Complex Needs Recovery Worker

Society of St James; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Buying additional annual leave

Comprehensive induction and training

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted laptops and computers

Job summary

Society of St James (SSJ) in Portsmouth is seeking a Complex Needs Recovery Worker for the Homeless Drug and Alcohol Team. The role involves case management and psychologically informed interventions for people who are homeless or in interim accommodation, using drugs or alcohol.

The team operates 7 days per week, including some weekends and bank holidays. The ideal candidate will manage a small caseload, conduct assessments, coordinate treatment access, and work in partnership with other

Qualifications

• Caseload management with a small number of service users.
• Strength-based assessments and recovery planning.
• Co-ordinate access to detox or residential treatment.
• Signpost to other services and referrals as needed.
• Monitor individual recovery plans for continuity of support.

Responsibilities

• Work intensively with a small caseload to identify and overcome barriers to change.
• Carry out strength-based assessments and co-develop recovery plans.
• Collaborate with the Recovery Hub and PCC Housing Needs to optimize accommodation provisions.
• Arrange access to detox and residential treatment when appropriate.
• Coordinate referrals and signpost to Portsmouth services.
• Monitor progress of recovery plans and ensure continuity of support.
• Work with agencies to achieve the best outcomes for service users.

Skills

Caseload management

Strength-based assessment

Substitute prescriptions

Housing needs coordination

Detox and residential referrals

Referrals and signposting

Recovery planning monitoring

Partnership working

Job description

Employment Type

Permanent

Application Start Date

05-10-2026

Application End Date

26-10-2026

Location

Portsmouth

State/County

Hampshire

PO1 2DX

Country

United Kingdom

Work Style

On-site

Non-profit charitable organisations

Description

Complex Needs Recovery Worker

Homeless Drug and Alcohol Team

Portsmouth

Salary Scale 22-26 (£ 26,986 - £30,561 per annum)

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and/or poor mental ill health. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Role

The Homeless Drug and Alcohol Team is a project funded to meet the needs of people who are homeless or living in interim accommodations, and who are using drugs and/or alcohol. The service has been established to fill gaps in existing service provision and to make substance use treatment more accessible for those who find it difficult to access mainstream services.

The role will provide case management and offer psychologically informed interventions to service users within existing accommodation services. The interventions will be aimed at supporting people to increase awareness of their behaviour and its impact on their quality of life, increase their motivation to make behaviour changes and support them to access specialist medical and psychological interventions where appropriate.

The team will be operating 7 days per week including some weekends, evenings and bank holidays.

The Ideal Candidate

• Work intensively and consistently with a small caseload of people, supporting them to identify and overcome barriers to change and improve their quality of life.
• Carry out strength-based assessments and co-develop individual recovery plans to assist move on.
• Work alongside the Recovery Hub to case manage and support clients on substitute prescriptions
• Work closely with the PCC Housing Needs and Advice team to ensure that current accommodation provisions are optimal for the clients.
• Arrange and co-ordinate clients’ access to detox and residential treatment where appropriate.
• Make referrals where appropriate and /or signpost service users to other services in Portsmouth.
• Be responsible for the ongoing monitoring of individual recovery plans for people on your case load including liaising with colleagues across the service to ensure that service users receive continuity of support.
• Work in partnership with colleagues and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, to provide effective support and achieve the best outcomes for service users.

What we can offer you

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Company cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme

• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Employer pension contributions via salary sacrifice
• Flexible working opportunities
• Counselling, financial, personal support, and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme

SSJ are an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.

Please note that CV's alone will not be considered during shortlisting.

Interview date: Monday 2 nd November 2026

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments

Do you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process? * Required

If yes (you required reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process) - please provide details of your request below...

Subject to disciplinary process

Have you been subject to misconduct investigations or formal disciplinary procedures in any of your previous employment? Please provide details.

Have you been subject to misconduct investigations or formal disciplinary procedures in any of your previous employment? Please provide details. * Required

If 'yes' (you have been subject to misconduct investigations or formal disciplinary procedures in any of your previous employment) Please provide details below.

Right to work in the UK

Do you currently have the legal right to work in the UK?

Do you currently have the legal right to work in the UK? * Required

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Date of Birth*

Sexual Orientation*

Do you consider yourself to have a disability, impairment or condition?*

Do you have caring responsibilities?*

Do you look after or care for someone with long term physical or mental ill health caused by disability or age (not in a paid capacity)?*