Recovery Navigator - Bromley & Orpington Probation

Forward Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training opportunities

Family support benefits

Cycle to work scheme

Health and wellbeing scheme

Job summary

Forward Trust is seeking a Recovery Navigator to support adult male prison leavers and community sentence clients on their recovery journey across London-based sites. You will build trust, assess needs, and help individuals access treatment and support services, using motivational and trauma-informed approaches.

The role is primarily Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm with some site travel and occasional attendance at Head Office for training.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice sector.
• Strong experience within substance misuse services, recovery support or a related field.
• Experience managing a high caseload, undertaking comprehensive and risk assessments, developing SMART action plans and maintaining accurate case records.
• Experience delivering one-to-one and group interventions using motivational techniques and trauma-informed approaches.

Responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload and completing comprehensive assessments to identify individual needs, risks and support requirements.
• Developing SMART action plans that reflect recovery goals and aspirations.
• Delivering structured one-to-one and group interventions using motivational and trauma-informed approaches.
• Supporting access to substance misuse treatment, healthcare and other services.
• Maintaining confidential, up-to-date case records and coordinating with partner agencies.

Skills

Criminal justice sector

Substance misuse services

High caseload management

SMART action plans

Motivational techniques

Trauma-informed approaches

Group interventions

Job description

Recovery Navigator - Bromley & Orpington Probation

• Recovery Navigator - Bromley & Orpington Probation

About The Role

About the role

Are you passionate about supporting people to make positive changes in their lives and build a future free from the impact of substance misuse? Do you have the skills and experience to help people navigate their recovery journey, overcome barriers and achieve lasting change?

As a Recovery Navigator at Forward, you will play a vital role in supporting adult male prison leavers and people serving community sentences through their recovery journey.

Working as part of a flexible, multi-disciplinary team across a cluster of community delivery sites in London, you will provide tailored, person-centred support to people with substance use needs, often alongside mental health difficulties and other complex challenges.

You will build trusting relationships, helping individuals develop motivation, access appropriate treatment and support services, and work towards meaningful and sustainable change.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing a varied caseload and completing comprehensive assessments to identify individual needs, risks and support requirements.
• Working collaboratively with individuals to develop SMART action plans that reflect their recovery goals and aspirations.
• Delivering structured one-to-one support, group work and virtual interventions using motivational and trauma-informed approaches.
• Supporting people to access and engage with substance misuse treatment, healthcare and other relevant services.
• Providing practical assistance, guidance, advocacy and ongoing encouragement to help individuals overcome barriers to recovery.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date case records, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with organisational requirements.
• Working closely with probation staff, treatment providers and other partner agencies to ensure coordinated and effective support.
• Supporting individuals to achieve sustained recovery, reduce substance-related harm and minimise the risk of reoffending.

You will work across different levels of complexity, adapting your approach to meet changing needs and service demands. There may also be opportunities to develop specialist knowledge in particular areas, such as supporting vulnerable communities or individuals with specific needs, including chemsex.

Our approach is to complement, rather than duplicate, existing commissioned services. You will help individuals access and remain engaged with the support already available to them, providing continuity, motivation and practical assistance throughout their journey.

This is a predominantly Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm role, with some flexibility required to meet service needs and undertake occasional work outside the office. You may also be required to attend our Head Office for training.

About you

You will be a compassionate, motivated and resilient individual who is passionate about helping people overcome challenges and make positive changes in their lives.

You will understand the complexities of substance misuse and the challenges faced by people involved in the criminal justice system. You will be confident building relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who may have experienced trauma, social exclusion and multiple disadvantages.

You will bring:

• Knowledge and experience of the criminal justice sector.
• Strong experience within substance misuse services, recovery support or a related field.
• Experience managing a high caseload, undertaking comprehensive and risk assessments, developing SMART action plans and maintaining accurate case records.
• Experience delivering one-to-one and group interventions using motivational techniques and trauma-informed approaches.
• Experience working alongside treatment providers, healthcare professionals and other support services.
• The ability to establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Strong partnership-working skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with probation staff and external agencies.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and work towards targets.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively and professionally with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• An understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, alongside a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and complying with GDPR requirements.

Above all, you will believe in people's ability to change, recognise the importance of building trust and be committed to supporting individuals to achieve positive and lasting outcomes.

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

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

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.