Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time, Flexible working
- Posted
- 18/09/2026
- Closes
- 01/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role involves working with forensic service users who have substance use problems and severe mental health issues within an inpatient setting. The post holder will conduct specialist assessments, deliver psychosocial interventions, and provide consultation to multidisciplinary teams on substance misuse. They will be part of a specialist Drug and Alcohol Service, benefiting from supervision and professional development opportunities. The position requires experience in substance misuse or complex mental health presentations.
Essential criteria
- Minimum of 1 year's clinical employment within a forensic service, substance misuse team or dual diagnosis team
- Clinical risk assessment and management of vulnerable service user groups
- Working with service users with co-existing mental health and substance use problems
- Experience of developing and delivering training to multidisciplinary audiences
- Clinical practice that is aligned with the principles of Trauma Informed Care
- Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of the principles and practice of Trauma Informed Care, and of how trauma relates to both substance misuse and mental
- To apply recovery values and principles in day to day work.
- To empower service users to draw from their strengths and assets, and identify solutions
- Ability to implement local policy and procedure
- Ability to manage incidents of verbal and physical aggression
- Education/ Qualification/ Training
- Undergraduate degree/diploma or equivalent years of experience would also be considered
- Professional Qualification e.g. Nursing, Social Work, or Counselling.
- Evidence of professional development
- Minimum of 1 year's clinical employment within a forensic service, substance misuse team or dual diagnosis team
- Clinical risk assessment and management of vulnerable service user groups
- Working with service users with co-existing mental health and substance use problems
- Experience of developing and delivering training to multidisciplinary audiences
- Clinical practice that is aligned with the principles of Trauma Informed Care
- Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of the principles and practice of Trauma Informed Care, and of how trauma relates to both substance misuse and mental
- To apply recovery values and principles in day to day work.
- To empower service users to draw from their strengths and assets, and identify solutions
- Ability to implement local policy and procedure
- Ability to manage incidents of verbal and physical aggression
- Education/ Qualification/ Training
- Undergraduate degree/diploma or equivalent years of experience would also be considered
- Professional Qualification e.g. Nursing, Social Work, or Counselling.
- Evidence of professional development
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £38,488 – £46,852 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 13d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker
The closing date is 01 October 2026
Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic person who has experience of working with people with substance use problems and/or experience of working with complex mental health presentations in a community, inpatient, or forensic setting. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experience working with third sector/charity substance misuse organisations, and those who are representative of the diverse population we serve.
The post holder will be part of a dynamic clinical team within the medium inpatient service, working with service users with forensic histories and severe and enduring mental health problems. The primary role of the post holder will be to offer assessment and intervention to forensic service users who have difficulties with substance use who are in our inpatient service. The post holder will also provide consultation to other professionals across the clinical teams to enable them to understand and manage the risks and needs associated with service users' substance misuse. The post holder will be embedded within the forensic directorate's Drug and Alcohol Service, a multi-disciplinary, specialist team, with access to rich supervision and CPD opportunities.
Main duties of the job
- Under supervision, to undertake spe
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