Hostel In-Reach Recovery Worker

THE FORWARD TRUST; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

THE FORWARD TRUST in Canterbury is seeking a compassionate Hostel In-Reach Recovery Worker to support adults facing substance misuse and homelessness. You will coordinate care across hostel teams, healthcare providers and community services to help individuals access treatment and achieve recovery goals.

You will work with a trauma-informed, person-centred approach, delivering structured interventions, assessments and SMART care plans, while building trusting relationships with service users and

Qualifications

• Experience in substance misuse services and supporting people who are homeless or facing multiple disadvantages.
• Experience completing assessments, risk management plans and SMART care plans.
• Ability to deliver structured interventions to support engagement and recovery.
• Strong motivational interviewing skills for one-to-one and group work.
• Group facilitation skills to create inclusive supportive environments.
• Knowledge of the Recovery Agenda and person-centred practice.
• Understanding of homelessness and rough sleeping in supported accommodation.
• Ability to coordinate care with partners to access primary care, housing and community services.
• Strong partnership-working skills to build relationships with hostel staff and healthcare professionals.
• Proficient IT skills for accurate records, interventions and performance reporting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care with hostel staff, housing support and primary care services to ensure access to healthcare and support.
• Deliver structured interventions to promote engagement with treatment and recovery goals.
• Develop and implement SMART care plans tailored to individual needs.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to monitoring of outcomes and performance.

Skills

Substance misuse experience

Assessment & care planning

Structured interventions

Motivational interviewing

Group facilitation

Recovery-focused practice

Homelessness awareness

Holistic care & continuity

Partnership working

IT records & reporting

Tools

Microsoft Office

Record-keeping software

CRM/IT systems

Job description

About the Role

Are you passionate about supporting people to overcome barriers, engage with treatment and make positive changes in their lives? Do you want to make a real difference to individuals experiencing substance misuse, homelessness and multiple disadvantages?

We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Hostel In-Reach Recovery Worker to join our team in Canterbury, supporting adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing drug and alcohol issues and living in supported accommodation.

Working within an integrated healthcare framework, you will provide tailored, flexible and person-centred support to individuals with complex needs who may face significant barriers to engaging with treatment and recovery services. You will manage a smaller caseload, allowing you to offer an enhanced level of support, build trusting relationships and help individuals access the services they need to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Using a trauma-informed approach, you will deliver structured interventions that encourage engagement with drug and alcohol treatment, support recovery goals and help individuals overcome barriers to accessing care. You will complete comprehensive assessments, develop risk management plans and implement SMART care plans tailored to each person's individual needs, strengths and aspirations.

A key part of your role will be coordinating care and promoting continuity of support. You will work closely with hostel staff, housing support workers, primary care services and other partner agencies to ensure individuals can access appropriate healthcare, treatment and wider community support. By building effective partnerships, you will help address the challenges associated with substance misuse and housing instability, supporting individuals to make meaningful progress towards recovery.

You will also contribute to achieving service targets set by Forward and local commissioners, ensuring that interventions are recorded accurately and outcomes are monitored effectively. Collaborative working will be essential to delivering a coordinated service and achieving positive outcomes for the people you support.

This is an opportunity to work directly with individuals who may have experienced trauma, exclusion and difficulties engaging with traditional services, helping them feel heard, supported and empowered to take steps towards a healthier and more stable future.

Flexibility is required, including occasional evening and weekend shifts and, with reasonable notice, travel to other projects within your cluster to support service delivery and ensure continuity of care.

About You

You will be a compassionate, proactive and resilient practitioner with experience working in substance misuse services and a genuine commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or multiple disadvantages.

You will understand that recovery is different for everyone and be confident building trusting relationships with individuals who may be reluctant to engage with services or face complex barriers to accessing support. You will take a non-judgemental, trauma-informed approach, working collaboratively with service users to identify their needs, set achievable goals and support them to make positive changes.

You will also have:

• Experience in substance misuse services, with an understanding of the challenges faced by people affected by drug and alcohol use.
• Assessment and care planning skills, including experience of completing comprehensive assessments, developing risk management plans and designing and implementing SMART care plans.
• Experience delivering structured interventions to support engagement, recovery and positive behavioural change.
• Motivational interviewing skills, with experience using these techniques in both one-to-one and group settings to encourage engagement and help individuals work towards their goals.
• Group facilitation experience, with the ability to create inclusive and supportive environments that encourage participation.
• Knowledge of the Recovery Agenda, with an understanding of person-centred, recovery-focused practice and the importance of empowering individuals to take an active role in their recovery.
• An understanding of homelessness and rough sleeping, including the complex needs and barriers faced by people living in supported accommodation.
• Knowledge of holistic care and continuity of support, including the ability to coordinate care and facilitate access to primary healthcare, housing support and wider community services.
• Strong partnership-working skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with hostel staff, healthcare professionals and other agencies to improve outcomes for service users.
• Good IT skills, including the ability to maintain accurate records, document interventions and contribute to performance monitoring and outcome reporting.

A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

Above all, you will be someone who believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to access support and work towards recovery, regardless of their circumstances. You will be patient, adaptable and committed to helping individuals overcome barriers, engage with treatment and build a more positive future.

If you are passionate about recovery, reducing health inequalities and supporting people experiencing substance misuse and homelessness to achieve meaningful change, we would love to hear from you.