Practitioner

Waythrough View All Jobs; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 27 days

Pension 4.5% contribution

Life assurance

Enhanced sick pay

Birthday leave

Professional fees support

GP access and EAP

Refer a friend bonus

Cycle to work

Discounts

Will-writing service

Job summary

Waythrough’s Birmingham Young People’s Service seeks a Senior Practitioner to support young people under 25 facing alcohol/drug challenges and related complex needs. You’ll deliver specialised interventions and work with families, professionals and partner agencies to ensure timely access to appropriate services.

You will assess needs, manage risk and provide person-centred support while contributing to service development and maintaining high-quality case records.

Qualifications

• A relevant qualification in health/social care or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with young people and substance use, safeguarding and risk management.
• Strong communication and partnership skills in multi-agency environments.
• Independent and resilient with ability to manage a varied caseload.
• Commitment to strengths-based, person-centred practice.

Responsibilities

• Assess needs, manage risk and deliver person-centred interventions around alcohol, drugs, harm reduction, resilience and wellbeing.
• Support young people with complex needs including mental health, exploitation and housing.
• Give advice and specialist substance use expertise to families, professionals and partner agencies.
• Help young people access health, social care, education and community services with safeguarding.
• Contribute to the Birmingham Young People’s Service development and share good practice.

Skills

Strong communication

Partnership skills

Independent work

Caseload management

Professional resilience

Education

NVQ 3+ / Dip SW / equivalent

Experience in health/social care or youth services

Job description

Our Birmingham Young People's Service works with young people under 25 who are facing challenges relating to alcohol, drugs, or the impact of a family member's substance use.

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Senior Practitioner to join our dedicated Young People's Team. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience and expertise to support young people with substance use and wider complex needs, helping them to reduce risks, build resilience and achieve positive change.

Working as part of our OHID-funded young people's service, you will provide specialist interventions and support to young people, while also working closely with families, professionals and partner agencies to ensure young people receive the right support at the right time.

What you'll be doing:

• Supporting young people: Assessing needs, managing risk and delivering person-centred interventions around alcohol, drugs, harm reduction, resilience and wider wellbeing.
• Working with complex needs: Supporting young people experiencing challenges such as mental health difficulties, exploitation, homelessness, family difficulties and vulnerability.
• Working with families and professionals: Providing advice, guidance and specialist substance use expertise to families, professionals and partner agencies to improve outcomes for young people.
• Coordinating effective support: Helping young people access appropriate health, social care, education and community services, while maintaining strong partnership working and effective safeguarding.
• Contributing to the wider service: Supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge and good practice, maintaining high-quality case records and contributing to the development of the Birmingham Young People's Service.

Relevant experience or qualifications:

• A relevant qualification in health/social care, youth and community work or a related field (NVQ Level 3+, Dip SW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies or equivalent), or relevant experience within health and social care, education or substance use services.
• Young people and substance use experience: Experience of working with young people and/or families experiencing substance use and other complex needs, with a good understanding of safeguarding and risk management.
• Strong communication and partnership skills: Confidence working within multi-agency environments, building trust with young people and developing effective relationships with professionals and partner organisations.
• Professional and resilient approach: The ability to work independently, manage a varied caseload, respond to changing priorities and represent Aquarius positively.
• Commitment to positive change: A genuine commitment to strengths-based, person-centred practice and improving outcomes for young people and their families.

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.

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

We value the people who make a difference every day.

Benefits:

• 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.