LGBTQ+ Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker

LGBTQ+ Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker (Fast Track Cities HIV Reengagement Project)

London Friend’s Antidote service provides high quality drug & alcohol psycho-social treatment and support to LGBTQ+ people utilising harm reduction & abstinence-based methods.  Antidote is a part of London Friend which aims to support and promote health & wellbeing for LGBTQ+ people living in the London area.

We deliver services across London, including in partnership with Local Authority-based drug and alcohol treatment services and sexual health clinics.

Recovery support workers provide support to LGBTQ+ people experiencing difficulties with drug or alcohol use, including supporting those engaged in chemsex, and incorporating HIV prevention initiatives and sexual health support. They will hold a caseload of clients and be responsible for their assessment, case planning, review, and ongoing care. They will provide outreach to LGBTQ+ people in community settings including local sexual health clinics.

This post is funded via the London Fast Track Cities Initiative which seeks to end HIV transmission. It is a part of two multi-area, multi-disciplinary projects aiming to reengage people living with HIV who have dropped out of treatment and care. The postholder will work with teams in North West and South London including NHS HIV clinics and a range of voluntary sector stakeholders. The postholder will proactively engage identified clients, mostly gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) where drug alcohol or chemsex have been barriers to sustaining HIV treatment and care.

The postholder will also assist with the delivery of Antidote’s services, including our walk-in clinics and group programmes.

The post-holder will take an active anti-discriminatory, anti-racism and trans-inclusive approach around all areas of work and will be an active member of the broader Antidote and London Friend teams and support with the aims & objectives of the whole service.

This is initially offered as a fixed-term contract to 31st March 2027, although it is anticipated that funding will be provided for two further years. Any extension will be subject to future funding being confirmed.

Due to the nature of the work and in order to provide appropriate access for the client group the role requires regular evening work and occasional weekend working and travel across Greater London.