Senior Substance Use Worker – AR

Job Details

Job Title: Senior Substance Use Worker

Location: Islington, London
Team: YCSMAS (Youth Counselling, Substance Misuse & Alcohol Service)
Contract: Full-time, 18-month fixed term
Reports to: YCSMAS Team Manager
Supervises: 3 Substance Use Practitioners

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Substance Use Worker to join our innovative YCSMAS team, providing holistic, trauma-informed support to young people aged 12–21. You will lead a small team of practitioners, manage case allocations, and provide expert guidance on substance misuse. The role involves working closely with multi-agency partners including Youth Justice, I-CAN, CAMHS, Children’s Social Care, and the Violence Against Women & Girls Service.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and supervise a team of substance use practitioners, delivering reflective practice and case oversight.
  • Assess referrals, manage case allocations, and maintain accurate records and audits.
  • Deliver direct interventions and hold a small caseload for young people with substance misuse and related needs.
  • Develop and deliver training for professionals, parents, and young people.
  • Lead outreach activities to engage young people and promote the service.
  • Provide clinical guidance to colleagues and external partners and attend multi-agency meetings.
  • Support the development of referral pathways and service promotion.

Skills & Experience Required

  • Extensive experience in substance misuse support, including assessment, care planning, and intervention.
  • Proven experience working with young people (12–21 years) and vulnerable populations.
  • Strong leadership and team management skills.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and multi-agency collaboration.
  • Excellent communication, record-keeping, and training delivery skills.

Why Join Us

You will be part of a supportive, creative, and youth-focused team, delivering integrated mental health and substance misuse services to over 200 young people per year. This is an opportunity to make a real difference, working in a forward-thinking local authority committed to fairness, equality, and high-quality youth services.