Drug and Alcohol Practitioner

The Forward Trust are a UK leading provider of drug and alcohol treatment services to offenders. We deliver treatment and recovery support – in prisons and in the community – which helps people move away from addiction and crime. These services provide a variety of support, including advice, counselling, group work and intensive treatment. At The Forward Trust we believe that all people who are addicted to or misusing substances should have access to support which is effective in protecting their health, and motivating them to take steps towards their own recovery. Over 20 years of pursuing this mission, we have been successful in moving thousands of drug dependent offenders away from a lifestyle revolving around crime, and drug or alcohol dependence.

We believe and are committed to providing opportunities to all people including those with ‘Lived Experience’ we encourage applications from all background including those in recovery from addiction, co-dependency or gambling, have experience of previous offending or homelessness.

What you will be doing?

Working within an integrated healthcare framework to provide support to drug and alcohol
users aged 18 and over (dependent on service). Services are designed to deliver Psychosocial Drug and Alcohol Interventions and Accredited Treatment Programmes for offenders coming into prison that are identified as having an Alcohol or drug problem.

Services will deliver client centred treatment using both harm reduction and abstinence based
treatment approaches depending on the requirements of the individual client. You will be
required to manage a caseload, provide appropriate harm reduction advice and guidance,
assess, care plan; deliver structured 1:1 and group-work sessions including structured
treatment programmes if relevant to the unit you are working in. Through care and integration
with other services such as Transitional, Housing, Employment, Gym, Healthcare, Probation
and external Drugs Intervention Teams are an essential element of the work to prepare for
release.

You will be responsible for contributing to the targets set by Forward and the local
commissioners. One of the key targets will be measuring outcomes, so co-operative working
relationships with other partner agencies is vital to this role. In order to compliment clinical
provision you may be required to complete second signatory and oral swab testing.
Flexibility will be required in this role, this may include some evening/weekend shift and with
reasonable notice to travel to other projects in your cluster to deliver services, enabling
continuity of care for the client group.

What we are looking for?

• Carry out assessments risk/initial/comprehensive to inform treatment journeys.
• Carry out interventions relevant to individual client needs including 1:1 sessions and
  group work/programme facilitation.
• Develop and contribute to the through care needs of service users, supporting them
  in the development of release plans which are appropriate to their needs.
• Ensure groups and programmes are facilitated and co-facilitated to the standard
  required by Forward and in accordance with any relevant manuals.
• Meet required KPI’s to corresponding deadlines, as set out by the Service Manager.

What we offer

• Training opportunities and career development
• Flexible working
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)