Substance Use Worker within the Family Safeguarding Partnership

“Early Break is a young people and family charity that believes excellence at all points of delivery is a requirement. If you take pride in your work, are hardworking, want to be professionally challenged and are passionate to make a difference in the lives of others then our organisation could well suit you. We have a strong set of values determined by staff which we continuously work towards. It is our shared expectation our staff will be “professionally curious” both in their delivery and ongoing professional development.”
Vicky Maloney, CEO 

Family Safeguarding Partnership has a strong evidence base demonstrating positive impact for families who are facing complex challenges. The model involves the development of multi-disciplinary teams of social workers, domestic abuse, adult mental health and substance misuse specialists who work alongside families in accordance with their needs and vulnerabilities and uses motivational interviewing techniques to empower and engage parents to make the positive changes needed to achieve improved outcomes for their children and their own wellbeing.  

You will be employed by Early Break but will work within the multi-disciplinary Family Safeguarding Team with dedicated time spent with your Early Break Manager and colleagues.  Day to day work allocation and case responsibility will be managed by the Children’s Services Team Manager.  

As the Substance Misuse Worker within this multi-disciplinary team, your role will be to deliver psycho-social interventions both within 1:1 sessions and group sessions to parents to address their substance related needs and refer to clinical services as required.  

Key deliverables

• To manage a high case load of adults whose families are open to Children’s Social Care (as Child in Need or Child in Need of Protection) and where the parents are experiencing problems related to primarily substance misuse and other vulnerabilities
• To deliver 1:1, face to face work, and where appropriate group work with the parents and manage the appointments to best meet clients’ needs in accordance with Early Break Policies and Procedures.  This may include evening and/or weekend sessions.
• To carry out home visits to the families on your case load
• Complete a full assessment of each client’s needs and develop, monitor and review SMART care plans for each individual client using agreed systems
• Offer structured treatment interventions, including substitute prescribing, if required and appropriate
• To ensure that all necessary administration, recording and reporting is undertaken to specified deadlines using the Children’s Services and agreed substance database
• Strong awareness of legislation as it applies to adults at risk, children and young people particularly focused on Safeguarding, substance misuse, criminal justice and Emotional Health and Well Being
• To share information with colleagues in accordance with relevant Information Sharing Agreements
• Be able to work effectively within a team
• To promote and champion best practice in parenting and family work with partner agencies
• Contribute to a range of multi-agency meetings ensuring the voices of the client and the voice of the child is heard
• Be a reflective practitioner in the role
• Be skilled and confident to deliver training and support for external partners in relation to substance misuse and the issues related to it
• To contribute to the wider work of the service and its entrepreneurial development.
• Adhere to Early Break policies and procedures
• Maintain and update levels of knowledge and understanding of issues relevant to the client group and their children and young people
• Engage with training opportunities through training offered by Early Break and other agencies, as these arise
• Contribute to the service’s social media