About The Role
We are looking for a compassionate, motivated and proactive Drug & Alcohol Practitioner to join our team, supporting individuals aged 18 and over who are experiencing drug and alcohol-related challenges. Working within an integrated healthcare framework, you will provide person-centred support, helping individuals make positive changes, reduce harm and work towards recovery.

What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine passion for supporting people affected by drug and alcohol misuse.
• Is committed to delivering person-centred support, recognising that every individual has different needs.
• Understands both harm reduction and abstinence-based approaches to treatment and recovery.
• Has the ability to build positive, professional and supportive relationships with clients.
• Can work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team and alongside external partner agencies.
• Has good communication, organisational and caseload management skills.
• Is confident in assessing individual needs and developing appropriate care plans.
• Can deliver structured one-to-one and group interventions.
• Is flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the service.
• Is willing to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel to other projects within the cluster when required.

What You Will Be Doing
As a Drug & Alcohol Practitioner, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing a caseload of clients with drug and alcohol support needs.
• Completing assessments to identify individual needs, risks and treatment requirements.
• Developing and reviewing personalised care and treatment plans.
• Providing harm reduction advice, guidance and interventions to help minimise the risks associated with drug and alcohol use.
• Supporting clients through both harm reduction and abstinence-based treatment pathways.
• Delivering structured one-to-one support sessions and group-work programmes.
• Delivering structured treatment programmes where required by the service.
• Supporting individuals entering prison who have identified drug or alcohol problems, where applicable to the service.
• Working closely with partner agencies, including housing, employment, healthcare, probation, transitional services and external drug intervention teams.
• Supporting continuity of care and through-the-gate arrangements to help individuals prepare for release and access ongoing support in the community.
• Contributing towards service targets and outcomes set by The Forward Trust and local commissioners.
• Building effective working relationships with partner organisations to ensure clients receive joined-up support.
• Completing second signatory duties and oral swab testing, where required, to support clinical provision.
• Maintaining accurate records and monitoring client progress and outcomes.
• Working flexibly across projects within the cluster to ensure continuity of care.

This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of individuals affected by drug and alcohol misuse. You will play an important role in supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing, reduce harm, access treatment and work towards long-term recovery.

All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.

Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.

About Us
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Flexible working
• Support for Families – We support our employees through every stage of family life by offering enhanced maternity and paternity pay for eligible employees who have completed 26 weeks' continuous service, alongside family-friendly policies and a supportive, inclusive workplace. If you'd like more information about our family-friendly benefits, please contact our Recruitment Team at [email protected]
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.

Diversity at Forward Trust
The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with 'Lived Experience' of addiction, offending, or homelessness. Some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To find out more about Forward's commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here .

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work
Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the 'Eligibility to Work in the UK' requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.

Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.