Substance Misuse Support Worker

Practice Plus Group; Kirkham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Support Worker to join their Substance Misuse team at HMP Kirkham. This part-time role involves supporting patients, leading workshops, and ensuring accurate record-keeping. Candidates should have excellent communication skills and a compassionate approach. This is a unique opportunity to develop skills in a rewarding environment. The role offers a salary up to £29,723 per annum and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Company pension scheme

25 days annual leave increasing with service

Extensive range of wellbeing and lifestyle benefits

Discounts on shopping and leisure activities

Continued professional development support

24/7 employee assistance helpline

Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare/substance misuse is a bonus but not essential.
• Right to work in the UK; offers subject to vetting and security checks.

Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for patients.
• Identify areas for improvement by being visible onsite.
• Assist with support groups and various workshops.
• Ensure patient records are accurate and up to date.
• Work alongside the Nursing Associate and Patient Engagement Lead.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to engage with patients

Compassionate approach

Job description

Job Summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Support Worker to join the Substance Misuse team at HMP Kirkham, a Category D open prison for males, located near Preston, Lancashire. This unique environment offers stunning grounds, a brand‑new state‑of‑the‑art gym, and rewarding challenges every day.

Hours: Part‑time role, 22.5 hours per week. Shifts 8 am–4 pm, Monday to Friday; flexible patterns discussed during screening and interview.

Salary: Annual salary up to £29,723 per annum FTE, depending on experience.

How will we support you?

• Bespoke induction, including our Introducing Health in Justice training course
• Competency framework
• Regional and national career development opportunities
• Our bespoke Learning Management System to address your learning needs

Candidate qualification: Right to work in the UK; offers subject to vetting and security checks.

Main duties of the role

• Be the face of the team – first point of contact for patients
• Be visible onsite, getting to know patients and identifying areas for improvement
• Assist with support groups and assessments – psychosocial, CBT, art workshops, meditation
• Data inputting – ensuring patient records are accurate and up to date
• Work alongside the Nursing Associate and Patient Engagement Lead

Career development: we have a wide range of internal and external options to develop skills and experience.

Additional benefits:

• Company pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave increasing with service up to 28 days per year, plus public bank holidays
• Extensive range of wellbeing and lifestyle benefits
• Discounts on shopping and leisure activities
• Support to grow in your role and continue professional development
• Excellent long‑term career prospects
• 24/7 employee assistance helpline and financial assistance when needed

About us

The Health in Justice team at Practice Plus Group makes a real difference across 53 prisons, young offenders and immigration removal centres. We are the UK’s leading independent provider of NHS services to over 40,000 patients in secure environments, always putting their needs first.

Our purpose – Unlock your best work life – is aligned with our core values:

• We treat patients and each other as we would like to be treated
• We act with integrity
• We embrace diversity
• We strive to do things better together

We seek caring, compassionate, and driven professionals who help us deliver fair and inclusive healthcare access to all.

Support Worker profile

• Be a people person – excellent communication skills, visible and engaging with patients
• Adapt to a fast‑paced, ever‑changing environment with shifting priorities
• Experience in healthcare/substance misuse is a bonus but not essential
• Approach patients non‑judgemental and compassionate

Secure environments offer challenging yet rewarding opportunities to develop healthcare skills. If you want a role where you learn daily in an ever‑moving setting, this is the right opportunity.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Practice Plus Group

Address

HMP Kirkham
Freckleton Rd
Kirkham
Preston
PR4 2RN

Employer's website

https://practiceplusgroup.com/our-jobs/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)

Salary

£25,557 to £29,723 a year – up to £29,723 per annum FTE, depending on experience