Addiction Support Worker

NHS Scotland; Kilmarnock; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Ayrshire & Arran RADAR Service is seeking a Community Addiction Support Worker to cover the East Ayrshire locality, based at University Hospital Crosshouse.

This permanent role requires a compassionate professional able to support individuals with substance-related problems.

Qualifications

• Essential: HNC or equivalent in health, social care or drug and alcohol studies.
• Excellent communication and IT skills.
• Understanding of drug/alcohol use and related issues.
• Experience in clinical or drug and alcohol settings is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive support to individuals with alcohol and drug treatment needs.
• Deliver brief interventions, outreach, and injection equipment provision where appropriate, under supervision.
• Collaborate with Addiction clinical staff and Health and Social Care Partnership to ensure appropriate treatment and support.

Skills

Communication skills

IT literacy

Empathy/Motivation

Education

Higher National Certificate in health/social care or related

Job description

NHS Scotland

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Who We Are

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland. In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran, we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.

To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website - AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your applicationbut your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand younot an AI tool.

Position

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Community Addiction Support Worker within the East Ayrshire Rapid Access to Drug and Alcohol recovery (RADAR) Service. This post will cover the East Ayrshire Locality Area based at University Hospital Crosshouse. This post is offered on a permanent basis.

Hours

36.00 hours per week worked over 5 days.

UK Driving Licence

A UK driving licence is essential for this role ( Due to the distances covered in this post in some very rural areas).

What You Will Do

You should have experience in supporting people with substance related problems and display a positive attitude towards enhancing patient’s individual recovery. You will provide comprehensive support to vulnerable individuals within East Ayrshire requiring alcohol and drug treatment support. You will be working under the direction and supervision of senior Addictions clinical staff to develop and deliver support for individuals to encourage engagement with services, which is tailored to the individual’s needs. You should be open to new ways of working and be able to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving and changing service.

You will be required to assist with and delivering of brief interventions, injecting equipment provision (IEP) and monitoring addiction related prescriptions, as well as work closely with the wider Health and Social Care Partnership to provide positive outcomes for individuals accessing support. You will also provide outreach support to individuals who are at high risk of harm through substance or alcohol use, liaising with other services to ensure individuals are being provided with the appropriate treatment and support.

Knowledge, Training And/or Experience Required For This Post

It is essential you have a professional qualification at Higher National Certificate level, or equivalent experience, in a relevant area e.g. health, social care or drug and alcohol studies. You will have excellent communication skills and information technology skills. You will also have an excellent understanding of drug/alcohol use and associated issues. It is desirable that you have experience of working in a clinical setting and in a drug and alcohol related environmentxxxxxx

Right to Work / Certificates of Sponsorship

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.

It is essential that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored before submitting your application form.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. When considering if a post meets the salary threshold for sponsorship, please note the salary advertised is based on a full-time contract and must be pro-rated for part-time positions. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks.

Please visit for further information.

Additional Information For Candidates

• You should apply for this post by completing the application process on NHS Jobs Scotland.
• DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.
• Posts close at midnight on the indicated date. Late applications will not be accepted.
• For help to complete an application on NHS Jobs Scotland, please follow this link:
• To view our accessibility statement, please follow this link:
• Please note that our correspondence method is by email, therefore please ensure you enter your email address accurately.
• Please check your email regularly (including junk folders) and your NHS Jobs Scotland account for updates.
• Please contact JobTrain Candidate Support Hub: - for advice and support with any system issues.
• We recommend using the Internet Browser “Google Chrome” or “Microsoft Edge” when using JobTrain.
• Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments.
• Some of our vacancies are for internal candidates only. If you are a staff member, please ensure you update your NHS Jobs Scotland account profile to reflect that you are employed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
• Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.