Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Substance Misuse
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
455-NLFT-0878-A
Employer
North London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Old Court House, Enable-Alcohol and Drug Services
Town
Enfield
Salary
£36,943 - £44,900 Per annum including Outer London Allowance
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

North London NHS Foundation Trust logo

Substance Misuse Recovery Worker-Homelessness

Band 5

Thank you for your interest in North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT).

As of 1 April 2026, NLFT has formally merged with Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust—marking the start of an exciting new chapter. This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation at a time of transformation, where we are strengthening access to mental health services, responding more effectively to complex and specialist needs, and advancing our work in education, research and innovation.

By bringing together our combined expertise, we are building a stronger, more collaborative Trust—one that delivers consistent, high-quality care and improved outcomes for the diverse communities we serve.

At the heart of our approach is The North London Way. We are committed to:

  • Working collaboratively at every level, guided by our shared values
  • Shaping a positive, inclusive culture where staff and service users thrive
  • Empowering our teams with the skills, tools and autonomy to drive meaningful change
  • Delivering excellence and continuously improving the quality of care we provide
  • Embedding research, innovation and technology across our services
  • Taking a trauma-informed approach in everything we do

We are proud to be an inclusive employer that values diversity. We actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly from our local communities, and are committed to creating opportunities for everyone—including apprentices, veterans and care leavers.

The North London Way to deliver: Better Mental Health, Better Lives, Better Communities.

Our trust website is:  https://www.northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/ 

As a values‑driven Trust, we recruit through our values. Our selection processes focus on behaviours, attitudes, and examples that reflect our organisational values and commitment to compassionate, high‑quality care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.

We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit  https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.

North London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to fair and transparent recruitment and requires applicants to provide accurate information, as misleading details may affect their application or employment and may be verified in line with the Fraud Act 2006. For further information please visit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.

Job overview

The Substance Misuse Recovery Worker (Band 5) role is based within Enable’s Enfield service and focuses on delivering holistic, strength‑based support to people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage who are affected by drug and alcohol use. The postholder manages a caseload of individuals with complex needs, providing assessment, care planning, harm reduction interventions, and coordinated recovery support across community and outreach settings.

The role involves close multidisciplinary working and partnership engagement with health, housing, criminal justice, and voluntary sector agencies to promote engagement, reduce risk, and improve outcomes. Practice is underpinned by trauma‑informed, non‑judgemental approaches, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding, harm reduction (including OST, needle exchange and Naloxone), and supporting service users towards improved health, stability, and independence

Main duties of the job

 

  • To work as an effective member of the multidisciplinary team actively participating in team meetings, group supervision and clinical team meeting
  • To manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, completing comprehensive assessments, risk management and treatment plans, as well as co-produced care plans with service users.
  • To work with service users who are in Opioid Substitute treatment substitute and non opiate . This includes testing service users for illicit drug use, liaising with pharmacies regarding dispensing and supervised consumption, GP liaison and producing/issuing prescriptions under the supervision of a medical prescriber.
  • To adhere to local safeguarding protocols to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. including the completion of safeguarding assessment tools, referrals to social services and producing reports
  • To work effectively with partner agencies and other professional to ensure a joined up approach to treatment and care planning
  • Able to work flexibly according to the needs of the service i:e faciliatataing late evening and contributing to Duty rota.

 

Working for our organisation

Why choose to join the North London NHS Foundation Trust?

 

We believe that by working together, our Trust can achieve more for the residents of North Central London and our patients than we can by working apart.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

1.    We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.

2.    With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all

3.    We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

4.    We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.

 

Why NLFT?

·       Transforming and creating a positive environment for our service users, staff and visitors.

  • We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
  • We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
  • NHS Discounts, generous annual leave allowance and NHS pension scheme
  • We have excellent internal staff network support groups.

 

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  •  To work as an effective member of the multidisciplinary team actively participating in team meetings, group supervision and clinical team meetings
  • To manage a caseload of service users with complex needs, completing comprehensive assessments, risk management and treatment plans, as well as co-produced care plans with service users.
  • To work with service users who are in Opioid Substitute treatment substitute. This includes testing service users for illicit drug use, liaising with pharmacies regarding dispensing and supervised consumption, GP liaison and producing/issuing prescriptions under the supervision of a medical prescriber.
  • To adhere to local safeguarding protocols to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. including the completion of safeguarding assessment tools, referrals to social services and producing reports
  • To work effectively with partner agencies and other professional to ensure a joined up approach to treatment and care planning

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria
  • NVQ Health and social care
Desirable criteria
  • Drug and alcohol related qualification

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria
  • Recent and relevant experience of working with those affected by drug & alcohol use and homelessness
  • Demonstrate relevant knowledge gained in previous employment or elsewhere
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in carrying out Dry Blood Spot Testing

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Essential criteria
  • An understanding of the physical, psychological and social needs of those affected by drug & alcohol use and homelessness
  • A good working knowledge of the specific health risks that those affected by drug & alcohol use and homelessness are exposed to.
  • An understanding of the principles and practice of harm minimisation, and a commitment to work within the harm reduction model of practice
  • An understanding of the theories and practices of safeguarding procedures for children and vulnerable adults.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential criteria
  • Should include team working, interpersonal skills and written and verbal skills, importance of a positive “can do” attitude and a positive attitude to change

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleJob share policyAge positiveImproving working livesCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthAccredited Living Wage Employer

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sabrina Miller-Cummings
Job title
Operational Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02083796010
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies