Family Safeguarding Substance Use Worker

We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Substance Use Worker to join our Family Safeguarding Adult Team, working directly with parents and carers whose substance or alcohol use may be affecting their children's safety and wellbeing.

This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of an innovative, multidisciplinary service helping families make sustainable change and supporting children to remain safely at home wherever possible.

About the Role

The role will be co-located within Family Help and Building Your Futures teams, working alongside Children’s Social Workers, Mental Health Workers, Domestic Abuse Specialists and other professionals as part of Portsmouth’s Family Safeguarding model.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist substance and alcohol use assessments and interventions for parents and carers.
• Support behaviour change using restorative, strengths‑based approaches and Motivational Interviewing.
• Contribute to multi‑agency plans aimed at improving parenting capacity and safeguarding children.
• Work with families in crisis and contribute to risk management and safety planning.
• Provide specialist advice, consultation and training to colleagues and partner agencies.
• Maintain high‑quality records and contribute to reviews, conferences and court reports when required.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Has relevant qualifications and/or significant experience in substance and alcohol use services.
• Has a strong understanding of adult and children’s safeguarding.
• Is trauma‑informed, inclusive and confident working with families from diverse backgrounds.
• Can build effective, empowering relationships with parents and carers.
• Is confident working both autonomously and as part of a busy, multi‑professional team.
• Has knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Practice (or willingness to develop).

Working Arrangements

This role is office‑based; hybrid working is not available.

Equal Opportunities and Legal Requirements

We are a disability‑confident employer and hold a gold standard for the Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment, and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

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