The Children’s Society is a leading children’s charity committed to making childhood better. We work with children across the country, providing the right support at the right time. We commissioned The Good Childhood® Inquiry; the UK’s first independent national inquiry into childhood. Its aims were to renew society’s understanding of modern childhood and to inform, improve and inspire all our relationships with children.

Check Point is an innovative information, advice and support service for young people aged between 11-21.

Central to Check Point’s services is a holistic, direct access drop-in facility. In addition specialist casework initiatives have been developed to further support young peoples needs i.e. Counselling, Drugs & Alcohol, Housing, Family Mediation and Runaways.

We’re seeking to recruit a Substance Misuse Worker to support our existing work who’ll provide intensive support to young people aged under 18 with substance misuse issues and will join an established team of Substance Misuse Workers at Check Point and partner agencies. We’re looking for a motivated, creative individual with the ability to engage with highly vulnerable young people.

The role provides an exciting opportunity to work creatively with young people as well as positive partnership working with colleagues e.g. Y.O.T, Children’s Services, and Integrated Youth Support Services.

This post is full time (37 hours per week).

For more information please contact Natalie Ash (Acting Programme Manager) on 01803 290330.

All our recruitment documents are available in alternative formats. Please note that CVs will not be accepted.

Substance Misuse Worker

Location:

Check Point 

Reward Band:

SCN Project Staff II 

CRB Level Required:

Enhanced 

Reporting to:

Programme Manager 

Job Purpose:

• To ensure that all young people in contact with the service are assessed and treated for identified drug/alcohol problems
• To contribute to the overall provision of services for young people who misuse substances in the Torbay area
• To work with individual young people who misuse substances and their families, and to act as a consultant to other professionals who may require specialist help and support
• To work across agency boundaries delivering a service to both the statutory and third sector.

Key Activities:

• To provide a comprehensive and flexible assessment service to young people
• To provide accessible information, advice and support on issues related to substance misuse
• To deliver individually tailored and evidence based group work programmes where appropriate
• To deliver relevant drug prevention and harm minimisation strategies to all referred young people
• To be accessible as a specialist practitioner/offer consultancy to allied professional and voluntary agencies
• To act as a referral service to medical treatment or adult treatment services
• To provide advice, support, consultation and training to relevant staff
• To contribute to the delivery and development of the Young Person’s Substance Misuse Plan, young person’s alcohol action plan and the Annual Drug Action Team Plan
• To attend and contribute to the development of the young person’s virtual substance misuse team
• Collate and monitor relevant data in line with local and national requirements
• To maintain accurate records
• To work within The Children’s Society Child Protection and Safeguarding guidelines and procedures
• To actively pursue equality of access to services and operate within a framework of anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities policy
• To contribute to the development of services for young people at Check Point

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Experience

• Experience of working with young people (ideally in the drug/alcohol field)
• Experience of Safeguarding & Child Protection work
• Experience of making effective presentations
• Experience of working in the Drug & Alcohol field and delivering tier 2 and tier 3 interventions
  

Qualifications

• Social Work degree or equivalent OR
  
• Relevant professional qualification e.g. Youth & Community, Education or NVQ 3 Health & Social Care Or HNC in Social Care or Early Years 3 NVQ3 Health & Social Care

Work based knowledge

• Of substance misuse (drugs and alcohol) and awareness of national and local initiatives
• Of relevant policy and government drug strategy documents
  
• Of the criminal justice process, specifically in relation to young people
• Of child/adolescent development and young person centred interventions

Skills

• The ability to work across agency boundaries
• Capacity to carry out high quality assessments, and develop and deliver treatment
• Demonstrate an ability to work with complex case related issues
• An ability to produce coherent and accurate reports and records
• An ability to prioritise and manage competing workload demands
• To identify issues carrying Racial Equality and Anti-Discriminatory Practice implications and be willing to put the Council's policies into practice
• Effective communication skills and liaison skills
• Effective administrative and time management skills
• Self-motivating and an ability to work effectively with competing deadlines
• Commitment to multi-agency working
• An ability to confidently identify a course of action and apply knowledge and skills

Core Competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

Managing People

• Leading Others
  • Take a leadership role within team when appropriate
• Innovation
  • Identify areas for improvement and take action to achieve desired and agreed outcomes

Leading Change

• Communicating with Others
  • Communicate effectively with others in other parts of the organisation or externally on day-to-day matters
• Building and Maintaining Partnership
  • Relate well to others, internal and external
    
  • Take an active part in team meetings

Managing Continuity

• Managing Resources
  • Use resources efficiently
  • Shares timely and accurate information with others
    
• Providing Service to Others
  • Build and maintain good levels of service
  • Ensures service delivery reflects the needs of stakeholders
  • Recognises and values diverse and different perspectives
  • Identifies opportunities for children and young people to be heard and involved meaningfully in our work to make a difference

Producing Results

• Managing Yourself
  • Make decisions confidently
  • Manage own learning
  • Take pride in achieving results
• Agreeing and Meeting Targets
  • Propose targets and standards for role
  • Plan day-to-day activities
  • Work under fairly close supervision

Other Competencies:

• Encourage and contribute to the development of new ideas and methods to ensure innovative and quality practice

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Occasional requirement to travel in order to represent The Children’s Society

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions)

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and The Society you will require:

• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.