East Sussex County Council
Substance Misuse Practitioner
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Are you able to engage with complex and diverse young people and their families? Join us to build a strong relationship that will enable them to address their substance misuse and make changes that will improve their health, wellbeing, life opportunities and constantly strive for successful outcomes.
East Sussex Under 25's Substance Misuse Service are recruiting a Substance Misuse Practitioner to deliver evidenced-based treatment interventions to young people and their families who are impacted by substance misuse. This is an opportunity to join a specialist multi-disciplinary team delivering services across the county.
Working across the county, you will deliver an assessment and casework function delivering a range of evidenced-based psychosocial interventions, e.g. Specialist harm reduction, Motivational Interviewing. You will work closely with our partners in Children's, Adult Services, and Health to ensure that Young People accessing the service achieve the best outcomes.
You will be part of an experienced supportive team who consistently achieve positive outcomes for our service users. You will access excellent and regular staff support mechanisms, e.g. supervision, reflective practice, and practice development sessions, with Continuing professional development a service priority.
We are looking for candidates with:
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills and ability to engage with service users, including young people, and other professionals.
- Ability to work jointly with Health professionals to deliver multi-agency packages of support.
- The ability to assess service users and manage risk in the community by utilising supervision and support from colleagues.
- Understanding of issues affecting service users whose own experiences have impacted on their emotional and psychological health and who may engage in risky behaviours.
- Knowledge of the issues faced by service users who are experiencing emotional difficulty which may manifest itself in harmful behaviours.
- Understanding of different therapeutic approaches which can be used to support emotionally vulnerable people.
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To apply for this role, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above and upload your CV and a Supporting Statement. We will be using your Supporting Statement to shortlist so please be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education, or personal interests.
For guidance on how to write an application, see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further information.
N.B. If you are a Social Worker or Nurse applying for this role, we will support you in maintaining your professional registration.
Interviews will take place in person in Eastbourne in September 2026. If you are unavailable on this date, let us know, and we may be able to schedule an alternative date to interview you. For guidance on how to write an application, see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI.
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This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to help people make tangible and meaningful changes that will improve their lives.
We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, contact Mark Menning, Practice Manager, at mark.menning@eastsussex.gov.uk to request an MS Teams call or phone call.
"I really like the hands-on approach of support work and knowing that I’m making a difference." Kayleigh, Team Leader
For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!
Additional Information
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process, please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record. Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.
If you require sponsorship to work in the UK, please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information, please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process, please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.
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