Criminal Justice Lead Practitioner

Recovery Focus; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Birthday leave

Professional qualification support

GP access

Job summary

Waythrough is seeking a Criminal Justice Lead Practitioner to provide leadership for the Criminal Justice team in Sheffield, based at Portland House. The role supports individuals in CJ settings to promote harm reduction, recovery and positive change, with a focus on multidisciplinary collaboration.

You will work with police, probation, and partners to deliver targeted interventions, oversee assessments and ensure high-quality, accessible services across sites, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience of leading and developing people with regular supervision.
• Knowledge of evidenced-based interventions (MI, brief interventions, CBT, ITEP).
• Experience completing service user assessments including risk assessments.
• Knowledge and experience of the Criminal Justice System.
• Experience with NICE/DOH/NTA/NMC/Care Quality Commission & Caldicott Standards.
• Experience maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and development for the Criminal Justice team.
• Lead and manage service delivery, KPIs and quality requirements.
• Mentor, coach and supervise staff and volunteers.
• Oversee comprehensive assessments, risk assessments and care plans.

Skills

People leadership

Evidence-based interventions

Risk assessments

Criminal Justice knowledge

Confidentiality & boundaries

Education

Relevant professional qualification (addiction studies / counselling / social work)

Job description

Criminal Justice Lead Practitioner - Likewise Sheffield

Location: The base location is Portland House, 243 Shalesmoor, Moorfields, Sheffield S3 8UG with the requirement to travel to other sites when needed.

Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm with a half hour early finish (determined by the service), along with evening and weekend work on a rota basis.

Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £31,030 - £41,980 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

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Lead practitioner for our dynamic leadership team. The role will provide leadership support for the Criminal Justice team which provides support and advice for individuals in Criminal Justice settings who are experiencing problematic substance use, to promote harm reduction, encourage ownership and promote positive change for the individual, their families, and the wider community.

As part of our multi-disciplinary team, you will work flexibly and creatively to establish what is needed to have the most positive impact for all who are referred to our service. Lead Practitioners are an integral role in ensuring an effective service provision for our service users by creating a focussed culture, engaging staff to provide an innovative and continually improving service and provide leadership, support, and development to a wide range of staff.

In a multi-disciplinary approach working with partner agencies such as the Police, Probation, the Liaison and Diversion team, Prisons, and many others, you will support the team to provide a targeted approach for service users, from harm reduction, brief interventions through to structured treatment, ensuring that every recovery journey is tailored to the individuals’ priorities.

What You’ll Do

Implement, develop and assist in the management of services delivered by the team within a defined specialist area. Support the Service/Area Manager to develop, deliver, monitor and improve processes, control systems and work environments to meet quality requirements and contractual needs including KPIs. Develop, deliver and operationally lead quality service delivery elements, pathways and resources that meet service and local need. Manage, mentor, coach and ensure the development of staff reporting to you, including volunteers. This includes involvement in delivering appropriate training, recruitment, induction, monitoring performance, managing absence and appraisals/supervisions. Manage a caseload of service users, completing and reviewing high quality and comprehensive assessments, risk assessments and support plans, including liaising with family members, significant others and professionals / agencies as appropriate. Maintain accurate and up to date records and reports and provide written and verbal reports as required. Analyse information and utilise this analysis to continuously improve the service. Work as part of the local management team and participate in working thematic groups and corporate activities. Contribute to the delivery of company strategy by communicating and implementing objectives and priorities at project level. Take responsibility for Health & Safety issues in the working environment. Actively engage service users in future service design/changes to delivery. Ensure all services delivered are accessible paying particular attention to underrepresented groups. Reduce substance related harm to the individual and wider community.

To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need

Essential:

• Experience of leading and developing people, including providing effective and regular supervision.


• Understanding of and ability to implement evidenced based interventions, including brief interventions MI, PSIs, CBT and ITEP.


• Experience of completing service user assessments including comprehensive risk assessments.


• Knowledge and experience of the Criminal Justice System.


• Experience of working with best practice frameworks e.g. NICE, DOH, NTA, NMC, Care Quality Commission & Caldicott Standards.


• Experience of maintaining confidentiality and working within professional boundaries.

Desirable:

• Driving licence and access to a vehicle.


• Relevant professional qualification e.g. addiction studies, counselling, social work, therapeutic qualification.


• Experience of working with drug/alcohol users and delivering 1-2-1 and group evidence based interventions.

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.

Closing Date: 2026-10-25

Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. In April 2026, Aquarius, our former subsidiary partner, merged with Waythrough. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have 260 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 130,000 people.