Recovery Worker – The Society of St James, Southampton

Extended Brief Interventions Recovery Worker

Alcohol & Drug Service or Associated Outreach Services

Hampshire

Full-Time (37 hours per week)

Salary Scale: 22 – 26 (£26,986 - £30,561 per annum)

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society. 

The Impact You'll Make

In this role, you will provide high-quality, person-centred support to individuals experiencing substance use and/or complex needs, enabling them to reduce harm, improve wellbeing, and make sustainable life changes. Operating within our Alcohol & Drug Service and outreach settings, you will deliver evidence-based extended brief interventions, manage a dynamic caseload, support clients through clinical treatment pathways (including OST, detox, and rehab), and undertake assertive community/hostel outreach to reach vulnerable individuals. 

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for a trauma-informed, compassionate, and resilient individual who is deeply motivated to empower people with complex needs. You will be an innovative problem-solver with strong professional boundaries, self-awareness, and the confidence to build meaningful, non-judgmental relationships with service users who may be ambivalent or resistant to support. 

WORKING PATTERN (If Known) Flexible working required, including evenings and weekends. 

Essential Skills and Qualities

• Experience or strong understanding of working with individuals affected by substance use and complex needs.


• Knowledge of harm reduction principles, overdose prevention, and treatment options (including brief interventions and OST).


• A trauma-informed and compassionate approach to supporting individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages.


• Proven experience in caseload management, strength-based risk assessments, and multi-agency working.


• Ability to work assertively in outreach environments and engage hard-to-reach or marginalized groups.


• Strong communication, interpersonal, and team-working skills with the ability to build key partnerships (e.g., healthcare, probation, housing).


• Solid IT literacy and accurate record-keeping skills, including reporting system requirements (such as NDTMS).


• Ability to use initiative in responding to emergencies or unexpected situations while maintaining professional boundaries. 

What we can offer you 

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays


• Flexible working options


• Buying additional annual leave


• Comprehensive induction and training


• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme


• Company cycle to work scheme


• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers


• Electric Car Scheme


• Blue Light Card 

SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website. 

Application closing date: Tuesday 24^th November 2026 

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier. 

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

1. Cycle to work scheme


2. Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers


3. Employer pension contributions via salary sacrifice


4. Flexible working opportunities


5. Counselling, financial, personal support, and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme