ABOUT THE ROLE
Are you passionate about making a real impact in people's lives? We are thrilled to announce a brand-new opportunity to join our dynamic team in Croydon as a Mental Health and Substance Misuse Advisor (Specialist Dual Diagnosis Worker) on a 12-month fixed-term contract, with potential for extension based on funding. In this pivotal role, you’ll be at the heart of transforming the lives of our residents by delivering innovative, evidence-based interventions. You will conduct comprehensive, person centered assessments that drive personalized recovery journeys. Whether it’s enhancing independent living skills or supporting long-term mental health and substance misuse recovery, you’ll be a key player in empowering individuals to reclaim control of their lives.
As the newest addition to our team, you will be leading efforts to develop and implement holistic support strategies. Your work will go beyond daily care—you’ll be facilitating meaningful change, enabling our residents to achieve their goals, and actively contributing to improved outcomes for those who need it most. If you're ready to embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career where you can directly influence long-term positive change, this role is for you!
Penrose Croydon: Our Croydon facility offers a psychologically informed environment across four distinct sites, providing medium and low-support forensic mental health services to men and women. These services are designed to support residents' rehabilitation and aid their successful reintegration into the community. The job holder will work across different sites in the South London area, offering flexibility and the opportunity to engage with a variety of services and residents in need of support. Our service has 27 residents across 4 sites, which specialise in Forensic Mental Health aiming to enable and empower our residents to achieve their maximum levels of functional independence and enhance their sense of wellbeing.
Shift Pattern: This role is full time 37.5 hours per week. Hours to be discussed, you will be based in service.
Travel: Travel: The role is based in East Croydon, accessible by Train and Tram Link. Any travel required outside your home location for work-related purposes can be expensed.
ABOUT YOU
You are a compassionate, proactive professional who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals with complex needs, particularly those facing mental health challenges and substance misuse. You bring experience in working with people from diverse backgrounds, including those with a history of offending, mental illness, and dual diagnosis. You thrive on delivering person-centred, trauma-informed support and understand the importance of creating a psychologically informed environment.
Your expertise in holistic assessments, risk management, and evidence-based interventions equips you to empower individuals towards recovery and independence. You have a strong understanding of how mental health and substance misuse intersect and are committed to supporting residents in stabilizing their situation and reducing their reliance on clinical interventions. If you’re ready to take on a rewarding challenge where your skills and dedication will have a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you!
We are an inclusive employer, committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We have a team of ambassadors who are staff volunteers and actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity.
SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience ; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity .
As an organisation, we’re proud to mention that our staff Ambassadors career aspirations generally benefit from embracing this unique opportunity to develop their respective skill sets in spaces that exist outside of their daily roles.
What are we looking for?
- Knowledge, understanding and experience of working with people of complex backgrounds. Ideally ex-offenders, those with enduring mental health, substance misuse, dual diagnosis and challenging behaviours
- Experience of assessing needs and strengths, and supporting people with dual diagnosis and complex needs
- Previous experience in a similar role, providing holistic assessments and support for people experiencing mental illness
- IT Proficiency, including Microsoft Office, and the ability to navigate and learn new case management systems and other types of organisational software
What would we like, but not essential?
- Experience in delivering training in motivational interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Theory informed approaches and other relevant recovery models
What we offer
- 25 days annual leave, increasing with the length of service
- Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans (Funded)
- Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
- Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Annual Staff Awards
If you have the passion, creativity, and tenacity to make a real difference in people's lives, challenge stigma and make our communities safer, we would love to hear from you!
OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Conduct holistic assessments and risk assessments with residents/participants to identify support needs and establish outcome-based, personalized recovery plans.
- Deliver a range of evidence-based interventions, such as harm minimization, relapse prevention, and motivational interviewing, supporting residents through their recovery journey.
- Collaborate closely with clinical teams and support staff to develop joint care plans that reflect residents' individual goals, facilitating integration and improved well-being.
- Promote active involvement of residents in identifying their strengths and interests, encouraging participation in meaningful activities to foster independence and resilience.
- Provide advice and support on harm reduction and recovery strategies, helping residents manage their mental health and substance misuse challenges effectively.
- Identify early signs of deteriorating mental health and take appropriate action by liaising with relevant partners and services to prevent crises.
- Build and maintain purposeful relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including healthcare providers, community services, and local agencies, to enhance support networks.
- Ensure all case records are accurately maintained, compliant with GDPR and confidentiality policies, while contributing to the continuous improvement of the service environment and resident outcomes.
Other responsibilities than those described above may be required to be undertaken from time to time and will be expected to be performed to as long as it is within the capability and level of the position.
Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.
WORKING FOR US
ABOUT US
Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.
SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change
Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.
Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.
For Recruitment related enquiries, or if you need support with making your application for example due to learning needs or a disability, please email recruitment@socialinterestgroup.org.uk or call us on 020 3668 9270
Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We are an inclusive employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details above.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.
