Dependency and Recovery Worker

Change Grow Live; Norwich; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness Hour

Wellness Hub

Employee Assistance Programme

Training & development

Contributory pension

Leave entitlement 25–30 days

Refer a Friend scheme

Job summary

Change Grow Live in Norwich is seeking a Dependency & Recovery Worker to support the Criminal Justice wider team. The role involves delivering tailored sessions to Service Users on Probation, promoting involvement and arranging onward referrals to partner services.

Applicants should have criminal justice or related experience, knowledge of substance misuse, and strong communication and record-keeping skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in criminal justice or related social care settings.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and health/wellbeing issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with good IT literacy.
• Ability to update and maintain records and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Support Service Users who are on Probation by delivering tailored sessions per an Action Plan.
• Promote carer, service user and community involvement.
• Arrange onward referrals to partner services for ongoing support.
• Support social reintegration and promote recovery, resilience and peer support.
• Create Action Plans matching intensity levels and monitor progress.
• Carry out risk assessments and safeguarding processes and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Criminal justice experience

Substance misuse knowledge

Communication skills

IT competency

Record keeping

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Overview

Change Grow Live Norfolk are a charity dedicated to the belief that we can make a difference to our Service Users lives, offering support and respect in a safe environment, treating each user as an individual and working with them to find the right treatment and care options. Our core values are 'Be open, be compassionate and be bold' and our team members apply these daily to achieve our mission of helping people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential. Continuing our groundbreaking work alongside the Ministry of Justice and the Probation Service, supporting service users within the criminal justice system, we require a Dependency & Recovery Worker to support the Criminal Justice wider team. The Dependency and Recovery Practitioner will be employed by CGL Norfolk's Drug and Alcohol Behaviour Change Service but will be a embedded member of local Probation delivery unit.Where: NorwichHours: Full Time, 37.5 per weekContract Type: Fixed Term until 31st August 2027

Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.

Responsibilities

About the role:

• Supporting Service Users who are a Person on Probation (PoP) in the NPS region by delivering a range of tailored sessions and activities addressing the referral requirements and time frames, based on an agreed Action Plan with PoP
• Promoting carer, service user and community involvement
• Onward referral for ongoing support from partnership services
• Working with service users to support social (re)integration, enabling them to lead meaningful and purposeful lives: promoting recovery, resilience, peer support and self-determination
• Create Action Plans to meet the differing intensity requirements of Low, Medium or High identified by the referring Probation Practitioner, monitor and complete final sign offs
• Assess suitability for group work in terms of safeguarding risk and special requirements
• Carry out risk assessments and risk management
• Ensure that all aspects of confidentiality are adhered to and that consent to share information is a key element to building trusting therapeutic alliances
• Adhering to all relevant safeguarding processes
• Be the liaison between CGL and Probation
• Attend courts and advise of suitability for ATR and DRR's

About you:

• The successful candiate will be required to obtain and hold HMPPS security clearance.
• Relevant experience of working within criminal justice, substance misuse (including alcohol) or social care services with a clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services
• Knowledge of the issues facing offenders including (but not limited to) substance misuse, health and personal wellbeing
• Experience of working with groups or pods and managing group dynamics, such as conflict or challenging behaviour
• Accomplished written and verbal communication skills and a high degree of personal IT competency
• The ability to accurately update and maintain records in a timely fashion and to work to deadlines for the submission of information
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to engage successfully with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Employ an empathetic and non-judgmental attitude towards service users and colleagues
• Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for service users

What We Offer

• Enjoy a dedicated weekly Wellness Hour, access to our Wellness Hub, and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your mental and emotional health.
• We're committed to your development, with extensive training, funded learning, and pathways into senior or specialist roles.
• Benefit from transparent pay, a contributory pension scheme, and additional support through our wellbeing resources.
• Start with 25 days of annual leave plus bankholidays(pro rata), increasing to the maximum 30 days over five years of service.
• Join a supportive, values-led team where you'll feel encouraged and valued from your very first day.
• Where possible, we're open to discussing working patterns that help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Enjoy discounts on shopping, cinema trips, holidays and more, along with our Refer a Friend scheme.

Please ensure that when completing your application form and supporting statement, you reflect on the details outlined in the job description. This will help us understand how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role.

AI can be a really helpful tool when putting together your application, and we're happy for you to use it. However, what we're most interested in is you.

We want to understand your experiences, achievements and strengths, so please make sure your application reflects your own story and clearly shows how you meet the essential criteria and the impact you've made in previous roles.

There's no need to write in a particular style. The strongest applications are those that are authentic, specific and clearly demonstrate your skills, experience and potential. We look forward to learning more about you.

Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions.

If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 23 to 28 (£28,557.79 - £32,802.41)

ILW / OLW /Fringe

N/A - Outside London Weighting Area

Interview Date

8/10/2026

Closing Date

1/10/2026

If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:

Emily Woods | [e-mail] post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.