At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing challenges with mental health and substance misuse in a community-based role.
- Company: Join Waythrough, one of England's largest mental health charities making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, pension scheme, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with excellent career growth and inclusion for all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in your community while building lasting relationships.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent, plus experience supporting vulnerable individuals.
The predicted salary is between 25877 - 34240 € per year.
Location: 243 Shalesmoor, Sheffield, S3 8UG
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240 per annum
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: We’re looking for a compassionate and proactive Hope Worker to join our team. In this role, you’ll support individuals affected by substance misuse by providing immediate, practical help and encouraging long-term recovery. You’ll work closely with service users, professionals, pharmacies, and the wider community to reduce harm, prevent relapse, and help people build healthier, more stable lives. The role is community-based and involves working flexibly across a range of settings, including community centres, outreach locations, pharmacies, and service users’ homes through regular home visits and welfare checks. Our approach is recovery-focused, trauma-informed, and centred around building positive, trusting relationships that promote long-term stability and resilience.
Our Values:
- Honest – Open, realistic, and building trusted relationships
- Committed – Passionate about delivering the best outcomes
- Inventive – Creative, adaptable, and driven to improve services
What You’ll Do:
Service Delivery & Support:As a Hope Worker, you’ll play a key role in supporting individuals to:
- Manage and sustain positive recovery outcomes and reduce risks associated with substance misuse.
- Complete assessments, risk assessments, support plans, and reviews.
- Deliver brief and extended interventions that motivate positive change.
- Support walk-in assessments, referrals, and triage activity.
- Work alongside Recovery Coordinators to support structured recovery pathways.
- Improve wellbeing through tailored support planning and practical assistance.
- Build confidence, resilience, and stronger community connections.
You’ll provide flexible support through outreach work, home visits, welfare checks, community centre sessions, pharmacy partnerships, and engagement activities across Sheffield. This includes:
- Delivering targeted outreach, in-reach, and cross-reach activities.
- Engaging service users and encouraging participation in recovery plans.
- Working with families, carers, community groups, and partner agencies where appropriate.
- Supporting individuals in accessing healthcare, housing, benefits, education, training, and employment opportunities.
You’ll also:
- Provide advice on safer drug use, safer sex, and blood-borne viruses (HIV, Hepatitis B & C).
- Support needle exchange services in both fixed-site and community settings.
- Work with pharmacies and local communities to expand naloxone distribution.
- Deliver harm reduction training and contribute to health campaigns and prevention initiatives.
The service supports adults with a range of complex and multiple needs, including substance misuse, homelessness, mental health challenges, offending behaviour, and social isolation. You’ll:
- Support individuals using alcohol, opiates, non-opiates, IPEDs, NPS, and OTC substances.
- Work with partner agencies to support individuals with complex needs.
- Manage a small caseload requiring intensive, multi-agency support.
- Help individuals access services that improve recovery outcomes and social stability.
You’ll also:
- Deliver education sessions to staff, partners, and the public.
- Maintain accurate records, case notes, and reports.
- Participate in supervision, training, and ongoing professional development.
To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need: We’re looking for someone who is compassionate, motivated, and committed to supporting individuals with complex needs to achieve positive outcomes.
Essential:- NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent), or willingness to work towards it.
- Experience supporting vulnerable individuals, such as those affected by substance misuse, mental health challenges, homelessness, or social exclusion.
- Strong communication, organisational, and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to build positive professional relationships and maintain appropriate boundaries.
- Confidence working independently in community and outreach-based settings, as well as collaboratively within a wider team.
- A flexible and proactive approach to supporting individuals with varying levels of need.
- Experience in outreach or community-based roles.
- Knowledge of harm reduction and recovery-focused approaches.
- Experience working alongside partner agencies and community services.
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: 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 email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date: 2026-06-05
HOPE Recovery Navigator employer: Waythrough
Waythrough is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a real difference in the community, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for those passionate about mental health and social support. With a comprehensive benefits package, including generous annual leave, professional development opportunities, and a commitment to employee wellbeing, you will find meaningful work that fosters personal and professional growth in Sheffield's vibrant community. Join us to be part of a compassionate team that values honesty, commitment, and inventiveness in transforming lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HOPE Recovery Navigator
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the mental health and recovery community. Attend local events, workshops, or even online webinars. You never know who might have a lead on that perfect Hope Worker role!
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to organisations like Waythrough. Express your passion for helping others and ask if they have any upcoming opportunities. It shows initiative and can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to recovery support. Think about your experiences and how they align with the values of honesty, commitment, and inventiveness. We want to see your genuine passion for making a difference!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace HOPE Recovery Navigator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you and how your experiences align with our values. Don’t be afraid to share your passion for helping others.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the role of a Hope Worker. Show us how your background in supporting vulnerable individuals makes you a great fit for our team!
Showcase Your Skills:Use specific examples to demonstrate your communication, organisational, and relationship-building skills. We love seeing how you've made a difference in previous roles, so don’t hold back on those success stories!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining us at Waythrough!
How to prepare for a job interview at Waythrough
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Hope Worker and the values of Waythrough. Familiarise yourself with their approach to recovery-focused and trauma-informed care. This will help you demonstrate your passion for supporting individuals facing challenges.
✨Share Personal Experiences
If you have personal experiences or stories that relate to the role, don’t hesitate to share them. This can show your genuine commitment and understanding of the complexities involved in supporting vulnerable individuals. Just ensure you maintain appropriate boundaries.
✨Prepare Questions
Think of insightful questions to ask during the interview. This could be about their community engagement strategies or how they measure success in recovery outcomes. It shows you're genuinely interested in the role and the organisation.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Highlight your communication, organisational, and relationship-building skills during the interview. Provide specific examples of how you've successfully supported individuals in the past, especially in outreach or community-based settings. This will help you stand out as a strong candidate.
