Group Worker - Recovery Coordinator

Location: Recovery Steps, 21b Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7DG
Working Hours: 15 hours per week, 2 days per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. 

About Waythrough 

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. 

 

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about supporting people to make positive changes in their lives? Do you have experience of working with people affected by drug and alcohol use and a passion for recovery-focused support?

Join Waythrough and make a real difference to people’s lives. As a Recovery Coordinator/Group Worker at Recovery Steps Cumbria – Whitehaven, you’ll work alongside individuals to help them reduce substance-related harm, build on their strengths and achieve their recovery goals.

This is an opportunity to use your skills and experience to deliver both one-to-one and group-based interventions, helping people progress through treatment and towards sustained recovery.

Your main base will be our Whitehaven service at 21b Lowther Street, with regular working at our Recovery Steps Cumbria service in Workington. This role therefore offers the opportunity to work across both local services and build strong relationships with colleagues, partners and the communities we support.

About the Role

As a Recovery Coordinator/Group Worker, you will work as part of a supportive multi-disciplinary team to provide collaborative recovery planning and case management to people accessing support for drug and alcohol use.

You will build effective relationships with service users, complete assessments, develop personalised recovery plans and provide evidence-based interventions to support engagement, progress and sustained recovery.

A key part of the role will be developing and delivering structured recovery groups and psychosocial interventions.

You will use approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, CBT-informed interventions and ITEP to support individuals to develop confidence, motivation and the skills needed to make positive changes.

You’ll also work closely with colleagues, partner agencies, families and other professionals to ensure people receive coordinated and person-centred support.

What You'll Do

• Manage a caseload of service users, developing, implementing and reviewing personalised recovery and treatment plans.
• Carry out triage, screening and comprehensive assessments, identifying individual needs, risks and appropriate support.
• Provide one-to-one support and deliver structured psychosocial interventions to promote engagement, motivation and sustained recovery.
• Develop and deliver innovative and engaging recovery groups and structured programmes that respond to local need.
• Use evidence-based approaches including Motivational Interviewing, CBT-informed interventions, ITEP and other appropriate psychosocial interventions.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies, families and other professionals to support positive outcomes for service users.
• Lead effective case management, including risk assessments, risk management and safeguarding processes.
• Facilitate access to treatment, community resources, peer support and other services that can strengthen recovery and social capital.
• Identify service users who may benefit from group work and promote the availability and benefits of groups across the service.
• Support harm reduction activities, including drug screening, BBV testing and immunisation provision, where appropriate to the service.
• Promote positive family involvement and help reduce the impact of substance use on children, families and carers.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records using relevant case management and information systems.
• Work collaboratively within the wider multi-disciplinary team and with external agencies.
• Promote visible recovery and encourage service users to develop greater independence and self-responsibility.
• Work flexibly across the Whitehaven and Workington services to meet the needs of the service, including occasional evening or weekend working where required.

To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need

• NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or an equivalent qualification, or a willingness to work towards this in post.
• A relevant professional qualification, such as addiction studies, counselling, social work or another therapeutic discipline, is desirable.
• Experience of delivering one-to-one and group therapeutic interventions.
• Knowledge of, or experience in using, approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, Psychosocial Interventions, CBT and ITEP.
• An understanding of substance misuse, recovery-focused approaches and harm reduction.
• Experience of assessment, recovery planning, risk management and safeguarding.
• Experience of working with families and carers.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and motivate people.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team and alongside external partners.
• Experience of using management information or case management systems is desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programmes.
• A commitment to person-centred, strengths-based and recovery-focused support.
• The ability and willingness to work regularly across both our Whitehaven and Workington services.

To view the Job Description CLICK HERE

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)

• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%

• Life assurance (3× annual salary)

• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay

• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave

• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications

• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme

• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals

• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus

• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership

• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good

• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

 

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk 

Closing Date:

2026-10-21