Drug and Alcohol Practitioner
Waythrough · Forward Leeds · £25,878–£34,240 (stated in the posting)
Drug and Alcohol Practitioner - Forward Leeds
Location: 3 Armley Court, Leeds, LS12 2LB
Working Hours: 20 hours per week, Monday-Friday
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03 per annum pro rata
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough
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.
About the Role
We’re looking for a compassionate and motivated Recovery Worker to support individuals affected by alcohol and/or non-opiate substance use. In this role, you’ll manage a caseload of people by developing, implementing, and reviewing personalised recovery and treatment plans.
You’ll provide 1:1 psychosocial interventions (PSI), brief interventions, and holistic care planning to help people reduce harm and make lasting positive changes. Working collaboratively with partners and colleagues across the city, you’ll guide individuals from initial assessment through structured treatment, supporting their journey into recovery and onward care.
If you’re passionate about empowering others, promoting wellbeing, and making a tangible difference in your community, we’d love to hear from you.
This role is working with clients who are using alcohol and or non opiate substances.
What You’ll Do
- Manage a caseload of people whose primary substance is opiates. Supporting, devising, implementing, and reviewing on-going recovery and treatment plans.
- Facilitate and promote individuals’ progression from initial assessment into structured treatment.
- Provide 1:1 PSI and brief intervention support
- Care planning and risk assessment/management
- You will take a “whole person” holistic approach to ensure that every service user’s package of care encompasses all areas of their wellbeing, to achieve the best possible outcomes for every person.
- Reduce substance related harm to individuals and the wider community.
- Working collaboratively with key partners and colleagues across the city-wide partnership to achieve the best health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals.
- Support people to make positive changes and achieve their goals in treatment with a view of entering recovery and transferring care to our recovery and aftercare team.
To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need:
- An NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards this while in post.
- An understanding of and ability to deliver interventions including brief interventions, motivational interviewing and psychosocial interventions.
- Experience of working with carers and families.
- Good IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective, professional relationships with the people you support.
- A compassionate, person-centred and non-judgemental approach.
- Knowledge or experience of recovery planning, harm reduction, risk management and safeguarding would be advantageous.
- Experience delivering one-to-one or group therapeutic interventions would be advantageous.
- A relevant professional qualification in areas such as addiction studies, counselling, social work or therapeutic practice would be advantageous.
To see full Job description and person spec, please click here.
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
Life assurance (3× annual salary)
Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
£500 Recommend a Friend bonus
Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.
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: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk
Closing Date:
2026-10-16