Outreach Practitioner (Birmingham)
Salary: £25,089 - £27,069
Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Contract Type: Permanent, 37 Hours
About Aquarius
Aquarius Action Projects is a long-established charity (since 1977) based in Birmingham with a national reach of contracts and Partnerships. Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough – a large charity that specialises in mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas.
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.
Key Duties
1. Deliver advice, brief interventions and motivational support to young people and adults affected by drug and alcohol use.
2. Facilitate group programmes and training sessions for service users and professionals.
3. Provide support across multiple community settings such as schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, youth services, arrest referral environments and Aquarius offices.
4. Complete accurate client records, reports and data returns in line with organisational and contractual requirements.
5. Work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure joined‑up care and effective safeguarding.
6. Engage service users through flexible, accessible and age‑appropriate approaches.
7. Promote harm reduction, recovery and wellbeing throughout all interactions.
8. Contribute to the overall development of the service, including outreach initiatives and partnership-building activities.
9. Maintain confidentiality and adhere to safeguarding policies and working practices.
10. Travel to various community venues as required for appointments and group delivery (driving licence and car desirable).
About You
You will be an energetic, confident and self‑motivated practitioner who is passionate about supporting young people and adults affected by substance misuse. Alongside strong interpersonal and communication skills, you will bring:
Essential qualities & experience:
11. Experience working with young people or adults in an addictions, social care, education, youth work or community‑support setting.
12. Good understanding of substance misuse, health‑related issues and harm reduction.
13. Ability to engage individuals in a variety of environments, adapting your style to meet diverse needs.
14. Experience working with external partners such as schools, healthcare services or voluntary agencies.
15. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage records, data and reports accurately.
16. A flexible, proactive approach to outreach and service delivery.
17. Commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding and inclusive practice.
Qualifications:
18. A qualification in health or social care, youth work, counselling, community work or a related field (e.g. NVQ Level 3+, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling or Addiction Studies).
19. relevant experience within the substance misuse field, along with a willingness to complete NVQ Level 3 Health & Social Care.
Desirable:
20. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for community travel.
21. Lived experience of recovery or experience as part of a community affected by substance misuse or inequality.
22. Applicants from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
23. 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
24. Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
25. Life assurance (3× annual salary)
26. Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
27. Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
28. Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
29. 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
30. Recognition and long service awards via our and portals
31. £500 bonus
32. Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
33. Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
34. Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Inclusion and accessibility
At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of substance use or recovery, and from candidates from minoritised ethnic communities. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities to ensure our services are representative of the communities we serve.
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:
Inclusion and accessibility
At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of substance use or recovery, and from candidates from minoritised ethnic communities. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities to ensure our services are representative of the communities we serve.
If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team:
How to apply
If you’re viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click ‘Apply via company website’ to view the full job description and submit your application.
Closing date:
2026-03-07