Young person substance misuse practitioner jobs

Overview

Are you ready to lead with purpose and make a real impact in young people’s lives?

At Change Grow Live, we believe in being open, compassionate, and bold — and we’re looking for a dynamic Team Leader to bring those values to life in our Children & Families Team. The post holder will be responsible for the operational management of the services ‘Hidden Harm’ team who support children and young people affected by parental substance misuse.

You’ll be at the heart of shaping a responsive, innovative service across Hertfordshire, empowering young people and their families to overcome challenges and thrive. This is your chance to lead a passionate team, drive service excellence, and help build brighter futures.

We are looking for a confident leader with experience in children’s services or substance misuse apply now and help us shape a future where every young person feels supported, safe, and heard.

Where: Hertfordshire

When: We're looking for the right person to join our team on a fixed term contract until the end of March 2027

Part Time Hours: 22.5 per week

Full Time Salary Range: £35,220.59 - £37,184.91 + Outer Fringe allowance £694.25 (Pro-Rata)

*Please note: 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. 

Responsibilities

About the role: 

• Under the supervision of CGL’s Cluster Manager, you will lead the delivery of services that empower Children, Young People, and their Families to overcome issues around substance misuse.
• The post holder will provide line management to practitioners within the service and will be responsible for the operational management and strategic development of the service.
• They will always maintain high professional standards and ensure a Young Person focused approach in all aspects of delivery with the aim of reducing harm and promoting resilience.
• They will lead by example in creating a professional and young persons focused team culture focused on excellent service delivery.
• The post holder will ensure a positive learning environment where integrity and professionalism are paramount, whilst empowering staff to ensure all attempts at positive outcomes are achieved for those using the service.
• You will support the Cluster Manager in the continual development and improvement of service delivery.
• You will develop and maintain excellent working relationships with partners both internally within the service and externally within a wider partnership.
• The Post Holder must have a valid UK Driving License and access to a car in order to work flexibly at various operational sites as required.

About you: 

• Experience of working with children and young people experiencing difficulties around Substance misuse.
• Knowledge of the issues facing children, young people and their families affected by substance misuse.
• Excellent knowledge of drugs and alcohol and their effects.
• Line management experience including the delivery of reflective practice.
• The ability to lead, empower and motivate a team.
• Excellent knowledge of safeguarding policies and practices relating to children and young people and experience of embedding these operationally.
• The ability to foster new partnerships and to maintain positive relationships with partner agencies.
• Knowledge of a range of psychosocial and evidence-based interventions around substance misuse.
• Knowledge and understanding around the ‘Hidden Harm’ agenda.
• Knowledge and experience of community-based support/outreach practices.
• Ability to ensure all record keeping, outcome monitoring and data collection is maintained effectively.
• Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Respond flexibly to the demands of the post.
• The ability to keep calm under pressure.
• Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for young people and their families.

What we will give to you: 

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each years’ service “Capped at 30 days” 
• Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week along with a ‘Wellness’ hub and Employee Assist Programme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• A great selection of benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc. 
• A friendly and supportive team 
• Training, career development & progression opportunities 
• Refer a friend scheme.

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. 

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 31 to 33 (£35,220.59 - £37,184.90)

ILW / OLW /Fringe

Outer Fringe (£694.25)

Interview Date

23/1/2026

Closing Date

15/2/2026

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

Young People Support Worker

We promise you that no day will be the same, and you will get so much out of working with our residents as you ensure that they are well-cared for, and empowered to make progress into Independence.

Location: Whitley Bay (Depaul House)

Salary: £24,136 per annum

Closing Date: 08 February, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

You’ll play a vital part in delivering our mission: tackling homelessness, widening opportunity and championing fairness. Whatever your specialism, you’ll help create a safe, inclusive and empowering environment where people can thrive and move forward with confidence. 

As a Young People Support Worker (Whitley Bay), you will provide practical, emotional, and goal-focused support to young people, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to move towards independent living. 

You will manage a caseload of young people with a range of support needs, building trusted relationships and delivering structured, person-centred support plans. The role involves supporting young people through key transitions, including leaving care, sustaining accommodation, and accessing education, training, or employment.

Your work will be underpinned by the Depaul Endeavour Model, an assets-based and psychologically informed approach, ensuring young people are supported to build on their strengths and achieve positive outcomes. 

Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hour per week), permanent role.

 In this role, you will:

• Provide safe, supportive accommodation and champion the wellbeing of every client.

• Deliver personalised support plans that empower individuals to achieve independence.

• Build positive, respectful relationships with colleagues, partners and the people we support.

• Encourage participation in education, training, employment, and volunteering opportunities.

• Contribute to a positive team culture and maintain a safe, welcoming environment.

• Commit to continuous learning and uphold Depaul’s values of respect, inclusion, and action.

