Support Worker

We have an exciting opportunity for a Support Worker to play a vital role in providing support at our Addiction Services.

Position: Support Worker (Internal Job Title: Project Worker)
Location: Brighton (Ditchling Rise)
Salary: £27,363 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Monday 24 February 2025
Interview Date: Monday 3 March 2025

About:

As a Support Worker, you will be working for a people-led organisation whose mission and values is to inspire change across Sussex.

About Addiction Services:

BHT Sussex’s Addiction Services provide a comprehensive programme of residential support for individuals who seek abstinence and recovery from their addiction to drugs and alcohol. The service is based on the 12 Step fellowship programme and aims to help people rebuild their lives following addiction, addressing any issues which may prevent the enjoyment of a positive, drug and alcohol-free life. It provides the following services:

Detox Support Project: supports clients to achieve abstinence through a clinically supervised detox programme and individual and group therapeutic support.

Recovery Project: supports clients who have achieved abstinence from drugs and alcohol and provides individual and group therapeutic support to sustain abstinence and prepare for more independent living.

Move On Project: upon completion of the secondary programme at the Recovery Project, residents can move on to BHT Sussex’s abstinence-based Move On Project accommodation to further prepare for independent living.

About the Role:

The Support Worker will be working with Recovery Project clients, with crossover with Detox Support Project clients – e.g., we have a range of groups which combine clients from both projects. We aim to develop this service integration further over the coming months, with members of the team having, or acquiring, the expertise and skills to work with clients across the service.

The Support Worker will have responsibility for the delivery of therapeutic interventions, including one-to-one keywork and groupwork, across the service, and will be involved in all aspects of client work, including housing management.

Key Responsibilities:

• To undertake support planning, keywork, group work, aftercare planning and other client focused work.
• Providing a psychologically informed, supportive, and safe environment in which the users of the service are able to maintain and strengthen their on-going abstinence from addiction.
• To ensure that computer-based and hard copy client records are kept up to date and accurate. This will involve maintaining clients’ Outcome Star records on BHT Sussex’s In-Form database.
• To participate in reviewing the provision of services available to those who are addicted to alcohol and other drugs, to make recommendations for change, and to take responsibility for the development and provision of such services.
• To ensure that standards of health and safety and fire safety are always maintained within the service and to take on any specific roles in these areas, as directed by the service manager.

Person Specification:

To be successful in the role of Support Worker you will need to have great communication skills and be committed to the values of BHT Sussex. Some of the key skills and experience you will need to bring with you include:

• Working knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding addiction, experience of working with recovering addicts and alcoholics and an understanding of the role trauma can play in addiction.
• Experience of psychologically informed practice and providing trauma informed care.
• An ability to successfully integrate the many different elements of the role (i.e. housing management, therapeutic work).
• A high standard of written work, including an ability to use word processing software for a range of tasks. A good standard of numeracy.
• Able to take part in an urgent and emergency on call rota.

In return:

In recognition of our commitment to staff, BHT Sussex has been awarded Gold Accreditation from Investors in People. We are also signed up to the Disability Confident employer scheme and have made the Mental Health at Work commitment.

You will also receive a fantastic benefits package including:

• 5.5% stakeholder pension scheme and life assurance scheme
• Medical cash plan with Medicash
• Access to BHT Learning & Development platform
• Free and confidential employee assistance helpline for both personal and work-related concerns
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Free new starter 28-day Network Saver Brighton bus pass
• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days per annum pro rata, rising 1 day for each year of service to a maximum of 32 days pro rata
• The opportunity to participate in well-being and fundraising activities throughout the year

BHT Sussex is an equal opportunities employer using a fair and open recruitment process that fully complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to encouraging equality, equity, inclusion, and diversity within the workplace. As an employer we are committed to promoting and supporting our people’s social, physical and psychological health at work. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or reasonable adjustments if called for interview. BHT Sussex welcomes applications from individuals with lived experience.

BHT Sussex reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applicants for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

An Enhanced with Adults DBS Check (Disclosure and Barring Service) is required on all successful applicants as a condition of employment for this post.