Complex Needs Practitioner (Recovery Worker)
Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Salary: £27,341 – £29,500 per annum
Aquarius Action Projects is a long-established charity (since 1982) based in Birmingham with a national reach of contracts and Partnerships. Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough – a large charity that specialises in mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas.
The Role
You have an understanding of drug, alcohol, and health related issues, and experience of working with adults in an addictions, housing or social care setting? All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Complex Needs Practitioner (Recovery Worker).
Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. We are part of ‘One Recovery Buckinghamshire’ (ORB), a partnership between Inclusion (MPFT NHS Trust), Aquarius, and Build on Belief providing support for alcohol and drug issues across Buckinghamshire.
The purpose of the role is to engage people in a variety of interventions, using a person centred approach, empowering them to reduce risk, increase resilience and achieve positive outcomes.
All Complex Needs Practitioners (Recovery Worker) work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings. The caseload will include a mixture of community and multi-agency referral pathways including health and social care. You will join our caring multi-disciplinary teams, to help empower you to provide quality psychosocial interventions to our diverse client groups.
A core part of the role will be working with people to address holistic support needs across all aspects of the person’s substance use and wellbeing. This could include diverse work related to physical and emotional health, meaningful use of time, family and relationships, community engagement and activities, accommodation, physical and emotional health, offending as well as substance use (drug use and / or alcohol use).
Skills and Qualifications
An energetic and confident self-starter, you have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies). Alternatively, we’ll consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care. Experience of liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies and health professionals and engaging effectively with clients in a variety of settings is essential. You’ll also need a flexible approach, excellent record keeping and report writing skills and a willingness to work flexibly across the community and within our multi-agency partnership settings, on an outreach basis, with a central hub base at our head office.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Waythrough, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.
We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a Black, Asian and those in Minority Ethnic background.
This is a rolling recruitment process; shortlisted candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply.
When applying, please upload a CV and supporting statement which should clearly outline your skills and experience.
Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value.





Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you a visionary, hands-on leader with a bold passion for transforming childhood cancer outcomes? We're looking for a driven and dynamic CEO to lead our small but mighty charity through its next phase of growth and impact.
As CEO, you will shape and execute an ambitious strategy to accelerate change in the childhood cancer space—through fundraising and grant-giving, policy influence, partnerships, and compelling digital storytelling and campaigning. This is a rare opportunity to lead from the front, catalyse meaningful change, and work directly with researchers, funders, and leading hospitals and universities.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead the charity with integrity, compassion, and vision—building a high-impact organisation centred on outcomes and change.
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Manage the Azaylia PhD Scholarship grant-giving fund with transparency and in alignment with the charity’s funding criteria.
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Design and execute a robust income strategy across corporates, trusts, foundations, major donors, crowdfunding, events, and sponsorships.
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Leverage your network to secure and steward significant gifts and partnerships, particularly in the childhood cancer space.
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Develop digital and in-person campaigns that inspire action, influence policy, and build coalitions for change.
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Actively engage in every aspect of the charity’s operations—from strategy to hands-on delivery, in a lean and resource-limited environment.
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Guide our growing social media presence with a focus on mission-driven engagement, supported by data and storytelling.
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Build strong relationships with high-profile ambassadors, media, and influencers to amplify our voice and cause.
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Ensure financial sustainability through effective planning, budgeting, and income diversification.
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Create a purpose-driven, supportive, and high-performing team culture rooted in transparency, equity, and empathy.
Ideal Candidate Profile
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Proven success in multi-channel fundraising, with a track record of securing and growing major gifts.
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Existing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and stakeholders in the childhood cancer space.
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Deep understanding of systems change, with experience in driving policy and institutional transformation.
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Professional experience in the childhood cancer, paediatric healthcare, or rare disease sector.
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Expertise in financial management, charity governance, and regulatory compliance.
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Excellent leadership and team-building skills with the ability to nurture and retain top talent.
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Confident operating autonomously in a remote setting, with strong organisational and self-management abilities.
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Passionate about eradicating childhood cancer and creating systemic change for affected families and communities.
What We Offer
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A unique leadership role with high visibility and potential for sector-wide impact.
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Flexibility in a remote working environment, with occasional domestic travel.
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A passionate, values-driven team committed to collaboration, bold thinking, and impactful outcomes.
About The Azaylia Foundation
The Azaylia Foundation was founded by Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee after the passing of their eight-month old daughter, Azaylia. Childhood cancer is the number one killer of children in the UK, yet it receives less than 3% of cancer research funding. Backed by a large community of supporters, The Azaylia Foundation is committed to reversing this systemic underfunding through advocacy, PhD research grants, and family support for treatments not freely available via the NHS. Our flagship programme, The Azaylia PhD Scholarship Program, aims to fund 20 new childhood cancer PhDs and their research over a period of 5 years.
To apply, please send your CV and a supporting statement (no more than two pages) outlining how your experience aligns with the role and why you're passionate about leading this organisation.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.