Drug and Alcohol Practitioner Location: Bedford Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Fixed Term (Mat Leave) Salary: 25,842 – 27,882 Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. About Aquarius Aquarius Action Projects is a long-established charity (since 1977) based in Birmingham with a national reach of contracts and Partnerships. Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough a large charity that specialises in mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, weve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services and its all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers. Make a real difference in your community Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job its a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. About the Role We are looking for a dedicated Practitioner to join the Bedfordshire Young Peoples Service, supporting young people affected by drug and alcohol use. In this role, you will work directly with young people to provide advice, brief interventions and longer-term structured support to help reduce harm and promote recovery. You will complete assessments, develop care plans and work collaboratively with a range of partner agencies including schools, social care, mental health services and youth offending teams. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in young peoples lives while contributing to a service focused on recovery and positive outcomes. Key Duties Provide information, advice and support to young people around drug and alcohol use. Deliver brief and structured interventions to support harm reduction and recovery. Complete assessments, risk assessments and care planning with young people. Maintain accurate and timely case records and documentation. Work in partnership with external agencies such as schools, social care, youth offending and mental health services. Support young people in a variety of settings including community and partner locations. Contribute to a safe, supportive and recovery-focused service environment. About You You will be passionate about supporting young people and promoting recovery from substance misuse. You will have a good understanding of drug and alcohol related issues and the challenges young people may face. You will be confident working both independently and as part of a multi-agency team, with strong organisational and communication skills. You will either hold a relevant qualification in health or social care, youth and community work, counselling or addiction studies (such as NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing) or have experience working within the substance misuse field with a willingness to work towards a Level 3 Health and Social Care qualification. You will also have experience engaging with individuals from a range of backgrounds, a commitment to confidentiality and safeguarding, and the ability to maintain clear and accurate records using systems such as Microsoft Office. What We Offer We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, youll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package: 27 days annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays) Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5% Life assurance (3 annual salary) Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days annual leave Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals 500 Recommend a Friend bonus Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year Inclusion and accessibility At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of substance use or recovery, and from candidates from minoritised ethnic communities. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities to ensure our services are representative of the communities we serve. We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme – all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk Inclusion and accessibility At Aquarius, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of substance use or recovery, and from candidates from minoritised ethnic communities. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities to ensure our services are representative of the communities we serve. If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk How to apply If youre viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click Apply via company website to view the full job description and submit your application. Closing date: Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support. We have almost 200 services around England and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 125,000 people. Bringing together two big organisations is not a small task and itll take a while to fully integrate our systems, processes and approaches. Thats why you will notice various brands including, Richmond Fellowship or Aquarius (our subsidiary charity in the Midlands). Aquarius Aquarius is a subsidiary of Waythrough. Aquarius is a Midlands-based charity supporting individuals to overcome the harms caused by drugs, alcohol and gambling. Aquarius has always held the view that people we support could resolve their problems with support and guidance and that people have the ability to find their own solutions to their problems. Our roles across the organisation include Practitioners and Administrators as well as Team Managers. Find out more at www.aquarius.org.uk