3 Young person substance misuse practitioner jobs
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Permanent with funding until 31st May 2029
35 hours
£29,855 per annum
Location: Plymouth
Benefits include but not limited to:
-36 days' annual leave, inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service
-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
-We match up to 8% pension
-Free counselling service
-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills
-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation
About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.
Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better — and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.
About the role:You'll play a key part in our Plymouth Substance Misuse Service, working with individual young people who misuse substances and their families, and to act as a consultant to other professionals who may require specialist help and support.
We're looking for a skilled child-centred practitioner with the ability to ensure that all young people in contact with the service are assessed and treated for identified drugs/alcohol problems, making a real impact in the lives of children and young people.
Key skills and experience:
The required skills and competencies for this role are:
-Knowledge of child/adolescent development and young person-centred interventions
-Knowledge of psychosocial interventions, SMART Goal planning and Risk Assessment
-Sound knowledge of change behaviour interventions as well of an oversight of addictive behaviours
-Ability to identify, screen, and carry out assessments using tools like DUST
-Knowledge of substance misuse (drugs and alcohol) and awareness of national and local initiatives, including vaping, SCRA's, THC.
-Knowledge of relevant policy and government drug strategy documents
-Knowledge of the criminal justice process, specifically in relation to young people
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 27th September 2026
Interviews: Dates to be confirmed
The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.
AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
The Baobab Centre is a non-residential therapeutic community supporting unaccompanied minors who have experienced human rights abuses and are seeking asylum, refugee status and settlement in the United Kingdom.
The role of a Therapeutic Community Caseworker at the Baobab Centre is to support unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee adolescents and young adults to access care, basic rights and entitlements and to support their social development and rehabilitation.This role involves working closely with the clinical key worker of each young person and with our wider multidisciplinary team. As a Caseworker you will aim to empower individuals to build stable, independent lives in the UK, including by supporting them to communicate their views, needs and experiences in decision-making processes, and supporting them to make challenges when necessary. Caseworkers assist young people to make effective choices about what happens in their lives and encourage them to speak up and build agency.
Baobab aims to be a non-residential therapeutic community with a holistic and integrated perspective.As a Caseworker, you will play a key role within our multidisciplinary team. We aim to be a thinking organisation and place a high value on shared thinking time and shared responsibilities. Our team work together with each other and with agencies and key individuals in young people’s lives, both within and outside of Baobab. A key aspect of the role is communicating with members of the clinical and admin staff team within the Baobab Centre and with other workers in the network around each young person including social workers, teachers, foster carers, lawyers, hospital consultants, housing and benefits workers. etc. You will strive to develop relationships across networks and advocate access to rights and entitlements for our community members.
It is critical that as a Caseworker:
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you have an insight to the backgrounds and experiences of both the internal and external factors impacting on the lives of unaccompanied young people attending our centre and an understanding of the broader context in our society as it impacts on young asylum seekers (including invisibility, marginalisation, discrimination and the fact of waiting in uncertainty for a long time.
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You have an insight in how trauma and the many human rights violations and persecution that most members of our community have experienced impact on all aspects of a young person’s internal and external world.
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You have an insight in how current immigration rules and social care system procedures act as barriers to rehabilitation, including by restricting access to education, adequate benefits, housing and healthcare provision.
Please read the attached full job description and the Context document before submitting your Cover Letter and CV.
1st stage interviews (in person only) will take place at the Baobab Centre: Thursday 8 October
2nd stage interviews (in person only) will take place at the Baobab Centre: Friday 9 October
Registered Charity
11 - 20
The Baobab Centre is a non-residential therapeutic community that offers support to young survivors of human rights abuses seeking refuge in the UK
Thank you!
Young People Support Worker
We are seeking a compassionate Young People Support Worker to help young people build the confidence and skills needed for independent living.
Salary: £11,734.40 per annum (FTE £29,336 per annum)
Location: Hanley Gardens, Islington
Hours: 15 hours per week, Saturday and Sunday
Contract: Permanent, part time
Closing date: 27 September 2026
About the role
Join a close-knit and supportive team working tirelessly to ensure some of the borough’s most vulnerable young people receive the care and support they need.
As Young People Support Worker, you will support young people aged 18 to 25 living within a six-bed, low-support accommodation service. Working every Saturday and Sunday, you will help residents develop their confidence, resilience and independent living skills.
Your key responsibilities will include:
· Managing a caseload and acting as the named key worker for individual residents
· Completing risk and needs assessments and developing SMART, outcome-focused support plans
· Delivering one-to-one and group support within the accommodation and local community
· Supporting residents to access education, training, employment and volunteering opportunities
· Helping residents maximise their benefit entitlement, including Housing Benefit and Universal Credit claims
· Working with statutory services and other agencies to provide joined-up support
· Welcoming new residents and helping them settle into the service
· Maintaining a safe environment through safeguarding, health and safety checks and appropriate reporting
· Encouraging residents to influence decisions about their support and participate in wider activities
The role involves two 7.5-hour shifts each weekend, with working hours arranged flexibly between 8am and 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
About you
You will have experience of supporting young people or another relevant client group and understand the challenges associated with homelessness, poor mental health and substance use.
You will also bring:
· Knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and support planning
· An understanding of strengths-based or assets-based support
· Strong professional boundaries and personal integrity
· Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
· The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies
· A commitment to equality, diversity, dignity and respect
· A reflective and adaptable approach to your own learning and practice
About Depaul UK
Depaul UK exists to end homelessness and change the lives of people affected by it. Since 1989, the charity has provided accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK.
You will receive tailored training and development, 26 days’ annual leave rising with service, a pension with employer contributions of up to 7%, an Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, a cash health plan, retail and lifestyle discounts and a death-in-service benefit.
Other roles you may have experience of could include Support Worker, Youth Support Worker, Homelessness Support Worker, Housing Support Worker, Key Worker, Project Worker, Residential Support Worker or Young Person’s Support Worker.
Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, NFP People.
