Family Support Worker

Waythrough launched in October 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value. We tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities, through mental health, drug and alcohol, housing and related support.

We have almost 200 services around England – and nearly 3,500 amazing staff and volunteers who run them. Every year our services support around 125,000 people.

About the role
An exciting opportunity for a Family Support Worker has arisen at HMP Low Newton in Durham. HMP Low Newton is a Prison Establishment for Women from 18 years of age.

DART, Drug & Alcohol Team in Low Newton is committed to providing people in our care with the support to enable them to plan for a positive future and learn new skills to help them on release. The position will support people who may seek reconnection with family members, building and maintaining family ties and understanding the impact that offending behaviours and substance misuse has taken.

The successful applicant will engage and assess persons support need, building connections with professionals, family and significant others, through a variety of support measures, 1:1 work, groups and psycho social interventions.

As a Support Worker, you will be responsible for:

• Provide practical help and emotional support to service users in line with their care plans and risk plans and alongside other professionals.
• Support individuals who engage with us for detoxification programmes.
• Deliver brief interventions to include duty roles and responsibilities via face to face and phone systems.
• Provide health and harm reduction advice, information and guidance to service users and staff, informally and formally through group-work and 1:1 sessions. Including safer drinking, safer injecting and preventing and responding to overdose.
• Provide advice, information and guidance on specific substances including related risks, informally and formally through group work and 1:1 sessions.
• Deliver structured psychosocial interventions (using recognised and agreed theoretical models) via 1:1 and support the delivery of group-work sessions in collaboration with other more senior team members and specialist roles.
• Undertake risk assessment and risk management planning in consultation with senior colleagues and partner agencies as appropriate.
• Adhere to the principles, policies and procedures of effective safeguarding for vulnerable adults and children.
• Working collaboratively with key partners and colleagues to achieve the best health and well-being outcomes for individuals.
• Work as part of a team with alliance colleagues to provide a vast and varied treatment offer to our service users.

‘The salary advertised above demonstrates the full earning potential for this role, starting salaries will allow for pay progression within the pay band’

What can Waythrough (formerly Humankind) offer you…

• Generous annual leave entitlement (27 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 32 after 1 years’ service)
• Annual leave purchase scheme
• Enhanced occupational sick pay
• Enhanced employer contribution to your workplace pension
• Death in service benefit
• Free Will writing
• Eyecare vouchers
• Blue light card discount
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities, including free training courses
• Work-life balance- flexible working and family friendly policies
• Happy, Healthy You! – our wellbeing offers for our workforce
• Employee Assist Programme and Waythrough Support Networks

Waythrough (formerly Humankind) is an equal opportunities employer

We value unique perspectives and experiences that everyone can bring, and fully understand the strength in diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability. If you have a genuine passion for working for us, we want to hear from you. We also welcome applications from people with lived experience with substance use. If you require support with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team at people.recruitment@waythrough.org.uk

Applications Close Date: 04 May 2025

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