Trainee Recovery Practitioner

Wdp; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

Via is recruiting a Trainee Recovery Practitioner for Cheshire West & Chester (Base Ellesmere Port). You will support the recovery team by offering advice, support and recovery-focused interventions to people with substance misuse, while treating each service user as an individual.

You should have lived experience of substance misuse and be prepared to obtain the OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring (or equivalent) within 12 months.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of substance misuse is essential.
• OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring or equivalent, or the ability to complete within 1 year.
• Compassionate approach with strong communication skills and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support the recovery team in engaging people with substance misuse, offering advice, support and recovery-focused interventions.
• Manage a low-level protected caseload through the recovery journey.
• Carry out triage and comprehensive substance misuse assessments, risk assessments and develop person-centred care plans.
• Promote screening and harm reduction activities including alcohol screening, BBV awareness and dry blood spot testing.
• Identify risks and act in line with safeguarding policies.
• Support service users to achieve and sustain recovery and wellbeing.
• Be flexible with hours, including late evenings.

Skills

Lived experience

Peer mentoring

Communication skills

Calm under pressure

Compassion

Education

OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring

Job description

Job Reference JOB0450 Location Chester & Ellesmere Port Salary £26,228 per annum, pro-rata to the hours agreed upon Vacancy Type Permanent/Part Time Working Hours Up to 24 hours (to be agreed with successful candidate) Application Deadline Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Job Summary

Who we are

At Via, our mission is to provide the best health and wellbeing support to as many people as possible, helping them to change their lives for the better.

Last year, we supported over 11,000 people across the UK affected by alcohol and drug use. Everything we do is driven by our values:

• Care. Care for people is at the heart of everything we do.
• Be human. We are accessible, genuine and humble. Always learning.
• Do the right thing. We’re open, honest and inclusive. We get things done.

We want to recruit the very best talent. We believe in nurturing a positive workplace culture where our colleagues feel valued, recognised, empowered, and supported.

What we’re looking for

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced and growing organisation.

We’re looking for Trainee Recovery Practitioner for Cheshire West & Chester (Base Ellesmere Port)

You’ll enjoy working with people from all backgrounds, making a difference to their lives – supporting a variety of individual needs around substance misuse. No two days are the same and we treat every person who comes into our service as an individual, so being flexible, curious and a good listener are key.

You will have a lived experience of substance misuse and possess OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring or equivalent. Or the ability and commitment to complete this within 1 year of employment.

We’re looking for individuals with compassion, good communication skills and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

The role

• How to support the recovery team in engaging people who have substance misuse problems, providing them with advice, support and recovery focused interventions to support their recovery and health care needs.
• To manage a low-level protected caseload of people through their recovery journey.
• To carry out triage and comprehensive substance misuse assessments, risk assessments and develop person centred recovery-based care plans.
• To actively promote and undertake a range of screening and harm reduction interventions including alcohol screening, BBV awareness and dry blood spot testing, offering harm reduction advice and engaging service users through the needle syringe programme.
• Identify risks and take appropriate action in accordance with local, national and organisational Safeguarding policies.
• To support people affected by drug and alcohol use to achieve and sustain their recovery, optimising health, and well-being.
• Being flexible in the hours worked will be expected of the post holder including late evenings.

If you’re someone who is a good listener, stays curious, and wants to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Deadline: 7th October 2026

Salary: £26,228 per annum, pro-rata to the hours agreed upon

Vacancy type: Permanent

Working hours: 24hrs

Our Team Manager [e-mail] or Senior Practitioner [e-mail] is happy to talk through the role, what a typical day might look like, development opportunities.

Job Profile Job Profile document