18 Alcohol recovery worker jobs

Overview

Looking for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference?

Join our team at HMP Channings Wood as a Programmes Facilitator and help people develop the confidence, skills, and resilience needed to make positive changes in their lives.

You'll deliver engaging group programmes and recovery-focused interventions, creating safe and supportive environments where individuals can build insight, explore new perspectives, and take meaningful steps towards recovery and rehabilitation.

Experience in substance misuse, education, training, social care, mental health, or criminal justice can be beneficial, but it isn't essential. If you enjoy working with groups, have strong communication skills, and are passionate about helping others achieve their potential, we'll provide the training and support needed to succeed.

This is an exciting time to join us. HMP Channings Wood is preparing for a significant prison expansion, creating opportunities for development, progression, and future career growth within a growing service.

If you're looking for a role with purpose, where you can inspire positive change and help people build brighter futures, we'd love to hear from you.

Through the Gate Worker Location: HMP Channings Wood
Hours: 37.5 per week
Contract: Permanent 

Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours

This is a rolling recruitment campaign and applications will be reviewed as they are received. The vacancy will close once a suitable candidate has been appointed, so early applications are encouraged.

Responsibilities

Looking for a Rewarding Career Where You Can Make a Real Difference?

As a Programmes Facilitator at HMP Channings Wood, you'll support people to develop new skills, build confidence, and make positive changes through structured group programmes and recovery-focused interventions.

You'll play an important role in creating engaging, supportive environments where individuals can explore challenges, develop resilience, and take positive steps towards recovery and rehabilitation.

Experience in substance misuse services, education, training, social care, or criminal justice can be beneficial, but it isn't essential. If you have strong people skills, enjoy working with groups, and are passionate about helping others achieve their potential, we'll provide the training and support needed to succeed in the role.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting time to join our team. HMP Channings Wood is preparing for a significant prison expansion, and our service will grow alongside it to support an increasing prison population.

Joining us now means becoming part of a growing team with exciting opportunities for development, progression, and future career growth.

What You'll Do

• Deliver engaging recovery and psychosocial group programmes.
• Facilitate structured interventions, including the Atlas Programme.
• Create safe, inclusive, and supportive environments that encourage participation.
• Support individuals to build confidence, resilience, and motivation for change.
• Complete assessments and identify appropriate interventions.
• Provide one-to-one support to encourage engagement and progression.
• Work closely with healthcare teams, prison staff, and partner agencies.
• Contribute to improved wellbeing, reduced harm, and positive rehabilitation outcomes.

What We're Looking For

You might be a great fit if you:

• Enjoy facilitating discussions, workshops, or group activities.
• Communicate effectively and build positive relationships.
• Can motivate and engage people from a range of backgrounds.
• Create safe, inclusive, and respectful environments.
• Are organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Work well independently and as part of a team.
• Are committed to learning and developing your skills.

Experience in education, training, youth work, social care, mental health, criminal justice, probation, coaching, mentoring, healthcare, or wellbeing services is welcomed but not essential. We value attitude, motivation, and transferable skills and will provide training to support your development.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Paid weekly Wellbeing Hour.
• Pension scheme and employee wellbeing support.
• Discounts on shopping, travel, and entertainment.
• Ongoing training and career development opportunities.

Join Us

At Change Grow Live, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to change, grow, and live life to its full potential.

Apply today and help people build confidence, develop new perspectives, and take positive steps towards a brighter future.

This is a rolling recruitment campaign and applications will be reviewed as they are received. The vacancy will close once a suitable candidate has been appointed, so early applications are encouraged.

Please ensure that when completing your application form and supporting statement, you reflect on the details outlined in the job description. This will help us understand how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role.

A note about using AI in your application

AI can be a really helpful tool when putting together your application, and we're happy for you to use it. However, what we're most interested in is you.

We want to understand your experiences, achievements and strengths, so please make sure your application reflects your own story and clearly shows how you meet the essential criteria and the impact you've made in previous roles.

There's no need to write in a particular style. The strongest applications are those that are authentic, specific and clearly demonstrate your skills, experience and potential. We look forward to learning more about you.

Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy. 

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions. 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 23 to 28 (£28,557.79 - £32,802.41)

Closing Date

25/11/2026

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.

Benefits: 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro rated), 3% matched pension contribution, employee benefits scheme

Please note: This post is restricted to women under schedule 9, Part 1, Equalities Act 2010

Equal Opportunities

Rising Sun is an equal opportunities employer. We recognise intersecting identities, and value what having a diverse team brings, both in terms of effectively responding to client needs, and engaging with each other at work. We encourage applicants from all sections of the community; especially from minority groups, as we are on a journey to increase diversity in our team. Flexible working is available in most roles, and we strive to accommodate the needs of all applicants and team members.

Job Purpose

As one of our High Support Needs IDVAs, you will be part of our experienced and dedicated adult team reporting to the HSN IDVA Manager covering the Canterbury District area, and your role will include a mixture of working from Catching Lives homeless centre, community and office working.

You’ll be providing a high-quality, frontline service to survivors of domestic abuse and play a crucial role in advocacy, risk assessment, safety planning and empowerment for our clients with more complex needs. You will assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse which are impacting their situation and help them to regain control of their lives. You will support them to make informed and safe choices and to move forward. You will provide a weekly drop-in at Catching Lives and will co-work with clients as appropriate.

Alongside working with survivors, you will develop and maintain productive relationships with partner organisations to strengthen multi-agency working and improve service outcomes for survivors. As the HSN IDVA, you will provide enhanced casework support to individuals within the EHCF client group, delivering support in community settings, in partnership with agencies such as Porchlight and the RSI team, and remotely via telephone where appropriate.

