Support Worker - Substance Use

The Substance Use Support Team (SUST) is approaching it’s fourth year of working with individual’s experiencing multiple disadvantages to support their engagement with drug and alcohol service and to help them maintain their accommodation.

You will be supporting people who have a history of rough sleeping and homelessness, in a variety of accommodation types, some of whom will not have accessed recovery services before. You will need an innovative and flexible approach to engagement, excellent communication skills and be able to motivate and inspire change.

Working alongside Bristol ROADS (Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service), a variety of housing providers and other allied services you will ensure that appropriate support and treatment is wrapped around the client to help them reach their goals. Therefore, the ability to work collaboratively with others will be key to the smooth running and successful delivery of this service.

As part of the teams Trauma Informed Recovery Pathway, you will be working with individuals who have experienced complex trauma to prepare and co-ordinate admission to detox and residential rehab placements.

The post would suit someone who has significant experience of working with this client group, a good understanding of drug and alcohol interventions and harm reduction and the ability to support people through change. You will need to be able to work independently and take initiative to support clients through a variety of challenges they may experience in relation to sustaining accommodation. You will also work collaboratively with housing and homelessness services to support clients accessing appropriate move-on options.

You will have the opportunity to present ideas and feedback from the frontline to support the development of the project, as well as being able to contribute to the development of a team environment that encourages growth, mutual support and best practice. You have the potential to bring about change for some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in Bristol.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation.

Join us and you’ll receive a generous rewards package including flexible working and flexi-time, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

The closing date is Midnight on 28th April 2024.

Please read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the opportunity.