Drug & Alcohol Education Liaison Worker

Change Grow Live is a charity built on the belief that we can make a real difference in people’s lives. We believe in empowering young people to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Our services are designed to meet people where they are and provide the support they need to build brighter futures — and this role plays a vital part in helping young people make informed, confident choices about their wellbeing.

Our Drug & Alcohol Education Liaison Worker role will work with educational establishments increasing the awareness and visibility of drug and alcohol use in young people and support available. They will work to improve knowledge and understanding in teaching and pastoral staff around alcohol and drug use in young people, how to identify children and young people who are at risk of problematic use and are at risk of suspension or exclusion for the same. 

Why Change Grow Live?
We Thrive by recruiting for success, recognising and rewarding effort, and supporting a culture that is safe, healthy, agile, and inclusive. Together as a team, we’re learning, growing, and identifying future leaders to help deliver our mission.

We foster a true sense of belonging — where every voice counts and every team member is empowered to contribute, connect, and grow.

If you’re ready to help shape a future where more young people feel safe, supported, and empowered to make positive choices, we’d love to hear from you.

Hours / Working Pattern:
Paet time, 30 hours per week*.

This role can also be offered on a term-time only basis, providing flexibility for those with commitments during school holidays.

Full Time Salary Range: £27,861.26 - £32,002.35* dependent on experience, pro rata for part time hours

*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. 

Do you want to work for a caring organisation that believes in people? 

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic individual to join our phenomenally successful West Sussex Under 25s Drug & Alcohol Service, part of the wider CGL Young Persons & Families Service. 

Our  Drug & Alcohol Education Liaison Worker role will work with educational establishments, including secondary schools, colleges of further education, Alternative Provision colleges and Virtual School across West Sussex, increasing the awareness and visibility of drug and alcohol use in young people and support available.

The postholder will work to improve knowledge and understanding in teaching and pastoral staff in educational establishments around alcohol and drug use in young people, how to identify children and young people who are at risk of problematic use and are at risk of suspension or exclusion for the same.

The successful candidate will support the educational staff to engage children and young people in open, supportive conversations about their drug and alcohol use. Where appropriate, the postholder will support referrals into the U25s Drug and Alcohol Service to ensure young people receive the right level of support at the right time.

We expect an assertive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults.  Applicants to this post will need to demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, best safeguarding practice. 

About you:

• Experience of working in educational establishments and/or with young people in 1to1 and group settings.
• Knowledge of issues facing young people today.
• Experience of multi-agency working and establishing partnerships with other professions.
• Knowledge of safeguarding concerns in relation to children and young people
• Have use of a car to travel to locations throughout the service area.

About the role: 

• To increase visibility and accessibility of the service among children, young people, families, and professionals in educational establishments.
• To support with increasing awareness, and improve engagement, including development of educational programmes, informative resources, and prevention pathways
• To enable and up-skill educational professionals to identify children and young people who are or at risk of problematic alcohol and drug use and are at risk of suspension or exclusion for the same.
• To develop and maintain excellent working relationships with appropriate local partners to ensure quality delivery.
• To develop and deliver training programmes aimed at creating awareness of the service alongside delivering early intervention key messages.
• To support educational staff to engage young people in conversations about their drug and alcohol use and through this empowering young people to reduce risk, increase resilience, and support access to further structured interventions where needed.
• To proactively generate and increase referrals from relevant partners including utilising data to target specific services/provisions with the highest need profile.
• Working with education staff to support to achieve positive, holistic outcomes in relation to young people’s health and wellbeing, enabling them to lead safe, healthy, and purposeful lives: reducing risk and increasing resilience.

What We Offer:

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays), rising annually with service (up to 30 days)
• Contributory pension scheme 
• Clear career progression opportunities in a supportive environment
• 1 hour a week (pro-rata if part time) wellbeing hour for your own wellbeing or professional development and other benefits: Change Grow Live employee benefits

Please ensure that when completing your application form and supporting statement, you reflect on the details outlined in the job description. This will help us understand how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role. 

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For applicants with time-limited visas, unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or extensions. More information about eligible roles and occupations can be found here: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.