Somerset Council
Drug & Alcohol Partnership Manager
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Closing date: 21 September 2026
Permanent position
Salary: £33,416 - £36,913 per annum for 29.6 hours per week.
Role summary
In 2021, the UK Government launched “Harm to Hope”, a national strategic plan which committed to a focus on drug treatment and recovery. Harms from alcohol remain one of the biggest reversible causes of illness nationally and we know there are many people in Somerset who need more support.
We’re looking for an individual who is passionate about supporting addiction and mental health recovery, who can help Somerset Council to be a positive leader on this programme.
In this exciting role, you will be joining a strong, dedicated, friendly team in Somerset Council and will be working with engaged and committed partners across the health and justice system. You’ll lead on the development, coordination and delivery of Somerset’s Strategic Drugs and Alcohol Partnership, translating the national strategy into local action.
You will be supporting some of our most vulnerable clients, from children and young people to older adults, who are often dealing with complex mental health needs and addiction. You will need to be ambitious and willing to develop strategies which positively support all individuals in need. In doing this, you will play a key part in improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities, some of our central purposes with Public Health.
We’re looking for someone who can provide strategic thinking and provide whole system leadership. Using your expertise and enthusiasm, you will be driving multi-agency collaboration and influencing the development of key policies and strategies. You will be a key leader and influencer across Somerset’s public health landscape, fostering strong networks and ensuring coordinated efforts to reduce drugs and alcohol related harm.
This is a vital role in helping to achieve local Public Health aims across Somerset while contributing to national transformation. If you think you’re the person to help make this difference, then we would love to hear from you.
What you’ll do - key responsibilities
- Lead the development, agreement and delivery of Somerset’s Strategic Drugs and Alcohol Partnership, and the national Harm to Hope campaign, ensuring alignment with national and local priorities.
- Support the Drug and Alcohol Related Death process, enabling learning, prevention and continuous improvement across the system.
- Project manage the implementation of agreed partnership actions, producing timely local, regional and national reports demonstrating progress, impact and compliance.
- Identify opportunities for partnership improvement, including scoping, planning and managing complex change activities across multi-agency systems.
- Resolve complex partnership problems and conflicts, ensuring positive outcomes and effective delivery of action plans.
- Review performance outcomes, data and user feedback to ensure services meet population needs and inform continuous improvement across the programme of work.
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What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills
Essential
- Strong understanding of national and local drugs and alcohol use policy frameworks, including how national policies (such as Harm to Hope) translate into local partnership delivery.
- Comprehensive knowledge of multi-agency partnership systems, including how public health, local authorities, NHS bodies and policing structures collaborate to reduce drugs and alcohol related harm.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of using data and evidence to support public health and wider health and wellbeing interventions.
- Substantial managerial experience and skills gained at a senior level, including making a contribution to the corporate management of an organisation where required.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in health promotion, public health or a similar field (e.g. health, education, care or a voluntary / community system).
- Significant understanding and experience of working with communities and advocacy.
- Significant knowledge and experience of the development, agreement and delivery of service plans.
- Demonstrable experience of partnership working including the ability to influence and, where appropriate, lead multi-agency groups and projects to deliver services and initiatives.
- Sound understanding and practice of multi-disciplinary working.
- Experience of advocating for minority communities.
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant field.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
- Ability to work to deadlines and to motivate others to work effectively and demonstrate a duty of care.
- Sound analysis and decision-making in dealing with complex service delivery and/or policy development matters.
- Demonstrable experience of engagement with communities and customer feedback channels to shape and inform improved customer services.
- Demonstrable experience of operating equality and diversity measures in local commissioning and delivery of services.
- Track record of the flexible use of financial and other resources (including the service commissioning framework and opportunities for other income streams) in the delivery of services on time and within budget.
- Sound understanding and experience of the use of information and communication systems to inform operational decision making and recommendations / actions concerning service improvement.
- Significant experience of the operation and achievement of performance management and quality assurance models.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Competent in the basic suite of Microsoft Office software and able to self support and problem solve IT challenges.
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Desirable
- Experience of working with clients who use drugs and alcohol (knowledge gained through practice).
- Experience of working with people who do not traditionally engage with statutory services, supporting knowledge of barriers to engagement.
- Experience of reviewing and preventing premature deaths.
- Change management experience.
Additional Information
- This is a part-time position working 29.6 hours per week.
- This is a permanent position.
- Hybrid working in place but will need to be able to travel and work with partners across Somerset and occasionally attend regional or national meetings, so will need independent means of travel.
- 30 days of annual leave (pro-rata, additional to bank holidays)
- Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship
A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request via recruitment@somerset.gov.uk quoting reference 792/WS.
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