Volunteering development manager jobs

Drug and Alcohol Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Drug and Alcohol Support Worker to join our Homelessness Social Care Service Tower Hamlets.

£29,073 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel in control of your career? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

Carrying out holistic assessments of new customers which incorporate relevant statutory referral information
Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and external partners, creating a positive atmosphere
Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
Key-working the most complex service-users with particular needs aligned with Drug and Alcohol dependency
Creating support plans for providing appropriate services based on on-going assessment and reflecting the services and resources available to enable customers to progress in their recovery
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
Providing support and access to relevant services to enable customers to continue their recovery and empower customers to self-manage their medication regimes through individual re-enablement programmes and informed decision making
Undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to compliment their interventions, leading on partnering with specialist stakeholders;
Upskilling staff team in particular area of expertise - Drug and Alcohol dependency.
Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes
Demonstrate strong commitment to the functioning of the staff team and to support colleagues in providing a high level of service and safety to customers

About you:

Excellent interpersonal skills
Socially adept, networks widely, well connected in sector, influential
Approachable, open & professional behaviour
At ease in directing others, is assertive and independent minded, will challenge others, and skilled in resolving conflict
Drives change, enjoys dynamic diverse environments and demonstrates entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation
Demonstrates significant confidence and high levels of self-esteem

What you'll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant area (e.g. substance misuse, addiction, psychology, Health and Social Care,).
Experience building and developing strong professional partnerships with external providers.
A minimum of 2 years experience in complex needs services, community development, addiction counselling, drug and alcohol work or other related fields.
Good written and oral communication skills
Desirable:

2-3 years experience providing targeted recovery focussed support to individuals with needs around trauma, mental health, substance use and dual diagnosis.

For our fulll job description please visit our webiste

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

What if your strategic insight and partnership could help transform how one of the UK’s largest charity’s makes financial decisions, empowering leaders across the organisation to create greater impact for people affected by dementia?

As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you'll work alongside senior leaders across Alzheimer's Society, turning complex financial information into clear insights that support more informed decision-making.

In a role where every pound matters in the fight against dementia, you'll ensure our resources are directed where they can make the greatest difference. Whether that's funding groundbreaking research, delivering vital support services, or campaigning for systemic change. You'll build meaningful relationships, develop budget holders' capabilities, and offer challenge and support to help colleagues navigate financial complexity with clarity and purpose, empowering them to make decisions that maximise our impact for the 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK and their families.

You'll be part of our Finance & Assurance directorate, where our vision is to be the Society's single point of truth. Working within the Financial Partnering, Planning & Analysis function, you'll connect Finance with the wider organisation, translating strategic plans into sound financial frameworks that enable our mission rather than holding it back.

This is also a people leadership role. You'll develop and manage a team of Finance Business Partners, creating an agile, high-performing culture where accountability and support go hand in hand. Together, you'll role-model best practice, share knowledge freely, and flex your resources to meet the changing needs of the Society throughout the year.

About you:

You're an experienced accountant with a track record of financial partnering at senior levels. You understand that excellent business partnering combines accurate numbers with storytelling, influencing, and helping others see the bigger picture. You're comfortable working across boundaries, challenging assumptions constructively, and coaching colleagues to strengthen their own financial knowledge.

You'll have:

- CCAB qualification through education or demonstrable knowledge.
- Significant experience strengthening financial capability across large or complex organisations, including developing training and coaching programmes.
- A proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams, with strong focus on development and performance management.
- Expert knowledge of financial planning, budgeting and forecasting processes and tools.
- Substantial experience working with finance systems, particularly ERP systems (we use Unit4).
- Experience driving quality improvement through data-driven metrics and reporting.
- A track record of challenging assumptions and holding others accountable for their financial responsibilities.

What you’ll focus on:

- Partnering with senior leaders across the Society to provide insights and recommendations that support effective, informed decision-making.
- Strengthening financial knowledge and confidence with budget holders through coaching, training programmes and partnership-based support.
- Leading and developing a high-performing team of Finance Business Partners, building a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Working collaboratively across the Finance team to design intuitive reports and analysis that meet the needs of colleagues across the Society.
- Building strong relationships with senior leaders to understand their strategic objectives, anticipate challenges and identify cost optimisation opportunities.
- Using storytelling and creative approaches alongside data-driven analysis to communicate key financial messages effectively.

Are you ready to influence at senior levels, bringing both challenge and practical solutions?
Can you lead a team that's valued not just for their technical expertise, but for the partnership and insight they bring to every conversation?
 
Important Dates

- Deadline for applications is Sunday 1st February 2026.
- Interview invites will be issued by Tuesday 10th February 2026.
- Interviews will take place across 17th, 18th and 19th of February 2026. 

There will be a presentation task to prepare ahead of the interview. Depending on volume of applications, you may be invited to a second stage interview during W/C 23rd February 2026. 

About Alzheimer's Society

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.