Team Leader – Grow Your Own

• Job Title
• Team Leader – Grow Your Own (GYO) Employment, Training, Enterprise Pathway
• Grade / Pay scale
• From £27,500
• Location
• Westmorland and Furness (Barrow & Kendal)
• Hours
• 37.5 hours per week
• Accountable To
• Operations Lead
• Contract
• Fixed Term till 31st March 2029
• DBS Requirement
• Enhanced level
• J

Job Description

Overview

The Well Communities is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, led by people in recovery from substance misuse. Our aim is to build networks, connections and activities that will help to address many of the problems that drive substance misuse and the offending behaviours that result.

You will be someone who shares our belief in the inherent capacity and potential of people to bring about positive change; for themselves and the communities in which they live. We believe that everyone has the potential to grow, learn and achieve, whatever the barriers are that they have faced. We know it takes courage and hard work to change, which is why we have a commitment statement as well as a mission statement. Being committed means being:

Safety : Creating an environment of safety in everything we do, providing the foundation for recovery and wellbeing.

Integrity : Acting with transparency and honesty to build trust and strong relationships.

Resilience : Recognising recovery as a journey that requires strength and perseverance, and fostering resilience in staff, those we work with, and the wider recovery community.

Empowerment : Supporting people to choose their own path in recovery, promoting autonomy and collaboration in finding solutions.

Love : Working with compassion, ensuring people feel valued and supported, and extending care until they can love themselves.

Role Overview

The Well Communities Grow Your Own ETE programmes overall aim is to provide joined up support mechanisms to enable economically inactive individuals with multiple complex needs to enter the active labour market across the Westmorland and Furness demographic.

They will recruit; train; engage in operational activity and supervise marginalised local citizens across the Westmorland and Furness footprint over a 5-year period to create the next cohort of staff members for local 3rd sector organisations and statutory support services moving forward.

This approach overarches local need on a threefold level: The need to remove barriers to employment for targeted cohorts who are often excluded from the labour market and economically inactive. This coaching model will stimulate the VCFSE employment landscape locally and provide lived experience staff with existing skillsets and experience. This project satisfies department of health aspiration to put “lived experience” at the very heart of service delivery and gives participants self-worth and improved wellbeing.

As the Grow Your Own project lead you will work closely with the TWC Senior Leadership Team, sub-contracting organisations, partner organisations, local councils, clinicians, social enterprises, and training providers to develop TWC service reach,

whilst supporting TWC Operational Lead to accurately report back impact data, contract monitoring/performance and development opportunities.

You will support TWC Operational Lead to develop innovative projects that consider broad public health outcomes and embed an outcome-focussed recovery culture and provide a constant stimulus for improving services in a learning environment. You will carry out your role within a culture of co-production which actively promotes concepts

including asset-based working practices, visible, tangible recovery and pro-social modelling which are aligned with the core organisational values of TWC at every level.

You will be required to work flexibly across operational sites within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision.

Key Responsibilities

Carry out community asset mapping and create/maintain a live asset register of potential employers and volunteer placement stakeholders.

• Work closely with the GYO team to ensure service delivery is conducted in a professional manner in line with current policies, procedures, and related strategic documents
• Outreach to recruit clients for the programme through networking with local agencies, delivering presentations in the community and engaging directly with local people who fit the project criteria
• Provide one to one support to vulnerable clients with a range of barriers including: mental & physical health problems, substance misuse issues, learning difficulties and disabilities, gender identity issues and the long term unemployed
• Complete sign up and on-going project paperwork accurately with close attention to detail
• Complete risk assessments on clients as part of the sign-up process
• Input client details directly onto the project database accurately and efficiently
• Plan and deliver employability skills training workshops to clients which include CV building, interview preparation and support with job searching and application
• Undertake marketing and promotion for the project including utilising social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter etc.
• Compile data and producing operational reports in a timely and professional manner
• Develop a positive relationship with allocated persons and gain a comprehensive understanding of their interests, likes, dislikes, communication methods etc.
• Develop an understanding of the person’s wellbeing, economic status, home environment, previous work history
• Take responsibility for writing Activity Plans for allocated persons. Keeping Activity Plans updated. Sharing the Activity Plans with the person. Making staff and Management aware of any changes within the plans; Ensure each client receives an initial baseline assessment and ongoing reviews.
• Produce a monthly report which focuses on the positive achievements of the GYO workstream and provides data and knowledge to facilitate ongoing quality assurance and service improvement.
• Support persons with any aspects related to budgeting and finances.
• To encourage creativity in our thinking as a Recovery Hub, an organisation, and a wider network

Person Specification

Essential – Values

• Commitment to peer‑led, community-based recovery
• Solution‑focused, reflective, honest, collaborative, brave, and resilient
• Compassionate and able to inspire confidence in others

Essential – Experience & Knowledge

• Experience working with individuals affected by substance use, including high‑risk or dependent ketamine use
• Experience supporting families or carers affected by substance use
• Knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed practice, and relapse prevention
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, volunteers, or peer facilitators
• Experience delivering 1:1 and group interventions
• Knowledge of safeguarding (adults and children), mental health risks, and community‑based approaches
• Ability to work effectively with partner organisations

Essential – Skills

• Strong leadership and team‑development skills
• Excellent communication, report‑writing, and presentation skills
• Ability to prioritise, manage time, and handle complex caseloads
• Strong IT competency and accurate record-keeping
• Ability to build trust rapidly and work across diverse communities
• Skilled in assertive outreach and community engagement

Desirable

• Lived experience of recovery
• Experience developing peer-led or mutual-aid groups
• Knowledge of local services, communities, and geography
• Education, Training and Employment Knowledge and Awareness
• Knowledge of Volunteer Support

Terms

• Annual leave: 25 days plus public holidays
• Full-time post: evening, weekend, and bank holiday work will be required

Equality and Diversity

The Well Communities CIC is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We make every effort to meet access needs and will collaborate with individuals to identify reasonable adjustments.

Additional Notes

This job description reflects the current role but may be reviewed and amended following appropriate consultation as the service evolves.

To Apply

Please send your expressions of interest/CV to recruitment@wearepeoplefirst.co.uk

All applications should be clearly marked:

• Confidential – Team Leader – Grow Your Own
• To arrive no later than 5pm on 11th September 2026
• Pay: £27,500.00 per year
• Work Location: Hybrid remote in Barrow-In-Furness LA14 1RR