Make a real difference where it matters most.
At The Forward Trust, we deliver the psychosocial substance misuse service at HMP/YOI Stoke Heath, supporting people to make real, lasting change. As a Recovery Worker, you’ll be based at HMP Stoke Heath working 35 hours per week, managing a caseload of clients and helping them move towards recovery, stability, and life beyond custody.
This is a role where every day counts. You’ll carry out comprehensive assessments, build tailored care plans, and deliver structured 1:1 sessions alongside group programmes (including accredited interventions). You’ll also provide harm reduction advice and play a key role in supporting individuals through their transition from prison into the community.
What you’ll be doing:
- Managing a varied caseload and delivering person-centred support
- Running structured 1:1 interventions and group work programmes
- Supporting clients with harm reduction and recovery planning
- Helping individuals prepare for release and community reintegration
- Working collaboratively within a dedicated multidisciplinary team
We’re looking for someone who:
Believes recovery is possible and is passionate about helping people achieve it. You’ll bring empathy, resilience, and creativity, along with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ideally, you’ll have at least 4 of the following:
- A genuine passion for helping people change
- Experience in mental health or substance misuse services delivering structured interventions
- CBT and/or motivational counselling skills
- Understanding of the Recovery Agenda
- Experience using motivational interviewing (1:1 and groups)
- Knowledge of substance misuse and low-level mental health issues
- Understanding of mutual aid approaches
- Lived experience of recovery (stable and sustained)
- Counselling qualification
- Experience working in criminal justice settings
This is a chance to do meaningful work that genuinely changes lives. If you want a role where your support helps people rebuild from the ground up, this could be the one.
Please see attached Job Description for full details
All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.
Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.