Young Adult Substance Use Recovery Worker (18–24) – The Society of St James, Portsmouth

Young Adult Substance Use Recovery Worker (18–24)

Portsmouth Recovery Hub Young Persons Team

DASS three days per week; Recovery Hub or community two days per week

37 hours per week, Permanent

Monday – Friday, including evenings and occasional weekends

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

Join our expanding young people’s offer as one of a team of two Young Persons Recovery Workers. You will support young adults aged 18–24 to make positive changes to their drug or alcohol use, reduce harm and work towards the recovery goals that matter to them.

You will co-locate at DASS three days per week and spend the remaining two days at the Recovery Hub or working in the community. You will work closely with DASS and other partners while remaining part of the wider Recovery Hub team, with access to shared learning, supervision and support.

This is an opportunity to help develop the young people’s substance use offer across Portsmouth. A particular focus will be raising awareness of ketamine use and its associated harms, engaging young adults who use ketamine, and helping develop ketamine support and recovery pathways alongside colleagues, partner agencies and young adults themselves.

Alongside this development work, you will manage a caseload of young adults with a range of substance use needs, provide individual support and appropriate group work, and use flexible outreach to help people access and remain engaged with support. 

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who is compassionate, trauma-informed, creative and proactive, and who can work independently and collaboratively. You will understand safeguarding, professional boundaries and safe community working, and be keen to contribute ideas to the development of the service. 

Working Hours

Monday – Thursday 9.00am - 17.00pm, Friday 9.00am - 16.30pm including evenings and occasional weekends. 

Essential Skills and Qualities

• Experience of working with young adults aged 18–24 and an understanding of substance use, mental health and barriers to accessing support.


• Ability to build trusting relationships, assess needs and risks, develop recovery plans and manage a caseload safely and effectively.


• Understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, professional boundaries and safe community and lone working.


• Clear communication, accurate record keeping and the ability to work independently and with colleagues and partner agencies.


• Creativity and willingness to contribute to developing the city’s young people’s offer, using young adults’ feedback.


• Knowledge of ketamine use and associated harms, or a willingness to develop this through training and practice.

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 

Application closing date: Sunday 1^st November

Interview date: Monday 9^th November

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