Overview:
At Change Grow Live, we believe that with the right support, people can change the direction of their lives.
Every day, our teams work alongside people facing some of the most complex challenges in society — homelessness, substance misuse, poor mental health, trauma and social exclusion — helping individuals move towards safety, stability and recovery.
Guided by our values — Be Open, Be Compassionate and Be Bold — we create services that are person-centred, trauma-informed and rooted in dignity, hope and respect.
We are now looking for an Outreach Drug and Alcohol Recovery Worker to join our Southwark Rough Sleeper Team — a dynamic role supporting people sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping across the borough.
This is more than a recovery role.
It is an opportunity to engage some of the most vulnerable people in the community and help create meaningful, lasting change.
We are looking for someone who is compassionate, adaptable and driven by purpose.
You will have experience supporting people with multiple and complex needs and feel confident working in community and outreach settings where flexibility and resilience are essential.
You may come from a substance misuse, homelessness, mental health, criminal justice, social care or outreach background.
Most importantly, you will bring:
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Experience working with people who are homeless, rough sleeping or vulnerably housed
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Strong engagement and relationship-building skills
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Confidence working with individuals who may display challenging behaviour
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The ability to work autonomously and manage competing priorities
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A proactive and solutions-focused mindset
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Excellent communication and partnership-working skills
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Confidence engaging with professionals across housing, health and social care systems
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Strong organisational and case recording skills
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A compassionate, non-judgemental and recovery-focused approach
Knowledge of local services, mutual aid networks and the Southwark area would be advantageous.
At Change Grow Live, our people are at the centre of everything we achieve.
When you join us, you become part of a supportive, ambitious and values-driven organisation where your work has real impact and where your development genuinely matters.
Contract: 10 Month Fixed Term Contract
Hours: Full Time
Please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.
**Salary is subject to review in line with the 2025/26 pay award.
Responsibilities:
As part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government funding programme, Change Grow Live has worked in partnership with local stakeholders to strengthen support for people experiencing rough sleeping.
Following successful funding approval, we are expanding our Southwark Rough Sleeper Team and are looking for passionate, resilient and proactive individuals to join us.
You will work directly with people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or unstable accommodation, many of whom are living with substance misuse, mental health challenges and multiple complex needs.
The role sits within our drug and alcohol treatment service, with a strong focus on outreach, harm reduction, engagement and recovery.
You will primarily work across hostels, emergency accommodation settings and community locations, building trusted relationships with residents and helping people access the support they need to improve their health, wellbeing and housing outcomes.
No two days are the same. One moment you may be supporting someone into treatment for the first time, the next you could be working alongside hostel staff, healthcare teams or local partners to reduce risk and improve safety for vulnerable individuals.
This is a role for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, values relationship-based practice and genuinely believes in the possibility of recovery.
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Engaging people with a history of rough sleeping and substance use into treatment and support services
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Delivering relationship-based, trauma-informed and harm-reduction focused interventions
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Working directly within hostels, shelters and emergency accommodation settings
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Supporting individuals to improve health, wellbeing, recovery and social inclusion outcomes
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Building strong partnerships with local authorities, housing providers, healthcare teams and community organisations
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Attending multi-disciplinary meetings and contributing to coordinated support plans
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Advocating for individuals and supporting access to health, social care and community services
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Promoting recovery, resilience, peer support and safer living
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Accurately recording interventions, risk assessments and case notes
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Helping shape best practice approaches for supporting people experiencing homelessness and substance misuse
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A meaningful role where you can directly change lives and strengthen communities
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Excellent training, learning and career development opportunities
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A supportive multidisciplinary team environment
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A paid Wellness Hour each week
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Access to our Wellness Hub and Employee Assistance Programme
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25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), rising to 30 days with continued service
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A contributory pension scheme
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Discounts on shopping, holidays, cinema trips and more
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Refer-a-Friend scheme
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The opportunity to be part of innovative outreach and rough sleeper pathways making a visible difference across Southwark
At Change Grow Live, we are committed to building services rooted in compassion, evidence and community need.
We work alongside people, not around them — helping individuals feel heard, respected and empowered to create positive change in their lives.
Our teams are diverse, inclusive and united by one shared purpose: helping people build healthier, safer and more hopeful futures.
If you are passionate about outreach, recovery and supporting people facing multiple disadvantage, we would love to hear from you.
Please read the full job description and person specification for further information about the role and requirements.
Please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.
Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.
Contract Type: Fixed Term until the 31st of March 2027
Interviews to be held week commencing 1st June 2027
Salary Range (pro rata if part time): CGL points 23 to 28 (£27,861.26 - £32,002.35) ILW / OLW /Fringe: Inner London Weighting (£4,133.14) Closing Date: 31/5/2026 If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:: Cat Young (Southwark Adults) | catriona.young@cgl.org.uk | 07345461013 : This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.
