Recovery Worker – Substance Misuse (Multi‑Disciplinary Team)
Fixed Term, Full Time – £31,931 to £36,423 per annum, Location: Harlow. Planned duration 24 months.
Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT) comprising specialists in housing, domestic abuse, education, drug and alcohol support, youth work and mental health for adults and children. MDT workers bring specialist knowledge and therapeutic insight to re‑engage families, restore hope and foster sustainable, lasting change.
The Role
Working alongside Social Workers, promote family members’ involvement to improve outcomes for children.
Engage individuals with complex presentations who have substance/alcohol misuse challenges and provide them with support and clinical interventions to address their misuse.
Carry out risk assessments, including safety plans, and contribute to the development of individual recovery plans for those who wish to access community treatment/support services.
Utilise interventions such as motivational interviewing, ITEP, cognitive‑behavioural techniques and brief interventions to promote engagement in treatment services, encourage self‑esteem, well‑being, self‑responsibility, enhanced motivation and therefore improve their parenting capacity.
Review ongoing care and treatment, liaise closely with partner agencies and provide support in engaging with the right services at the right time.
Accountabilities
* Work and liaise with other agencies involved with the client’s broader care plan including health services, hospitals and GP’s.
* In fulfilling these aims the post holder will use recognised, up‑to‑date evidence‑based interventions and will have specific responsibility for the development, delivery and coordination of a recovery‑focused model.
* The post holder will contribute to the service to ensure that parents/carers and their children consistently receive high quality services that adhere to best practice guidelines and achieve high professional standards.
* The post holder will be responsible for contributing to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved and will be required to record and input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative and financial requirements.
* The post holder will be required to work flexibly across the operational site as required and within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision.
* The post holder will be expected to take responsibility for personal development, identifying personal training needs and participate in regular supervision and appraisal.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Strong experience of working within substance misuse services.
* Experience of working with high‑risk families where children are subject to Child Protection or Child in Need Plans.
* Working effectively to support adults with a history of substance misuse with demonstrable outcomes.
* Demonstrable experience of being a catalyst for change in families’ lives.
* Experience of working with challenging presentations such as resistance, minimisation and denial and being able to achieve positive outcomes.
* Knowledge of local services and issues.
* Training in ITEP/BTEI or other structured psychosocial interventions.
* Qualifications relating to substance misuse.
Requirements
The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
Next Steps
Candidates shortlisted for interview will be invited to attend a face‑to‑face interview at one of our Essex County Council offices, with interviews expected to take place around the week commencing 9th February 2026. If successful, the anticipated start date for this role will be from April 2026.
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