Outreach Recovery Worker

The Forward Trust; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable social enterprise in Gillingham is seeking an Outreach Recovery Worker to provide support for individuals experiencing homelessness. The role involves engaging with clients, delivering compassionate support, and collaborating with various services to drive positive outcomes. Ideal candidates will possess strong interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to fostering sustainable change. This position offers competitive benefits and opportunities for development.

Benefits

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)

Season Ticket Loan Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Crisis Loan Scheme

Electric Car Scheme

25 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays

Qualifications

• Ability to build trust with service users and deliver flexible interventions.
• Experience in motivational interviewing techniques.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and supervision.

Responsibilities

• Engage individuals experiencing homelessness and offer support.
• Collaborate with partners to ensure coordinated support.
• Maintain accurate case records and participate in monitoring programs.

Skills

Compassion

Resilience

Proactive approach

Job description

Outreach Recovery Worker

Location : Gillingham

Salary : £24,000 per annum

Vacancy Type : Permanent, Full Time

Closing Date : 17th December 2025

Are you driven to help people move away from street-based living toward safer, more stable futures?

We’re looking for a committed Outreach Recovery Worker in Medway to engage individuals living on the streets and help them move toward safer, more sustainable lifestyles.

In this role, you’ll empower service users, increase their involvement in their own recovery, and work collaboratively with partners to coordinate effective support that leads to positive outcomes.

What You’ll Do

You’ll spend much of your time out in the community, reaching out to individuals who are experiencing homelessness or living street-based lifestyles. You’ll build trust, offer support, and help people overcome barriers to engaging with services. This includes offering persistent, compassionate engagement to those who may be reluctant to accept help, guiding people away from street-based living where possible, and supporting smooth transitions from hospital into safe, appropriate accommodation.

Your key responsibilities will include :

• Building strong, trusting relationships with service users and delivering flexible, strengths‑based interventions.
• Using approaches such as Motivational Interviewing to advise and support individuals around substance misuse.
• Working closely with drug and alcohol teams, mental health services, healthcare providers, housing partners, and local authorities to ensure coordinated support.
• Contributing to case conferences and representing the team at external forums where required.
• Maintaining accurate, confidential case records and participating in rough sleeping counts and national monitoring programmes.
• You’ll play a vital role in helping people access ongoing healthcare, reconnect with their home communities if appropriate, and move toward stable accommodation and improved wellbeing.

What We’re Looking For

• Someone who can bring compassion, resilience, and a proactive approach to helping others achieve sustainable change.
• Uphold anti‑discriminatory practice and contribute to safe working environments.
• Commit to ongoing learning, training, and supervision.
• Thrive in a fast‑paced, challenging environment and adapt to changing needs.
• Work flexibly across sites and within an agreed number of hours.

You’ll be part of a dedicated team making a direct impact on some of the most vulnerable people in the community. If you’re motivated, adaptable, and passionate about improving lives, this could be the perfect role for you.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often inter‑linked 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 as an employee, we will offer you the following benefits :

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 × 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 of service and up to 9 % thereafter.

Death in Service Payment (2× annual salary)

Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

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.

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.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

We recognise the importance of safeguarding; 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.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable company, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.