Support Worker (North Dorset) Location: Gillingham Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £24,243 - £28,930 Make a real difference in your community Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier and more independent lives? Join Waythrough, one of the UK’s leading mental health and social support charities, and make a lasting impact every day. We support over 125,000 people each year through our 200 services, empowering individuals to overcome challenges around mental health, housing, and substance use. About the Role We are seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to join our team in North Dorset as a Support Worker. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives by supporting them on their journey towards recovery and improved well-being. As a Support Worker, you will play a vital role in guiding individuals through recovery by providing tailored, person-centred support and coordinating services that promote positive outcomes. You will work closely with individuals, colleagues, and partner organisations to help reduce substance-related harm and support long-term, self-sustained recovery. Key Responsibilities Managing a caseload, including devising, implementing, and reviewing ongoing recovery and treatment plans Supporting individuals from initial engagement through structured treatment to sustained recovery Reducing substance-related harm to individuals and the wider community Working collaboratively with key partners and internal colleagues to achieve the best possible health and well-being outcomes About You We welcome applicants from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds. Whether you have direct experience or transferable skills, your passion for supporting others is what matters most. We are particularly interested in candidates with one or more of the following: Experience in substance misuse services A background in mental health support Experience within the criminal justice sector A relevant academic qualification (e.g. Criminology, Psychology, Law, Sociology) A strong portfolio of volunteering in a similar role Experience in case management and the ability to manage expectations within an emotionally demanding role are highly valued, as they support our commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality care. Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. About Waythrough Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers. Make a real difference in your community Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package: 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays) Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5% Life assurance (3× annual salary) Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals £500 Recommend a Friend bonus Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year Inclusion and accessibility Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk Closing Date: 2026-02-10 Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have almost 200 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 125,000 people. Bringing together two big organisations is not a small task and it’ll take a while to fully integrate our systems, processes and approaches. That’s why you will notice the jobs here are still branded ‘Richmond Fellowship’ or ‘Aquarius’ (our subsidiary charity in the Midlands). Next year we’ll be fully integrating our recruitment systems but for now they are separate. Thanks for bearing with us – and don’t forget to check out the Waythrough jobs on the Humankind job site https://peoplekind.my.salesforce-sites.com/recruit/ Aquarius Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough. Aquarius is a Midlands-based charity supporting individuals to overcome the harms caused by drugs, alcohol and gambling. Aquarius has always held the view that people we support could resolve their problems with support and guidance and that people have the ability to find their own solutions to their problems. Our roles across the organisation include Practitioners and Administrators as well as Team Managers. Find out more at www.aquarius.org.uk