Senior Worker/ Practitioner

Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner – Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Worker

What these clients need is more than a service.

They need people who can see beyond the crisis—who can build trust, work without judgement, and help create a future that feels safe again.

At Change Grow Live, we believe recovery is possible for everyone.

Guided by our values—Be open, be compassionate and be bold—we work alongside people facing some of the most complex challenges, creating spaces where healing, recovery and long-term change can happen.

We are now looking for a Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner to join a pioneering Multiple Compound Needs (MCN) Multi-Disciplinary Team across East Sussex. 

The details

• Location: East Sussex (Eastbourne, Newhaven, Lewes, Uckfield (working across multiple refuge and safe accommodation locations)
• Full Time Hours: 37.5 hours per week
• Contract: 9 months Fixed Term Contract

Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and business insurance, as this role requires travel across various locations.

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.

Overview

This is an exciting role that provides intensive, person-centred support to individuals experiencing Multiple Complex Needs (MCN), including severe and enduring substance dependency, homelessness or rough sleeping, and co-occurring mental health challenges. Working with a small but high-needs caseload, the successful candidate delivers assertive outreach, builds trusted relationships with individuals who may be disengaged from services, and provides tailored interventions that promote harm reduction, recovery, resilience, and social inclusion.

The role involves conducting risk assessments, developing safety management plans, supporting access to prescribing and specialist treatment services, and acting as a lead professional to coordinate multi-agency support where required. Working closely with health, housing, social care, and voluntary sector partners, the post holder advocates for clients, facilitates access to services, and contributes to multidisciplinary approaches that improve outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

The successful candidate will maintain accurate records, ensure compliance with safeguarding, confidentiality, and equality policies, actively involve people with lived experience in service development, and contribute to partnership meetings and professional forums. The role requires flexibility, strong relationship-building skills, effective partnership working, and a commitment to continuous professional development and high-quality service delivery.

About you

• Experience working within substance misuse services and a strong understanding of Multiple Complex Needs (MCN), mental health, domestic abuse, and the wider Health and Social Care system.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with service users and partner agencies through an assertive outreach approach.
• Ability to manage a varied workload, work independently and as part of a team, meet deadlines and targets, and respond flexibly to changing demands and challenging situations.
• Commitment to maintaining professional boundaries, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and delivering empathetic, non-judgemental, trauma-informed support that achieves positive outcomes for service users.
• Willingness to work flexibly and collaboratively with a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners, including local authorities and police services.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of local services, geographical areas, and support pathways.
• Understanding of homelessness and antisocial behaviour legislation.
• Strong emotional resilience, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a diplomatic and pragmatic manner.

What we will give to you: 

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays) rising by 1 day for each years’ service Capped at 30 days.
• Paid ‘Wellness’ hour each week along with a ‘Wellness’ hub and Employee Assist Programme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• A great selection of benefits incl. discounts for shopping, cinema, holidays, etc. 
• A friendly and supportive team 
• Training, career development & progression opportunities 

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. 

As we want to get to know you, not an AI tool. Please make sure your application is written in your own words and genuinely reflects your skills, experience and motivation for this 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. 

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.