Recovery Champion

The Recovery Champion role is an exciting and varied opportunity within CGL services. This role forms part of the frontline service, ensuring that every person entering the service is welcomed with compassion and dignity, and supported in a safe, inclusive environment.

As a Recovery Champion, you’ll be a vital point of contact for individuals accessing drug and alcohol services—offering practical support, harm reduction advice, and a welcoming, non-judgemental presence. You will also support administrative and reception functions and contribute to the smooth running of the service.

This role is ideal for someone with lived experience or a passion for supporting others in recovery. You’ll help reduce stigma, encourage engagement with treatment, and signpost individuals to further support.

You’ll encourage people to attend appointments, groups and clinics, introduce them to recovery communities, mutual aid and peer support, and connect them with other services when they need additional help.

Alongside this, you’ll help the hub run smoothly. You’ll welcome visitors, support appointment check-ins, manage the flow of people through the service and help maintain a safe, organised and welcoming environment.

Location: Liverpool
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and any associated payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement and Support

• Welcome and engage with service users in a friendly, non-judgemental manner.
• Offer initial support, including conversations that support confidence and motivation to engage in recovery.
• Provide brief advice around harm reduction, safer use, and safer sex (training provided).
• Support clients to access needle exchange services, including promoting safe return of used equipment.
• Promote and encourage the use of naloxone, supporting service users in understanding its use and how to obtain it.
• Encourage service users to attend keywork sessions, groups, or clinics.
• Promote recovery-focused conversations and share information about recovery communities, peer support and mutual aid.
• Signpost to appropriate internal services or external support agencies when required.
• Complete initial assessments into treatment.

Reception and Front-of-House Duties

• Greet all visitors and service users as they arrive on site, ensuring they feel welcomed and supported.
• Support the sign-in and appointment check-in process.
• Assist with managing service user flow and notifying staff when clients arrive.
• Maintain a calm and supportive atmosphere in waiting areas.
• Answering telephone queries

Operational Support

• Assist staff with session preparation, group setup, and general service organisation.
• Support harm reduction stations, needle exchange or reception areas as needed.
• Record basic data or service user interactions as directed.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times.
• Assist with maintaining a clean, safe and welcoming service environment.
• Take part in debriefs, reflective practice, and supervision.

Person Specification

Essential

• A non-judgemental and empathetic approach to individuals who use substances.
• A passion for supporting others in their recovery journey.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to work as part of a team and take direction from staff.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in a busy environment.
• Respect for confidentiality and an understanding of appropriate boundaries.
• Commitment to CGL’s values of inclusion, empowerment and equality.
• Willingness to complete required training, including safeguarding and harm reduction.

Desirable

• Lived experience of drug/alcohol recovery or experience supporting others in a recovery setting.
• Understanding of harm reduction principles, including naloxone and needle exchange.
• Confidence using basic IT systems (email, appointment check-in, etc.).
• Interest in progressing towards a career in health, social care or substance misuse services.

What we will give to you:

• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays. Additionally, you'll receive one extra day of annual leave for each year of service during your first five years, therefore you will enjoy 30 days of leave after five years with us. (Pro Rata)
• 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
• Refer a friend scheme and receive vouchers if candidate is successful.

A note about using AI in your application

AI can be a really helpful tool when putting together your application, and we're happy for you to use it. However, what we're most interested in is you.

We want to understand your experiences, achievements and strengths, so please make sure your application reflects your own story and clearly shows how you meet the essential criteria and the impact you've made in previous roles.

There's no need to write in a particular style. The strongest applications are those that are authentic, specific and clearly demonstrate your skills, experience and potential. We look forward to learning more about you.

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

This opportunity is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

Please note that we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies for this vacancy. Direct applications only.

A DBS check will be required (enhanced level).