About You

You believe in people — their strengths, their rights and their potential. You bring empathy, energy and a solution‑focused mindset to your work. You communicate clearly, stay organised and adapt well in a fast‑moving environment. You’re committed to inclusion, fairness and continuous learning, and you turn values into meaningful action, whatever your role.

What You’ll Receive

• Tailored training and development

• Flexible working options where suitable

• 26 days annual leave, rising with service

• Family‑friendly leave policies

• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%

• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access

• Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more

• Cash health plan for you and your family

• Death‑in‑service benefit

• Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About Depaul UK

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Overview

Change Grow Live are a charity dedicated to the belief that we can make a difference to our Service Users lives.   

Our core values are ‘Be open, be compassionate and be bold’ and our teams apply these daily offering support and respect in a safe environment, treating each user as an individual and working with them to find the right treatment and care options.    

 We are looking for a passionate and experienced professional to lead the development of our Affected Others service, supporting children, young people (CYP), and families impacted by familial substance misuse. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow a service that makes a real difference in breaking cycles of harm and building resilience.

Where: Buckinghamshire (Countywide)

Full Time Hours: 37.5 per week

Full Time Salary Range: £32,002.35- £34,214.20*

*Please note: 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. 

Responsibilities

About the Role
As the lead for this specialist area, you will:

• Drive the design and delivery of innovative interventions for children, young people and families affected by substance misuse.
• Develop group programmes, resources, and training to strengthen whole-family approaches.
• Build strong partnerships with key stakeholder such as adult substance misuse services, schools, children’s services, and health professionals to ensure seamless referral pathways.
• Develop and deliver training and consultation to external partners and stakeholders on the issues facing young people affected by substance misuse of others. 
• Champion safeguarding and best practice across the service.
• Hold a caseload of complex and high-risk cases involving children, young people, and families, delivering whole-family support, including parenting programmes and harm reduction strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate service impact, ensuring continuous improvement.

About You
We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in working with families facing multiple risk factors, including parental substance misuse.
• Skilled in delivering 1:1 and group interventions and developing new programmes.
• Knowledgeable about safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Qualified to Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent).
• A strong communicator and collaborator, able to influence and lead within multi-agency settings.
• You will need to work flexibly countywide across Buckinghamshire so must hold a full UK driving license and have access to a car.

 What we Offer 

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each years’ service “Capped at 30 days” 
• Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week along with a ‘Wellness’ hub and Employee Assist Programme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• A great selection of benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc. 
• Opportunity to lead and shape a vital service alongside a friendly and supportive team 
• Training, career development & progression opportunities 
• Refer a friend scheme.

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. 

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 28 to 30 (£32,002.35 - £34,214.20)

ILW / OLW /Fringe

N/A - Outside London Weighting Area

Closing Date

19/2/2026

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

Night Young People Support Worker

Join us and help young people build safer, stronger futures.

Location: Durham

Salary: £24,136 per annum

Closing Date: 12 February 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

You’ll play a vital part in delivering our mission: tackling homelessness, widening opportunity and championing fairness. Whatever your specialism, you’ll help create a safe, inclusive and empowering environment where people can thrive and move forward with confidence.

As a Night Young People Support Worker at our service in Durham, you’ll empower residents in supported accommodation to develop key life skills, strengthen resilience, and move forward with confidence in education, training, employment, and wellbeing. Using an assets‑based, psychologically informed approach, you’ll create SMART support plans, complete risk and needs assessments, and ensure every young person receives personalised, meaningful support.

As part of the night team, you’ll carry out essential safety checks, respond to incidents, safeguard vulnerable clients and help new residents settle into the service. Working proactively with colleagues and external agencies, you’ll use clear communication, strong boundaries and steady problem‑solving to maintain safety and wellbeing throughout the night.

Please note that access to transport is essential due to location of the projects and lack of public transport links

In this role, you will:

· Support young people in supported accommodation to build skills, resilience and independence

· Lead on risk assessments and create SMART, outcome‑focused support plans

· Manage a caseload as the named key worker while supporting all residents day‑to‑day

· Promote engagement in education, training, employment and volunteering

· Work collaboratively with partner agencies and follow safeguarding procedures

· Maintain a safe, welcoming environment and prepare rooms for new resident

· Keep accurate case records and uphold professional boundaries

· Work flexibly as part of a rota, including some evenings and weekends

About You

You'll bring your passion for empowering young people and your ability to create safe, motivating spaces that inspire progress. You’ll use strong communication, safeguarding awareness and confident risk‑assessment skills to deliver clear, outcome‑focused support. With experience supporting young people facing homelessness, mental health or substance‑use challenges, you bring calm, flexible and solution‑focused practice. You work collaboratively with partners and volunteers while managing a caseload and delivering consistent, high‑quality support.

