Complex Needs Recovery Worker
Homeless Drug and Alcohol Team
Portsmouth
Full time (37 hrs p/w) – Fixed term (maternity cover) until 31st July 2026
Internal Secondment opportunities considered
Salary Scale £26,023 - £29,471)
About Us
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 40 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most vulnerable and socially excluded members of society.
The Role
The Homeless Drug and Alcohol Team is a project funded to meet the needs of people who are homeless or living in interim accommodations, and who are using drugs and/or alcohol. The service has been established to fill gaps in existing service provision and to make substance use treatment more accessible for those who find it difficult to access mainstream services.
The role will provide case management and offer psychologically informed interventions to service users within existing accommodation services. The interventions will be aimed at supporting people to increase awareness of their behaviour and its impact on their quality of life, increase their motivation to make behaviour changes and support them to access specialist medical and psychological interventions where appropriate.
The team will be operating 7 days per week including some weekends, evenings and bank holidays.
The Ideal Candidate
Essentially motivated individuals who will be able to:
· Work intensively and consistently with a small caseload of people, supporting them to identify and overcome barriers to change and improve their quality of life.
· Carry out strength-based assessments and co-develop individual recovery plans to assist move on.
· Work alongside the Recovery Hub to case manage and support clients on substitute prescriptions
· Work closely with the PCC Housing Needs and Advice team to ensure that current accommodation provisions are optimal for the clients.
· Arrange and co-ordinate clients' access to detox and residential treatment where appropriate.
· Make referrals where appropriate and /or signpost service users to other services in Portsmouth.
· Be responsible for the ongoing monitoring of individual recovery plans for people on your case load including liaising with colleagues across the service to ensure that service users receive continuity of support.
· Work in partnership with colleagues and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, to provide effective support and achieve the best outcomes for service users.
Staff Benefits
We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping vulnerable people:
· A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
· Flexible working options
· Buying additional annual leave
· Comprehensive induction and training
· Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
· Company cycle to work scheme
· Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie's Computers
To apply, please send your CV & cover letter explaining why you would be suitable for the position.
Please note that CV's alone will not be considered during shortlisting.
Application closing date: Monday 29th September 2025 at 9am
Interview date: Thursday 2nd October 2025.
Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.
Should you not hear from us within 7 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Pay: £26,023.00-£29,471.00 per year
Benefits:
* Additional leave
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee discount
* Health & wellbeing programme
Application question(s):
* Do you have experience in working with people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems?
* The team operates 7 days per week. Are you prepared to work some weekends, evenings and bank holidays?
Work Location: In person