Recovery Practitioner

CNWL; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Flexible working options

Bank assignments

Job summary

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust in Milton Keynes is seeking a Band 4 Recovery Practitioner to join the ARC-MK addictions team. You will hold a caseload and deliver one-to-one and group interventions within a multidisciplinary service.

The role focuses on psychosocial and clinical interventions to support treatment, relapse prevention and recovery, with opportunities for flexible working and a relocation package where eligible.

Qualifications

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering substance misuse services.
• Caseload management with 1-1 and group work interventions.
• Use Motivational Interviewing and evidence-based approaches.
• Maintain risk assessments and care planning with regular reviews.
• Follow local and national quality standards and governance.

Responsibilities

• Work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, providing specialist services to substance users, including harm minimisation, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, care planning, health education and detoxification, mindfulness and groupwork.
• Make continuous assessments of clients’ psychological, emotional and social needs with regular care plan evaluation.
• Provide case management to a defined caseload under supervision of manager and MDT.
• Use agreed outcome monitoring tools and other quality measures.
• Manage transfer of individuals between prisons and into the community.
• Counsel individuals about their substance use using motivational interviewing and other evidence-based interventions.

Job description

Search here to find a new job, a new career, an opportunity

to up skill or to simply change your career direction.

Become part of our team.

We care for you as much as you care for others.

There’s a place for you at CNWL.

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.

We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

Warning alert

Fraud alert: Please be cautious if you are asked for a fee at any stage in the recruitment process. CNWL does not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers. Always check with the recruitment contact or team if you are asked.

Main area Addictions Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday- Friday 0900 - 1700 (with some rota'd lates expected on a Thursday 1200 - 2000)) Job ref 333-D-AD-0628

Site ARC-MK Town Milton Keynes Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum (pro rata if P/T) Salary period Yearly Closing 02/09/2026 23:59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.

We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

ARC-MK help people over the age of 18, residing in Milton Keynes, who want to break a cycle of addiction to substances such as heroin, alcohol and other types of stimulants or long-term alcohol addiction. We offer a variety of psychosocial and clinical interventions to support clients throughout their treatment journey.

This role will hold a caseload of individuals and specifically provide one-to-one support to individuals through offering 1-1 and group work interventions.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has presented itself within our service! This is a unique opportunity to be part of a substance misuse service combining the elements of education, prevention, treatment and recovery within a community setting. We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated and empathic Band 4 Recovery Practitioner to complement our Addictions Team supporting the delivery of psychosocial interventions.

The post holder should be ready for a new challenge, demonstrate good communication skills and work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team. You should have experience of completing comprehensive assessments and risk management. The successful candidate will hold a caseload of individuals and deliver structured interventions via 1-1 and groupwork.

Working for our organisation

There’s a place for you at CNWL.

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.

We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, which provides a range of specialist services to substance users, including harm minimisation approaches, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, care planning, health education and detoxification, mindfulness and groupwork.

2. To make continuous assessments of the psychological, emotional, social, and rehabilitative needs of clients, taking into account the needs of the client, their family/carer and local community, with regular evaluation of care plans.

3. To provide case management to a defined caseload of clients, under the supervision of their manager and the multi-disciplinary team.

4. To use agreed and established outcome monitoring tools and any other relevant quality measures.

5. To manage the transfer of individuals between prisons and into the community.

6. To counsel individuals about their substance use, using motivational interviewing and other evidence-based interventions.

7. To ensure full risk assessment and risk management is delivered effectively.

8. To understand and implement clinical governance.

9. To ensure the highest quality of service is delivered by following local and national quality and performance standards, guidance, procedures, and practice guidelines.

10. To ensure that all work is performed in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, including Incident Reporting.

11. To support the wider service with additional interventions as appropriate and with relevant training, e.g. initial clinical assessment, second signatory for controlled drugs, urine testing, dry blood-spot testing, etc.

Communication

1. To participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.

2. To liaise and communicate relevant information with partner agencies within local and Trust guidelines.

3. To promote an open dialogue culture, where a positive culture on improving communication and maintenance of healthy therapeutic relationships with clients are enhanced and valued.

4. To contribute to the promotion of team cohesiveness and working collaboratively with colleagues in all parts of the Trust to achieve healthy and effective communication.

5. To work collaboratively in developing professional links with other statutory and voluntary service providers, ensuring a corporate approach is adopted.

Information and Resource Management:

1. To be responsible for the effective management of own caseload.

2. To maintain accurate and up to date documentation of all client records, ensuring the confidentiality of such records are in line with the Data Protection Act and local policies.

3. To adhere to all service data recording policies, such as NDTMS and TOPs.

4. To be responsible for ensuring monthly reports and other data reporting are submitted within agreed timescales.

5. To ensure that all client interaction entered onto SystmOne is accurate and timely.

7. To ensure that all local and Addictions service administration systems are followed.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to diploma level or NVQ level 4
• Motivational Interviewing/Relapse management training
• Harm reduction training

Experience

• Keeping accurate electronic records.
• Experience of conducting risk assessments and developing/reviewing careplans.
• Substantial experience in relevant role.
• Experience of working within a secure environment / prison

KILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES

• Knowledge of risk assessment and management.
• Ability to use computer to access patient information and email.
• Demonstrates the ability to manage work under pressure
• Sensitive to colleagues and able to promote a positive motivating environment
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Understand the different roles of the multi-disciplinary team and own role within it
• Ability to provide and accept feedback, support, clinical/managerial supervision
• Committed to personal/professional development
• Dependable and a sense of responsibility
• Flexible approach to work with ability to prioritise workload
• Professional manner
• Data processing and analysis

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.