What You’ll Receive

· Tailored training and development

· Flexible working options where suitable

· 26 days annual leave, rising with service

· Family‑friendly leave policies

· Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%

· Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access

· Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more

· Cash health plan for you and your family

· Death‑in‑service benefit

· Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About The Organisation

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 the charity was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, the charity provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Floating Support Worker

This is an opportunity for someone compassionate and driven to make a real impact, supported by training and reflective practice.

Location: Middlesbrough (NE)

Salary: £24,781

Closing Date: 01 February, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

This role focuses on helping adults with complex needs remain securely housed and build stability through proactive, trauma‑informed support. You’ll form strong, trusting relationships; provide practical guidance around housing, benefits, health and meaningful activities; and work flexibly with SHAP and RSAP providers to keep people engaged and moving forward. Using a strengths‑based approach and the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, you’ll help clients increase confidence, resilience and independence while ensuring support is personalised and accessible. 

As Floating Support Worker at our new service in Middlesbrough, you’ll collaborate closely with housing, health, substance‑use and community partners to deliver coordinated, high‑quality support, advocating for clients and challenging barriers when needed. Accuracy in record‑keeping, safeguarding awareness, and the ability to problem‑solve in fast‑paced community settings are essential. This role suits someone solutions‑driven, compassionate and confident working independently—including occasionally during unsocial hours—while staying grounded in dignity, inclusion and client‑led practice. 

 In this role, you will:

• Provide trauma‑informed, person‑centred support to adults with complex needs in supported accommodation.
• Build trust and engage flexibly to help clients sustain tenancies and prevent repeat homelessness.
• Support clients with housing, health, finances, benefits and meaningful activities.
• Use ACT‑based approaches to build resilience, confidence and psychological flexibility.
• Work closely with SHAP/RSAP providers and multi‑agency partners for coordinated support.
• Advocate for clients and challenge barriers within local services and systems.
• Accompany clients to appointments and maintain accurate, timely records on In‑Form.
• Uphold safeguarding, professional boundaries and safe lone‑working practices.

About You

You’ll bring the ability to engage quickly with adults facing homelessness, mental ill health or substance use, using clear communication, focused support planning, strong risk‑assessment skills and accurate digital record‑keeping to help people sustain tenancies and access the services they need. Working confidently with accommodation providers and multi‑agency partners, you’ll adapt your approach to each person, applying trauma‑informed, strengths‑based practice with resilience, professionalism and strong safeguarding awareness. We’re looking for evidence of supporting people with complex needs (including lived experience), understanding tenancy risk, practising safe lone‑working and demonstrating inclusive, solutions‑focused behaviour in community‑based settings.

What You’ll Receive

• Tailored training and development
• Flexible working options where suitable
• 26 days annual leave, rising with service
• Family‑friendly leave policies
• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access
• Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more
• Cash health plan for you and your family
• Death‑in‑service benefit
• Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About Depaul UK

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.#INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

The Head of Advocacy, Awareness and External Relations is a senior leadership role within AtaLoss, working closely with and reporting directly to the CEO. The post-holder will lead work across the public, bereavement and commercial sectors to deliver AtaLoss’ strategic outcomes by:

• providing national leadership in bereavement awareness, advocacy and policy influence, including through Parliament, the APPG and the media
• strengthening the website as the UK’s trusted gateway for bereavement support, ensuring accessible, high-quality content and effective signposting
• enabling holistic bereavement support in communities and workplaces through partnership development, training and the growth of Bereavement Friendly Communities
• contributing to organisational sustainability through income-generating training, cross-sector partnerships and effective external engagement.

The role sits at the heart of AtaLoss’ mission to ensure that every bereaved person can access the right support at the right time, and to position bereavement as a public health issue requiring timely, coordinated and understanding response.

A rare chance to join an incredibly supportive and inclusive employer that values hard work, flexiblity and employee well-being, and recognised by the GM Good Employment Charter! We are a small but vastly experienced team of family support/volunteer Coordinators, delivering highly respected volunteer-led home visiting support to families in the early years. 

We are looking for someone to provide direct support to families and also recruit, train and support a team of local parent/carer volunteers who will provide weekly home visiting and community support to families.

You will work  with other professionals from universal and specialist services to provide a coordinated response to families’ needs. You will assess need and risk prior to carefully matching volunteers with families or offering direct support, working as part of multi agency support, ensuring information sharing and safeguarding is at the forefront of your work. This will include instigating Early Help assessments, preparing for and attending Child in Need and Child Protection meetings.

You will have an understanding of recruiting, carefully selecting and managing volunteers to ensure they feel supported and fully trained to offer effective support to families in order to get the best outcomes for the family and in particular the children. 

You will be experienced in working with families in their own home - skilled in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, be apt in completing strengths-based assessments and conversations and have a deep understanding of the issues families can face and the link with childhood development and difficulties they may experience later in life.