Location: Home-based (UK-wide) with travel for training and business needs as required.
Service: National Recovery Online Programme
Base: Clouds House
Working pattern: Full-time / 35 hours per week – flexibility required, including occasional evening and weekend work.
About the role
Are you passionate about supporting people to make positive, lasting changes in their lives?
We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Recovery Online Counsellor to join The Forward Trust's National Recovery Online Programme Team, connected to Clouds House.
Recovery Online is a national service supporting adults aged 18 and over who are experiencing drug, alcohol or behavioural addictions. We provide an integrated programme of interventions designed to meet the holistic needs of individuals and support them on their recovery journey.
You will deliver The Forward Trust's Online Programme, which is based on the 12-Step Approach and delivered entirely online. You will play an important role in helping service users develop the skills, confidence and support networks needed to achieve sustainable recovery.
Working closely with the Senior Recovery Online Counsellor and Regional Service Manager, you will deliver a structured treatment programme, including assessments, care planning, risk management and therapeutic group facilitation. You may also be asked to support the delivery of other connected online programmes.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing a caseload of service users, undertaking comprehensive assessments and developing individualised, recovery-focused care plans.
- Completing risk assessments, identifying safeguarding concerns and implementing appropriate risk management plans.
- Delivering structured psychosocial interventions through one-to-one sessions and therapeutic group work.
- Facilitating online recovery groups and supporting individuals to engage positively with their recovery journey.
- Maintaining accurate, timely and confidential clinical records and ensuring all interventions are delivered in line with agreed care plans and organisational procedures.
- Building effective therapeutic relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
- Working collaboratively with internal colleagues and external agencies to support positive recovery pathways.
- Contributing to the promotion and development of the service through webinars, networking, stakeholder engagement and partnership development.
- Supporting the ongoing development and effective delivery of the National Recovery Online Programme.
Remote working and travel expectations
This is a predominantly home-based, remote-working role, offering the opportunity to deliver recovery support to individuals across the UK without the requirement to work from a fixed office location on a daily basis.
However, applicants should be aware that remote working does not mean the role is entirely location-independent. There will be an expectation to travel occasionally to attend mandatory training, team meetings, organisational events and other business-related activities. You may also be required, with reasonable notice, to travel to other projects or locations to support service delivery and ensure continuity of care.
Please note that travel and associated costs for attending training will not be reimbursed by The Forward Trust. Candidates should take this into consideration when deciding whether to apply.
Some flexibility is also required to meet the needs of the service, which offers evening and weekend provision for individuals who are unable to attend daytime sessions.
About you
We are looking for someone who is compassionate, approachable and committed to supporting people affected by addiction to achieve meaningful and lasting recovery.
You will have experience delivering structured treatment interventions and be confident working with individuals who may have complex needs, including substance misuse, behavioural addictions and mental health challenges.
You will bring a sound understanding of recovery-focused practice and the ability to build positive, professional therapeutic relationships. You will be comfortable facilitating both individual and group interventions online, engaging service users and motivating them to make positive changes.
To be successful in this role, you will have:
Qualifications
- A Level 4 Counselling qualification or above (essential).
- A Diploma in Health and Social Care, or equivalent (desirable).
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Experience conducting comprehensive assessments and developing recovery-focused care plans.
- Experience undertaking risk assessments and implementing appropriate risk management plans.
- Experience delivering psychosocial interventions within structured treatment programmes, with an understanding of how these support positive recovery outcomes.
- Experience facilitating therapeutic groups and delivering one-to-one interventions.
- Experience working with individuals affected by substance misuse, addiction, mental health needs or complex presentations.
- Experience managing a caseload, maintaining accurate records and delivering interventions in line with agreed care plans.
- An understanding of the 12-Step Approach and its application within recovery-focused services.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage, motivate and support individuals in both individual and group settings.
- The ability to build and maintain effective therapeutic relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
- Good negotiation, influencing and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify key issues and respond effectively.
- A good understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, with sensitivity to the different experiences and needs of the people we support.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office, video conferencing platforms and digital systems, with the ability to support service users who may need help developing their digital skills.
- Experience using client information management systems.