Role Purpose
The Substance Misuse Specialist Practitioner will provide specialist alcohol and drug misuse expertise within Tyre Hill House’s evidence-led residential family assessment and change model.
Tyre Hill House is not simply a residential setting in which families are observed. It is a structured assessment and change environment where daily care, observation, coaching, feedback, intervention and formulation are brought together to assess parenting capacity, capacity to change and whether safe care can be sustained within the child’s timescale.
The postholder will help the multidisciplinary team understand the impact of alcohol use, drug use, dependence, relapse risk, recovery, harm reduction, emotional regulation and associated lifestyle risks on parenting, child safety and the child’s lived experience.
The role combines substance misuse assessment, direct psychosocial intervention, harm reduction advice, relapse prevention, recovery planning, consultation, staff support, contribution to formulation, recording and specialist input into final analysis and recommendations.
Key Responsibilities
- Substance misuse assessment and intervention
- Recovery planning, harm reduction and relapse prevention
- Contribution to parenting assessment and capacity to change
- Contribution to the Tyre Hill model
- This role is a core part of assessment delivery, not an external advisory add-on
- Safeguarding and regulatory responsibilities
- MDT and formulation responsibilities
- Recording, assessment and evidence responsibilities
- Consultation, staff support and workforce development
Essential experience, knowledge and skills required
- experience of working as a substance misuse worker, drug and alcohol practitioner, recovery practitioner, treatment practitioner, family safeguarding substance misuse practitioner or equivalent;
- strong knowledge of alcohol and drug misuse, dependence, recovery, harm reduction, relapse prevention and risk management;
- experience of undertaking substance misuse assessments and developing recovery or relapse prevention plans;
- experience of delivering structured one-to-one psychosocial interventions;
- experience of using motivational approaches to strengthen commitment to change;
- understanding of the impact of substance misuse on children, parenting, attachment, emotional availability, routines and family functioning;
- ability to assess risk and contribute to risk management planning;
- experience of working within multi-agency or multidisciplinary settings;
- ability to provide consultation and advice to non-specialist colleagues;
- ability to communicate complex and sensitive information clearly;
- strong written skills, including assessment, risk analysis and report contributions;
- understanding of safeguarding children and adults at risk;
- ability to work with parents who may feel scrutinised, ashamed, fearful, defensive, ambivalent or mistrustful;
- ability to adapt communication and intervention for parents with learning needs, neurodivergence or trauma histories;
- commitment to anti-discriminatory, inclusive and culturally sensitive practice;
- ability to maintain professional boundaries in an emotionally demanding residential environment;
- ability to use supervision and reflective practice appropriately;
- commitment to evidence-informed practice and continuous learning.
Essential Qualifications
- Relevant qualification or demonstrable specialist training and experience in substance misuse, health, social care, counselling, youth work, criminal justice, psychology or a related field.
- Safeguarding children training at an appropriate level.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to substance misuse, harm reduction, relapse prevention, recovery, safeguarding and risk management.
Working Arrangements
We welcome applications from candidates seeking a range of working patterns and contracted hours.
Applicants should indicate their preferred number of working days within their application. We are open to considering a variety of arrangements and are keen to build a team with complementary skills, experience and availability.
The final mix of appointments and contracted hours will be determined following recruitment and agreed in line with service requirements and the approved staffing budget.
To Apply
For further information, please contact [email protected] for a full job description. To apply, please send your CV and accompanying letter outlining how you meet the requirements for the role. The role will require a full disclosure barring service (DBS). Closing date for applications is Thursday 13 August 2026. We reserve the right to close applications earlier.
Pay: £28,000.00-£32,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
Work Location: In person
