The Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service provides preventative, targeted and treatment interventions to young people in South Gloucestershire. As an Engagement and Outreach Worker, you will deliver an outreach service across the authority and work in partnership with youth providers to improve young people’s wellbeing, helping them to reduce high-risk behaviours and mental health concerns.
Working closely with our Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Specialists, you will deliver brief and targeted interventions, including drug and alcohol harm reduction. You will work in a trauma responsive way to holistically support young people, and so, make a positive impact to their wellbeing and future.
Regularly, you will visit youth centres and other settings to talk to young people and other professionals to promote the message of reducing drug and alcohol harm.
It will be key for you to identify and engage young people who would benefit from drug and alcohol support but are, for many reasons, less likely to approach services.
Jointly with other professionals within South Gloucestershire, you will be conducting detached outreach sessions.
Working across South Gloucestershire, you will visit youth venues, parks, schools and homes for harm reduction and brief intervention work.
It will be your responsibility to deliver brief intervention packages on a one-to-one basis with children, young people and families, some of whom will experience a range of challenges, and ensure that records and reports are maintained in accordance with service guidelines.
You will support young people to access ongoing 1:1 support with a Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Specialist and deliver presentations/group sessions to young people and groups of professionals.
You will have relevant experience of working in a similar service area with children, young people or families requiring additional support.
Due to the nature of the role, you must be able to demonstrate strong relationship building skills with young people who find it difficult to engage with services and be skilled in networking and building relationships with other professionals and agencies.
You must be able to manage and maintain your calendar effectively to ensure punctuality and to avoid scheduling conflicts or double bookings and have good IT experience to enable you to write reports, carry out risk assessments and deliver presentations.
Although not essential, you may be NVQ3 qualified in a social care/youth work/teaching or equivalent relevant qualification or be working towards an appropriate qualification related to the provision of services to children and young people.
You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.
Business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy.
You can claim back mileage expenses.
This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Badminton Road, Yate and from home. You will be working approximately two evenings a week and on occasional weekend work.
Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 15th January 2026.
As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.
We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.
Engagement and Outreach Worker - Job Description