Job summary
Mildmay is looking for an enthusiastic and innovative Substance Misuse Worker with experience of working with adults. In your role, you will play a key role in supporting adults with complex needs. Working alongside another Substance Misuse Worker, you will assess, identify and manage risk, and provide guidance to the internal team and external partners. We use a multidisciplinary (MDT) team approach to provide a range of holistic services to our patients.

Main duties of the job
The Substance Misuse Recovery Worker will support inpatients under Mildmay's HIV, Homeless and Substance Misuse recovery programme. They will assess patients on a 1:1 basis, provide psychosocial interventions and will develop and implement care plans supporting patients with a history of substance misuse and addiction.

They will work alongside and as part of Mildmay's multidisciplinary team, providing ongoing support and assessment in relation to substance misuse, as each patients inpatient stay progresses. They will undertake key working duties alongside the multidisciplinary team. They will participate in discharge planning, liaising and referring patients on to external Substance Misuse services as and when this is necessary. They will advise and support colleagues in relation to substance misuse and the patient cohort, aiming to improve understanding and reduce misconceptions. They may facilitate group sessions in relation to health promotion, education and support related to substance misuse.

About us
Mildmay Mission Hospital is at the forefront of care and development of services in relation to complex HIV-related conditions for patients across the UK and step-down care for Homeless and Detox patients across London. The CQC rated us as a good organisation.

Details

• Date posted: 20 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 5
• Salary: £38,488 to £46,852 a year Inclusive LWT
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 6 months
• Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: B0146-26-0008
• Job locations: 19 Tabernacle Gardens, London, E2 7DZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To provide patients with person-centered specialist support, assessing needs and setting goals specifically in relation to substance misuse, including alcohol as well as illegal or controlled substances. To facilitate relevant psychosocial interventions. To ensure that care reflects patients choices and preferences and promotes dignity and wellbeing. To have an awareness of diversity and actively promote equality.
• To proactively encourage patients to access internal and external substance misuse services, promoting and facilitating harm reduction models, encouraging patients to adopt safer practices and healthier lifestyles, and focus on recovery. To actively empower and advocate for patients.
• To undertake comprehensive assessments of Mildmays inpatients specifically in relation to substance misuse history. The Substance Misuse Recovery Worker should aim to meet with the majority of inpatients on admission and then continue to work with the patients who have been assessed as having a substance misuse history.
• To utilise coaching and motivational interviewing techniques.
• To undertake person centred and individualised risk assessments in relation to substance misuse and develop risk strategies in accordance with Mildmays policies and procedures. To ensure that all possible steps are being taken in order to minimise risk and maintain the safety of patients and staff. To communicate concerns appropriately, focusing on health and safety. To support the multidisciplinary team in effective risk management strategies, specifically following incidents relating to substance misuse. To review risks as an ongoing process.
• To respond to and report incidents effectively, liaising with colleagues in order to minimise risk.
• To develop and implement individualised, person-centred, comprehensive care-plans in relation to substance misuse. To actively involve patients in the care planning process. To review care plans continuously and consistently.
• To liaise with families, partners and/or Next of Kin where appropriate and where the patient has provided consent.
• To proactively work as part of Mildmays Multidisciplinary Team, liaising with colleagues, attending Multidisciplinary Team Meetings, Discharge Planning Meetings and completing Multidisciplinary Reports, Continuing Care Assessments and other relevant reports and referrals as necessary.
• To proactively keywork patients liaising with internal and external colleagues in relation to patients progress and their discharge planning needs.
• To participate in the discharge planning process, making onward referrals in relation to substance misuse, as necessary.

Essential Experience

• Experience of care planning.
• Experience of working within substance misuse services.
• Experience of managing a case load.
• Experience of working with vulnerable adults.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experiencing of facilitating group sessions.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of working with homeless services.

Essential Qualifications

• Professional Qualification in a relevant subject (minimum diploma level).
• Level 3 Qualification in substance misuse or Health and Social Care.
• Knowledge and experience of housing/resettlement.

Desirable Qualifications

• Counselling Qualification.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of substances and their effects.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and addiction.
• Understanding of recovery.
• Understanding of the issues facing substance misusers including social care, welfare benefits, health and accommodation.
• Knowledge of therapeutic interventions that can be applied effectively when working with clients.
• Knowledge of harm reduction, suicide and self-harm awareness.
• Knowledge and experience of utilising coaching and motivational interviewing techniques.
• Ability to work effectively with others as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good communication skills verbal and written.
• Effective time management and ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to manage own workload and ability to use initiative and work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to work with patients in a person-centred way.
• Effective IT skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name: Mildmay Mission Hospital
Address: 19 Tabernacle Gardens, London, E2 7DZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://mildmay.org

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: HR Manager, Justine Iwala, hr.mildmay@nhs.net, 02076136304

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