery, and from candidates from minoritised ethnic communities. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities to ensure our services are representative of the communities we serve. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.
Complex Needs Practitioner in High Wycombe employer: Waythrough
At Waythrough, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a real difference in the community. Our supportive work culture fosters personal and professional growth, offering comprehensive benefits such as generous annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and access to continuous training opportunities. Located in High Wycombe, our team is empowered to create lasting change while enjoying a fulfilling career in a diverse and inclusive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Complex Needs Practitioner in High Wycombe
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research Aquarius and Waythrough, their values, and the communities they serve. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events related to mental health and substance misuse. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how your experiences align with the role of a Complex Needs Practitioner. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity. It shows professionalism and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Complex Needs Practitioner in High Wycombe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for helping others shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in people's lives, especially those facing challenges around mental health and substance misuse.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Complex Needs Practitioner role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with our mission at Aquarius and Waythrough.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and understand.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised!
How to prepare for a job interview at Waythrough
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Complex Needs Practitioner inside out. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, such as providing holistic support and engaging with various interventions. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Empathy
This role is all about building relationships and supporting individuals facing challenges. Be prepared to share examples from your past experiences where you've demonstrated empathy and understanding. Highlight how you've helped others in similar situations, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle complex situations. Think of specific examples where you've had to coordinate with other agencies or manage a caseload effectively. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process during the interview.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics, support structures, or ongoing training opportunities. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if the organisation aligns with your values and career goals.
