Job Description: Recovery Worker

Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Organisation: We Are With You

Job Title: Recovery Worker

Service Area: Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services

Reports to: Service Manager / Team Leader

Contract and Hours: To be confirmed

Job Purpose

To provide person-centred, recovery-focused support to adults affected by drug and alcohol use, helping them make positive changes, improve their health and wellbeing, and achieve their personal recovery goals.

The Recovery Worker will work collaboratively with service users, families, carers and partner agencies to deliver accessible, non-judgemental and inclusive support. The postholder will promote harm reduction, recovery, resilience and independence, ensuring that individuals are treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

Key Responsibilities1. Assessment and Recovery Planning

• Undertake assessments to identify service users’ needs, strengths, risks and recovery goals.
• Develop and regularly review individualised recovery plans in partnership with service users.
• Provide structured one-to-one support, motivational interventions and recovery-focused guidance.
• Support individuals to set achievable goals and maintain progress throughout their recovery journey.

2. Drug and Alcohol Support

• Provide information, advice and practical support relating to drug and alcohol use.
• Deliver evidence-based psychosocial interventions within the worker’s competence and training.
• Promote harm reduction, safer substance use practices and overdose awareness.
• Support service users to access appropriate treatment, healthcare and specialist services.
• Recognise signs of deterioration, relapse or increased risk and respond in accordance with service procedures.

3. Safeguarding and Risk Management

• Identify, assess and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and risks to service users or others.
• Follow safeguarding procedures relating to adults at risk and children.
• Maintain professional boundaries and work in accordance with confidentiality and information-sharing requirements.
• Respond appropriately to crisis situations, escalating concerns to the relevant professionals or emergency services where necessary.
• Complete risk assessments and ensure that concerns are accurately documented and communicated.

4. Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, social care, housing providers, mental health services, probation, criminal justice services and other relevant organisations.
• Support service users to access housing, benefits, employment, education and community-based recovery opportunities.
• Attend case conferences, multi-agency meetings and reviews where appropriate.
• Advocate for service users to help reduce barriers to treatment and recovery.

5. Engagement and Community Support

• Build positive, trusting relationships with service users using a compassionate, trauma-informed and non-stigmatising approach.
• Encourage engagement with treatment and support services.
• Promote peer support, mutual aid and community recovery networks.
• Support individuals who experience complex needs, social exclusion or difficulties maintaining engagement.
• Contribute to outreach and community-based activities as required by the service.

6. Administration and Service Delivery

• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case records in line with organisational policies and data protection requirements.
• Complete assessments, recovery plans, risk documentation and outcome measures.
• Monitor and record service-user progress and contribute to service performance reporting.
• Attend supervision, team meetings, training and professional development activities.
• Work in accordance with We Are With You policies, procedures and relevant legislation.

Person SpecificationEssential Criteria

• Experience of supporting people experiencing drug or alcohol-related difficulties, or people with complex social, emotional or health needs.
• Ability to build effective, respectful and professional relationships with diverse individuals.
• Good communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of recovery-oriented practice, harm reduction and person-centred support.
• Ability to recognise risk, maintain professional boundaries and follow safeguarding procedures.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working within a drug and alcohol treatment, health, social care or community support service.
• Relevant qualification in health and social care, counselling, substance misuse or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing, psychosocial interventions and relapse prevention.
• Understanding of mental health, trauma, homelessness, domestic abuse and the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of local support services and recovery pathways in Bridgnorth and the wider Shropshire area.