We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for supporting people who is confident, resilient and can build strong relationships.

You will have experience of delivering domestic abuse interventions with survivors, including some whose individual circumstances are more complex. This might include clients with issues such as homelessness, poor mental health or drugs and alcohol use.

The nature of this work and being exposed to survivors’ trauma and challenges can have a negative impact on our own wellbeing as support workers, and therefore good self-awareness and the ability to recognise our own needs and put in place appropriate boundaries is essential. All team members are expected to exercise self-care and attend regular clinical supervision to mitigate the potential impact of vicarious trauma.

As part of our passionate and committed team of approximately 50 staff, our aspiration is that you will thrive and develop in this varied role. You will be contributing to the invaluable work of the Rising Sun and making a lasting difference to the lives of those who are impacted by domestic abuse.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide high quality case work support and information to victims/survivors who have experienced domestic and/ or sexual violence and have high support needs.
• Support those who are experiencing domestic and sexual abuse to access services to keep themselves (and their children) safe and address their needs
• Identify and assess the needs of domestic abuse victims using an evidence-based risk identification checklist while taking a trauma informed approach
• Provide 1:1 support to survivors in the Ashford, Canterbury and Folkestone and Hythe districts, either over the phone, in community venues or at Rising Sun offices
• Manage a caseload in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and adhere to confidentiality
• Work as part of a team, supporting colleagues and building positive working-relationships with team members
• Attend regular clinical supervision and case review meetings
• Hold weekly information and advice drop in sessions and facilitate relevant programmes when required i.e. Freedom Programme
• Participate in street walks to meet and build relationships and trust with street homeless
• Advocate for high-risk victims with agencies who can help to address the domestic abuse by:
  • Understanding the role of all relevant statutory and non-statutory services available to domestic abuse victims and how your role fits into them.
  • Providing advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to survivors including in relation to legal options, housing, health and finance. 
  • Effective partnership working with all key agency partners (including housing and other specialist services, such as drug and alcohol support) to address the safety of high-risk victims and ensuring that their safety plans are coordinated particularly through the MARAC (multi-agency risk assessment conference).
• Identify training opportunities and provide training and support for housing staff and other relevant agencies as appropriate
• Provide both formal training and informal guidance/casework support to Catching Lives staff.
• Work with volunteers (where appropriate) to enhance the capacity of the service
• Be responsible for personal well-being and exercise appropriate self-care
• Attend wider team meetings to share learning and feed into organisational developments
• Ensure that the service user is at the heart of all service delivery by encouraging participation in service development and reporting on their recommendations and complaints
• Be willing and available to work occasional evenings and weekends to support wider team activities such as representing Rising Sun at events (time off in lieu can be taken)
• Ensure publicity materials are effectively distributed as well as contributing to the development of literature

General

• At all times work professionally and to a high standard, setting an example to the wider team and external partners
• Demonstrate a commitment to continued professional development, being responsible for personal learning and keeping up to date on research, relevant legislation, policy and practice, and other literature relevant to the role
• At all times protect the safety and security of the Rising Sun, service users, staff, volunteers and buildings, and the confidentiality of records and other information
• Uphold the rights of women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, and proactively assess the gender specific, trauma informed needs and the safety of children and women to ensure that any risks/needs identified are addressed, having full regard to Rising Sun Safeguarding Children policy and Safeguarding Adults policy
• Ensure the effective implementation of Rising Sun’s policies and procedures and uphold the core values of the Rising Sun.
• Work across teams and undertake such other duties, appropriate to the grade and nature of the work, as may reasonably be expected.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time when it was drawn up and will be reviewed from time to time. Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Person specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following experience, knowledge, skills and attitudes. (D = Desirable)

Qualifications

• An accredited VAWG/domestic abuse qualification, e.g. IDVA / DAPA (D)
• Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) qualification (D)

Knowledge and Experience

• A good understanding of the causes and dynamics of domestic abuse including its impact on survivors, children and young people, families and communities. 
• A sound working knowledge of housing, welfare and policy relating to domestic and sexual violence
• Thorough knowledge of safeguarding practice, procedures and legislation (adults and children)
• At least two years’ experience of working directly with survivors affected by domestic abuse
• Experience of supporting individuals with mental health needs, including understanding the impact of mental ill health on wellbeing, safety, and recovery
• Experience of working with survivors of domestic abuse with complex needs for example homelessness, mental health issues, drugs and alcohol dependency (D)
• Experience of managing own case load, working under pressure and prioritising workload
• Experience of risk assessment and management, and safety planning
• Experience of multi-agency partnership work
• Experience of facilitating group programmes (D)
• Experience of delivering training (D)

Skills and attributes

• Excellent listening, written and verbal communication skills.
• Personal resilience
• Good self-awareness and ability to exercise effective self-care
• Competent in the use of Microsoft packages i.e. Word, Excel and Power Point
• Effective negotiation, advocacy and interpersonal skills, at all levels
• Ability to collect and collate data and write reports as appropriate to this role
• Ability to be self-motivating, work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to liaise and work well with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Strong crisis management skills

 Other

• A good understanding of cultural issues, and commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
• A commitment to the values and ethos of Rising Sun
• A commitment to fostering innovation in working practice
• A flexible approach to your work
• A commitment to respecting and valuing service users' perspectives and involvement in Rising Sun
• Able to drive and have access to a reliable car (D) (the post holder will be required to attend meetings and events across our areas of work)

Please visit our website to download and fill out an application form if you feel that this role would be a good fit for you, demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the person specification in your personal statement.