Substance Use Worker (23619)

To deliver evidence-based interventions to children, young people, and families affected by parental substance use across Conwy and Denbighshire , with a specific focus on the Hidden Harm Programme and the Parent Factor Programme . The post holder will provide direct support to families within homes, community venues, schools, and partner agencies, helping to reduce the impact of substance misuse on children and young people.

The role will support families to reduce risks associated with parental substance use, strengthen parenting capacity, improve family relationships, build resilience, and promote positive outcomes for children and young people. Working directly with parents, carers, children, young people, and partner agencies, the post holder will ensure a coordinated approach to safeguarding, early intervention, and family support, enabling families to access the right support at the right time and achieve sustainable positive change.

Key Responsibilities

Hidden Harm Programme Delivery

• Deliver the Hidden Harm Programme to families affected by parental substance use.
• Assess the impact of substance use on children, young people, and family functioning.
• Provide targeted interventions to reduce the negative effects of parental substance use on children.
• Promote resilience, emotional wellbeing, and protective factors within families.
• Support children and young people to understand substance misuse and its impact in an age-appropriate manner.
• Develop family support plans and monitor progress against agreed outcomes.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are identified and managed appropriately.

Parent Factor Programme Delivery

• Facilitate Parent Factor sessions with parents and carers affected by substance use.
• Support parents to develop positive parenting skills and strategies.
• Promote healthy parent-child relationships and attachment.
• Assist parents to understand the impact of their substance use on their children.
• Encourage behaviour change and sustained recovery through family-centred approaches.
• Help parents identify strengths and build confidence in their parenting role.
• Record outcomes and evaluate programme effectiveness.

Family Support

• Conduct assessments and develop person-centred support plans.
• Deliver one-to-one, family-based, and group interventions.
• Provide practical and emotional support to families.
• Signpost and refer individuals to specialist services where appropriate.
• Support families to access community resources and support networks.

Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with schools, social services, health professionals, youth services, and other partner agencies.
• Attend multi-agency meetings, case conferences, and safeguarding meetings as required.
• Advocate for the needs of children and families affected by substance use.
• Contribute to the development of local referral pathways and partnership arrangements.

Safeguarding and Risk Management

• Maintain a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Identify and manage risks to children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• Follow organisational safeguarding procedures and reporting requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely case records.
• Maintain confidential records in accordance with GDPR and organisational requirements.
• Collect and report outcome data for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Contribute to service reports and performance information.
• Understanding of the impact of parental substance use on children and family life.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and guidance.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Knowledge of child development and family support principles.
• Awareness of substance misuse and recovery models.

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage hard-to-reach families.
• Ability to facilitate group work and deliver training sessions.
• Effective time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competent IT skills and accurate record keeping.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values . We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
• T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

Reference number:

23619

Job Title:

Substance Use Worker

Location:

Workplace offer: Hybrid working, Barnardo's hub/office or home address

Contract type:

Permanent

Hours:

37

Salary:

£26,003 - £27,592 plus £312 per annum Office at Home Allowance

Closing Date:

25 September 2026

Interview Date:

To be confirmed

Benefits

• Discounts at 100's of retailers
• Employee suggestion scheme
• Company pension
• Employee Assistance Programme