Recovery Worker Substance Misuse – Multi-Disciplinary Team

Recovery Worker Substance Misuse – Multi‑Disciplinary Team

Essex County Council is hiring a Recovery Worker for its Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT). The role is a fixed‑term, full‑time contract for 24 months, based in Harlow and working in a community‑based style.

Salary
: £31,931 to £36,423 per annum
Closing date: 27 January 2026

As part of the MDT, you will work side by side with social workers to promote family involvement, improve outcomes for children, and provide tailored support to individuals with substance/alcohol misuse challenges. Your clinical interventions will include motivational interviewing, ITEP, cognitive behavioural techniques and brief interventions, aiming to enhance engagement in treatment, build self‑esteem and support parenting capacity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct risk assessments, develop safety plans and individual recovery plans.
• Review ongoing care, liaise with partner agencies and ensure services are accessed at the right time.
• Work with other agencies – health services, hospitals, GP practices – to coordinate care.
• Deliver a recovery‑focused model of support, meeting contractual output targets and recording client data.
• Maintain flexibility across the operational area, travelling throughout Essex and beyond, and meet mobility requirements.
• Participate in supervision, appraisal and personal development to maintain high professional standards.

• Develop, deliver and coordinate a recovery‑focussed model of support.
• Ensure parents, carers and children receive high‑quality services in line with best practice guidelines.
• Meet contractual output targets and record client information accurately.
• Work flexibly across the operational site within agreed hours.
• Take responsibility for personal development and training needs.

• Strong experience in substance misuse services.
• Experience with high‑risk families subject to Child Protection or Child in Need plans.
• Demonstrable outcomes supporting adults with a history of substance misuse.
• Evidence of being a catalyst for positive change in families.
• Ability to manage challenging presentations such as resistance or denial.
• Knowledge of local services and issues.
• Training in ITEP/BTEI or similar structured psychosocial interventions.
• Qualifications relating to substance misuse.
• Valid driving licence and car or alternative mobility means for travel.

Successful candidates will be invited to a face‑to‑face interview in Essex County Council offices, scheduled around the week commencing 9 February 2026. The anticipated start date is April 2026.

Essex County Council is a Disability Confident Leader and commits to interview all disabled applicants and veterans who meet the minimum requirements. We offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. We also provide support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements.

Applicants may be required to register with the DBS update service. Further information is available at

Employees and volunteers are expected to uphold safeguarding and welfare commitments for children and vulnerable adults.

For more details, visit our Children & Families page or email  with any questions.