Senior Recovery Support Worker

Substance Misuse Portsmouth Recovery and Housing Services

22.5 hours per week, Permanent

Scale Range: 24 - 28 (£17,444 to £19,827 per annum based on 22.5 hours per week) + unsocial hours payment

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Impact You'll Make

The Society wishes to recruit a Senior Recovery Housing Support Worker to join the team in delivering supported housing within the Integrated Substance Misuse Recovery Services in Portsmouth. Based across various hostels in Portsmouth, you will work in a person-centred and trauma-informed approach to support individuals who want to make changes to their lives by supporting them to access interventions that are important to them.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who brings their authentic self to work and possesses the skills, experience, and understanding required to work with adults experiencing alcohol and substance misuse issues. You will have experience working with this client group, understand the impact of substance misuse on individuals and the wider community, and be capable of managing a client caseload safely and effectively.

Essential Skills and Qualities

• Responsible for the effective daily operation of the services managed, the direct supervision of staff, and delegating work appropriately
• Ability to build good working relationships with stakeholders and funders, consulting effectively and attending all meetings as required
• Capability to develop and oversee the implementation of the trauma-informed recovery model and good practice across the service
• Ability to lead and motivate the staff team to ensure a consistently high standard of service delivery and continuous improvement
• Self-reflective, motivated, and able to work independently (including lone working) as well as part of a team
• Innovative and able to engage meaningfully with service users
• Strong ability to assess people’s needs and risks alongside good risk management skills
• Accurate record-keeping and reflective thinking skills
• Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable people with histories of homelessness, drug and alcohol dependency, and mental health needs
• Ability to respond to crisis management, keep the client at the centre of the work, and make full use of local resources and services 

What We Can Offer You

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk: 

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Company cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme
• Blue Light Card 

To apply, please send your CV & cover letter explaining why you would be suitable for the position. Please note that CVs alone will not be considered during shortlisting.

SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.

Application closing date: 9am on Wednesday 26^th August 2026

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier. Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

1. Cycle to work scheme
2. Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
3. Employer pension contributions via salary sacrifice
4. Flexible working opportunities
5. Counselling, financial, personal support, and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme