Trainee Recovery Practitioner

Wdp; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 31,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

Via is recruiting a Trainee Recovery Practitioner to support Cheshire West & Chester base, Chester. You will work with individuals affected by substance misuse, providing recovery-focused interventions and compassionate, non-judgmental support on their journey to better health.

Applicants must have lived experience of substance misuse and hold an OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring, or an equivalent qualification. If not already held, completion within 12 months of starting is expected.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have lived experience of substance misuse and hold an OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring, or an equivalent qualification.
• Where this qualification is not already held, the successful candidate will be expected to complete it within 12 months of commencing employment.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Empathy & compassion

Communication skills

Calm under pressure

Education

OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring

Job description

Job Reference JOB0463 Location Chester 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 Sunday, November 1, 2026

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 Chester)

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.

Applicants must have lived experience of substance misuse and hold an OCNLR Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring, or an equivalent qualification. Where this qualification is not already held, the successful candidate will be expected to complete it within 12 months of commencing 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: 1st November 2026

Salary: £26,228 Pro-rata

Vacancy type: Permanent

Working hours: Up to 24hrs

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

Job Profile Job Profile document