Young People's Substance Use Worker

Early Break, Trafford; Trafford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefit

Pension plan

Annual leave 30 days

Long service leave

Wellbeing day

Volunteer day

Supervision

Job summary

Early Break in Trafford is seeking a Young People’s Specialist Substance Use Worker to deliver one-to-one, face-to-face support to young clients and their families. You will assess needs, develop SMART care plans and provide structured interventions, including appropriate substitutes, while working in community settings and building agency partnerships.

The role requires safeguarding responsibilities, accurate record-keeping, and involvement in multi‑agency meetings and staff development

Qualifications

• Experience delivering 1:1, face-to-face work with young people.
• Ability to complete assessments and develop SMART care plans.
• Experience liaising with multiple agencies and attending multi‑agency meetings.
• Commitment to safeguarding and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Deliver 1:1, face-to-face work with young clients and carers, including evenings/weekends as needed.
• Complete full assessments and monitor SMART care plans.
• Offer structured interventions, including substitute prescribing where appropriate.
• Engage in community-based work and build agency partnerships.
• Attend multi-agency meetings and act as lead professional when required.
• Record all client data in the company system and support after-care planning.
• Contribute to fundraising, training and staff supervision activities.

Skills

1:1 client work

Assessment skills

Care planning

Partnership building

Advocacy

Community outreach

Job description

“Early Break is a young people and family charity that believes excellence at all points of delivery is a requirement. If you take pride in your work, are hardworking, want to be professionally challenged and are passionate to make a difference in the lives of others then our organisation could well suit you. We have a strong set of values determined by staff which we continuously work towards. It is our shared expectation our staff will be “professionally curious” both in their delivery and ongoing professional development.”

Vicky Maloney, CEO

Key Focus

The advertised role is as a Young People’s Specialist Substance Use Worker delivering a one-to-one case work role with young people who have a range of issues and who may be at risk of or involved in primarily substance use, criminal activity, be exploited, may have learning difficulties or other vulnerabilities.

Key Deliverables

• To deliver 1:1, face-to-face work with young clients and their parents/carers as appropriate and manage the appointments to best meet clients’ needs in accordance with Early Break Policies and Procedures. This may include evening and/or weekend sessions.
• Complete a full assessment of each client’s needs and develop, monitor and review SMART care plans for each individual client using agreed systems.
• Offer structured treatment interventions, including substitute prescribing, if required and appropriate.
• Making Alternative therapy interventions part of client care planning as appropriate, upskilling yourself to offer this within the course of your role.
• Work in community-based settings in order to engage and deliver services to potential clients.
• Liaise and develop partnerships with a range of agencies in seeking out the provision which best meets the treatment needs of the young clients identified through referrals.
• Offer drop-ins, as required and/or appropriate, in relevant young people’s settings.
• Contribute to a range of multi-agency meetings, acting as key worker/advocate for the young client.
• Support young clients into inpatient treatment, if available/as appropriate, and maintain contact with them, preparing and arranging for appropriate after-care provision back in the community where this is required.
• Adhere to Early Break policies on Safeguarding, linking to local and national policies and guidelines, contributing as the role of Lead Professional as and when required.
• Record and report all required client information, using the Company’s agreed database system in line with service expectations and the legal framework of Data Protection.
• Maintain and update levels of knowledge and understanding of issues relevant to young people through training offered by Early Break and other agencies, as opportunities arise.
• Contribute to the charitable aspect of the service, including social media and charitable fundraising activity.

Company Benefits

• Health Benefit - % claimed back on healthcare costs like dental, optical, and prescriptions - part of our ongoing benefit to staff wellbeing.
• Company Pension Contribution of 6% (employee contributions 2%)
• 30 days annual leave pa (in addition to 8 Bank Holidays)
• Long Service Leave: an additional 4 weeks paid holiday after every 3 years in service (subject to attendance thresholds).
• Wellbeing Day: 2 x half days of additional paid leave every 12 months as a ‘wellbeing day’ for staff.
• Volunteer Day: 1 day additional paid leave every 12 months as a ‘volunteer’ opportunity with another third sector organisation of your choice
• Supervision: 10 sessions per 12 months with an external supervisor to facilitate reflective practice.