Drug and Alcohol Practitioner - FTC 12 months

Forward Trust; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development opportunities

Blue Light Card

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Cycle to work scheme

Pension scheme

Job summary

Forward Trust is seeking a Substance Misuse Practitioner to support prisoners with problematic substance misuse at HMP Chelmsford. You will provide client-centred support, using harm reduction or abstinence-based approaches as appropriate, and develop tailored assessments and care plans.

You will work within an integrated healthcare team, delivering 1:1 and group sessions, and supporting transitions back into the community with throughcare and links to housing, employment and wellbeing services.

Qualifications

• Compassionate and non-judgemental approach to supporting people affected by substance misuse.
• Experience of working with individuals experiencing substance misuse or related support needs.
• Understanding of both harm reduction and abstinence-based treatment approaches.
• Ability to complete effective assessments and develop appropriate care plans.
• Experience of delivering structured 1:1 and/or group sessions.
• Good understanding of low-level mental health needs and how these can interact with substance misuse.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with clients.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary and integrated healthcare team.

Responsibilities

• Managing a caseload of clients with problematic substance misuse.
• Providing client-centred, evidence-based support using harm reduction and abstinence-based approaches.
• Completing comprehensive assessments and care plans based on individual needs.
• Providing appropriate harm reduction advice, information and guidance.
• Delivering structured 1:1 support sessions focused on substance misuse and low-level mental health.
• Facilitating group-work sessions covering substance misuse and low-level mental health topics.
• Providing transitional and throughcare support to help clients prepare for release and resettlement in the community.
• Working closely with internal and external services to ensure clients receive appropriate support.

Skills

Compassionate approach

Experience with substance misuse

Harm reduction and abstinence-based

Assessment and care planning

1:1 and group sessions

Mental health awareness

Interpersonal communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Job description

Drug and Alcohol Practitioner - FTC 12 months

• Drug and Alcohol Practitioner - FTC 12 months

About The Role

HMP Chelmsford is a busy local remand prison, and we are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Substance Misuse Practitioner to join our team.

The successful candidate will provide client-centred support to prisoners experiencing problematic substance misuse, using both harm reduction and abstinence-based approaches depending on the individual needs of each client.

Working as part of an integrated healthcare team, you will play a key role in supporting people to make positive changes, reduce substance-related harm and prepare for a successful transition back into the community.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing a caseload of clients with problematic substance misuse.
• Providing client-centred, evidence-based support using harm reduction and abstinence-based approaches.
• Completing comprehensive assessments and care plans based on individual needs.
• Providing appropriate harm reduction advice, information and guidance.
• Delivering structured 1:1 support sessions focused on substance misuse and low-level mental health.
• Facilitating group-work sessions covering substance misuse and low-level mental health topics.
• Providing transitional and throughcare support to help clients prepare for release and resettlement in the community.
• Working closely with a range of internal and external services to ensure clients receive appropriate support.

Supporting clients with access to services including:

• Housing
• Employment
• Gym and wellbeing services
• Transitional services
• External Drug Intervention Teams
• Contributing to the targets and outcomes set by Forward and local commissioners.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date case notes and records.
• Producing high-quality progress reports for clients where required, ensuring information is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Working as part of an integrated healthcare framework and contributing positively to the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Building effective professional relationships with clients and partner agencies to support positive outcomes.

What we’re looking for

• A compassionate and non-judgemental approach to supporting people affected by substance misuse.
• Experience of working with individuals experiencing substance misuse or related support needs.
• An understanding of both harm reduction and abstinence-based treatment approaches.
• The ability to complete effective assessments and develop appropriate care plans.
• Experience of delivering structured 1:1 and/or group sessions.
• Good understanding of low-level mental health needs and how these can interact with substance misuse.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with clients.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary and integrated healthcare team.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a caseload effectively.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce accurate, clear and professional case notes and reports.
• Good attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining accurate records.
• The ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external services.
• A commitment to supporting clients with their throughcare, resettlement and transition from prison into the community.
• A flexible, professional and proactive approach to your work.
• A genuine commitment to helping people make positive and sustainable changes in their lives.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives. By providing consistent, person-centred support during custody and helping clients access the right services before release, you will play an important role in reducing substance-related harm and supporting successful resettlement in the community.

Please note HMPPS vetting is needed for this role and can take up to 12 weeks. Please also see the job description attached for more information.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Support for Families - We support our employees through every stage of family life by offering enhanced maternity and paternity pay for eligible employees who have completed 26 weeks' continuous service, alongside family-friendly policies and a supportive, inclusive workplace. If you'd like more information about our family-friendly benefits, please contact our Recruitment Team at [e-mail]
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with 'Lived Experience' of addiction, offending, or homelessness. Some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here .

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the 'Eligibility to Work in the UK' requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.