Volunteer Harm Reduction Recovery Practitioner (West Berkshire)

Locations: West Berkshire
Days: 2 days per week (days are flexible)

About Via in West Berkshire

Launched in 2022, Via West Berkshire is a fully integrated substance use treatment service, providing clinical and psychosocial interventions, operating from a main treatment hub in Newbury. The team actively promotes recovery and works with individuals that are directly and indirectly affected by substance misuse, working with the local community to improve the health, wellbeing and functioning of West Berkshire residents, irrespective of circumstance.

About the role

As a Volunteer Harm Reduction Recovery Practitioner, you will support the delivery of a wide range of interventions for service users. These will include:

• Advising service users on alcohol awareness and harm minimisation advice
• Supporting practitioners in the completion of service-user assessments and follow-up assessments. (Please note you will not be asked to carry out initial assessments)
• Supporting practitioners with a caseload of service users. This will involve meeting with service users in their one homes with a recovery practitioner.
• Assisting service users to access wider services, including completing referrals to onward agencies

In addition to the above you will be expected to participate in team meetings where relevant and to carry out other tasks as deemed necessary to support the needs of the service.

What skills do I need?

The role would be ideal for someone looking to develop their experience in the drug and alcohol field. While some knowledge of the sector is desirable, we are specifically looking for people who have a passion for the work that we do. A positive attitude and the desire to learn are essential, as is a non-judgemental and supportive approach to people who are facing problems with drugs and alcohol.

What Via can offer you

When you begin volunteering you will be allocated a volunteer supervisor who will act as your main point of contact in your service. They will provide you with ongoing support and supervision and will work closely with you throughout your time at Via. There is also a central volunteer services team that will support you while you are on placement.

In addition, you can expect:

• A full induction to your role and continuous local training
• Access to central staff training opportunities
• Regular supervision
• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses and lunch expenses

Interested?

• Find out more about our West Berkshire service.
• Check out our FAQs.
• Download our Volunteer Application Form.
• Download our Volunteer Equal Opportunities Form.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Please note: we ask that volunteers try to commit for a six-month period where possible.