Recovery Worker

Overview

At Change Grow Live, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to change the direction of their life. As a national charity rooted in compassion, evidence and respect, we work alongside people affected by substance use to help them access the right support, at the right time, in a way that recognises them as individuals.

Our values — Be open. Be compassionate. Be bold. — shape how we work every day, guiding our practice with people who use our services, our partners, and each other.

We are now looking for a Recovery Worker to join our dedicated prison-based team at HMP Cookham Wood, supporting people in custody who are affected by drug and alcohol use. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in substance misuse who is ready to take the next step in their career within a values-led organisation that actively invests in learning, development and progression.

• Location: West Kent Prisons
• Base: HMP Cookham Wood
• Clearance: This role is subject to prison clearance
• Hours: 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 payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.

Responsibilities

About the role

As a Recovery Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting people from point of entry into the service and throughout their treatment and recovery journey within the secure estate.

Working as part of an integrated health and wellbeing model, you will deliver person-centred, trauma-informed psychosocial interventions, helping individuals to reduce harm, build resilience and prepare for recovery both in custody and on release.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting service users from initial engagement through treatment and recovery
• Delivering psychosocial interventions as part of the prison Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service
• Working in partnership with healthcare providers and prison colleagues within an integrated model
• Advocating for service users who may be unwilling or unable to engage in treatment
• Proactively following up missed appointments to maximise engagement opportunities
• Contributing to risk management processes, including ACCT procedures where appropriate
• Supporting social (re)integration by promoting recovery, resilience, peer support and self-determination

This role requires professionalism, adaptability and the ability to work confidently within a secure environment.

About you

You will be motivated by making a difference and bring a thoughtful, recovery-focused approach to your work. You will also demonstrate:

• A strong understanding of substance misuse and experience working in a similar field
• Ideally, experience within a prison or criminal justice setting
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with good IT capability
• The ability to work proactively, manage your time effectively and prioritise competing demands
• A sound understanding of mental health interventions, services and best practice
• Strong partnership-working skills with internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to manage change in a way that keeps service users at the centre
• A clear commitment to information governance, safeguarding and confidentiality
• A willingness to seek out learning opportunities and contribute to the development of others

What we offer

At Change Grow Live, we Thrive by creating the conditions for people to succeed, feel valued and experience a genuine sense of belonging.

You can expect:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing by one day per year of service
• A paid weekly Wellness Hour, plus access to our Wellness Hub and Employee Assistance Programme
• A contributory pension scheme
• A wide range of discounts including shopping, cinema and holidays
• A friendly, supportive and inclusive team environment
• Ongoing training, learning and career development opportunities
• A generous Refer a Friend scheme

Together, we foster open, inclusive cultures where people are supported to grow and do their best work.

When completing your application and supporting statement, please clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the requirements outlined in the job description.

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.

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. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and obtain HMPPS security clearance, Police Vetting or MOJ vetting

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 23 to 28 (£28,557.79 - £32,802.41)

ILW / OLW /Fringe

N/A - Outside London Weighting Area

Closing Date

11/10/2026

If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details:

Jodie Millar | [email protected] | 01634 202537 This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.