Night Support Worker - The Bridges

We are Forward, the social enterprise that empowers people to break the cycle of crime or addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. 

The Bridges is Forward’s residential substance misuse treatment centre in Hull and delivers a structured 12 Step treatment programme, designed to help dependent substance users maintain abstinence and develop long term sustainable recovery. Over the last 19 years the unit has helped to create a growing recovery culture across the city and with the expansion of the Forward’s services and supports in the wider community, the ambition is to significantly increase this recovery capital as we further develop the unit.     

The Bridges is:  

• an abstinence-based residential drug and alcohol addiction recovery programme   
• for men and women over the age of 18 years, who have committed to remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol.  
• a therapeutic programme of psychosocial interventions within a residential community environment.  
• Based on the 12-step principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and the “Seeking Safety” approach  
• Proven successful at treating addictions and promoting attitude and behaviour change  
• Regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)  
• Operated by Forward Trust - a charitable organisation with a long history of supporting those in contact with the criminal justice system  
• A place for people who have demonstrated motivation to change their lives  

The Night Support Worker will be part of a rota to provide evening and waking night cover to the unit. 

The role will involve providing general support to male and female clients as part of a 24/7 residential rehabilitation unit, including provide service users with access to their medications, providing brief individual interventions and facilitating some structured interventions during the evenings. 

As a lone-working role, the post holder will to work on their own initiative, utilising the on-call support functions as necessary.  

Attention to security, health and safety and risk will be key aspects of the role. 

Service Delivery   

• Administer medications 
• Facilitate ‘check-out’ sessions and other structured interventions as  
• Follow processes and procedures to ensure the safety and security of clients and overall site 
• Support residents to maintain boundaries and met behaviour expectations 
• Ensure that curfews and lights out times are met. 

Performance Management  

• Maintain the boundaries and therapeutic containment of the unit during the evenings. 
• Ensure ‘check-out’ sessions are facilitatedin accordance with any relevant manuals. 
• Actively engage in supervision sessions, making full use of the support available. 
• Actively engage in team meetings as . 

Departmental Management  

• Be in the unit at all times whilst on duty and immediately available to meet the needs of the unit as .  
• Observe and report any unusual or unacceptable behaviour through Nebula and Ulysses systems and verbal and written handovers.  
• Hand over all relevant information both verbally and in writing to the next shift. 
• Provide access to the medications of clients as per policies and procedures. 
• Contribute to the overall smooth running of the service by being proactive and solution focused. 

• Training opportunities and career development
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

#supportwork #supportworker #substancemisuse

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Experience of administering medications 
• Good IT and communication skills 
• Good observational and reporting skills. 
• Ability to work alone using own initiative. 
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles of equality and diversity, confidentiality, health and safety. 
• Ability to engage effectively with the client group, including holding strong professional boundaries, conflict resolution and working with challenging behaviour. 

Desirable 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• A thorough knowledge of and commitment to the 12-step process of recovery from addiction. 
• Experience of providing services to people within the criminal justice system. 
• Experience of working in a residential rehabilitation setting or similar. 

• Experience of delivering therapeutic groups. 

Qualifications 

• HCA level 2 or equivalent. 
• A Certificate in Food Safety and/or Food Hygiene. 

Night Support Worker