About the Role
We are looking for a passionate and skilled Health and Wellbeing Practitioner to join our Integrated Substance Misuse Service at HMP Send, a female training prison. Our service works within an integrated health and wellbeing framework to support women who identify as having drug and alcohol issues.
The service delivers both psychosocial and clinical interventions, including ‘Footsteps in Recovery’, the rebranded RAPt Women’s Substance Dependence Treatment Programme (WSDTP) – a structured 12-step intensive abstinence-based programme.
In this role, you will manage a caseload and support clients through their treatment journey, delivering care through structured 1:1 sessions, group work, and tailored care plans. You will use a client-centred approach, balancing harm reduction and abstinence-based interventions depending on need. Working closely with partner agencies, you will also contribute to release planning and support reintegration into the community.
As a programmes-based practitioner, your focus will be the delivery of structured treatment programmes, including ‘Footsteps in Recovery’. This involves facilitating group therapy, running workshops and lectures, reviewing assignments, and delivering individual counselling – all as part of an intensive daily treatment schedule.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver the 12-step ‘Footsteps in Recovery’ programme and other structured interventions.
- Provide individual counselling, group therapy, workshops, and step lectures.
- Manage a caseload, conduct assessments, and design SMART care plans.
- Apply CBT and motivational counselling techniques.
- Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to support effective release planning.
- Contribute to targets set by Forward Trust and local commissioners.
- Facilitate groups with empathy, positivity, and strong interpersonal skills.
Essential Skills and Experience
- In-depth knowledge of and commitment to the 12-step recovery process.
- Previous experience working in a 12-step primary care programme.
- Experience providing counselling services to prisoners or those with drug and alcohol issues.
- Skilled in CBT and motivational counselling techniques.
- Experience conducting comprehensive assessments and creating SMART care plans.
- Recognised counselling qualification, or currently undertaking a recognised counselling course.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Diploma in Health & Social Care (or equivalent).