Young People's Practitioner (Northampton)

recoveryfocus; Alkerden; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Birthday leave

Professional fee reimbursement

Job summary

Aquarius is recruiting a Young People\'s Practitioner to support young people across Northampton. You will work on outreach visits to schools, colleges, places of worship and community venues, raising awareness and guiding young people to the right support.

We are looking for applicants with experience in substance misuse, youth work, psychology, counselling or mental health. You will deliver group work, uphold safeguarding and confidentiality, and adapt hours and locations to meet community

Qualifications

• Experience with at risk/vulnerable young people in community settings.
• Ability to deliver group work and outreach activity.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality and consent.

Responsibilities

• Visit schools, colleges, places of worship and community venues as outreach.
• Raise the profile of substance misuse services for young people.
• Provide initial contact and direct to appropriate support.
• Support engagement with hard-to-reach young people.

Skills

Group work

Safeguarding

Confidentiality

Mental capacity

Flexible hours

Job description

Young People's Practitioner

Location: Northampton

Working Hours: 37 hours (full time)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £26,229.63- £28,300

Make a real difference in your community

Do you want to work as part of a Dynamic and engaging team supporting Young People in Northampton?

Due to project expansion, Aquarius Young People's Substance misuse team are recruiting for several Young People's Practitioners across the county.

Aquarius has been providing structured and targeted interventions to young people engaging in, at risk of substance misuse or affected by parental substance misuse for many years.

The post holder will work on an outreach basis, including visiting schools, colleges & universities, places of worship, youth service provisions & local community venues. Raising the profile of substance misuse services available to young people and also providing young people with that first point of contact providing advice and further direction into accessing the right support, particularly targeting outreach to engage 'difficult -to-reach' young people.

Holding relevant experience with skills or qualifications in either substance misuse/youth work/psychology/counselling/ mental health/social care you will also:

• Have experience of working with at risk/vulnerable people in a community setting
• Be able to deliver group work
• Be knowledgeable about: safeguarding children, confidentiality, consent and mental capacity and Hidden Harm
• Adopt a flexible approach to work - hours and locations

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Generous annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities and Career Progression
• Generous Contributory Pension scheme

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post-holder to work 37 hours per week. Working hours will be Monday - Friday, including some weekend and evening shift patterns.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.

This is a rolling recruitment process; shortlisted candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply.

It is a mandatory requirement of the application process for this post that candidates submit a CV and Supporting Statement, thus only candidates that provide this, and who meet the essential criteria within the person specification, will be considered for an interview.

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

About Waythrough Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 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.

What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 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 At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of substance use or recovery, and from candidates from minoritised ethnic communities. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities to ensure our services are representative of the communities we serve.

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

Inclusion and accessibility At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforc