Recovery Support Volunteer - OCT

Recovery Support Volunteer - OCT

Forward Leeds

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 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.

We value our volunteers and seek to ensure their diverse roles are rewarding and beneficial to all. Waythrough holds the Investors in Volunteers accreditation.

Forward Leeds is the alcohol and drug service in Leeds for adults, young people and families. Forward Leeds is delivered by 4 services in partnership, led by Waythrough.

This exciting volunteer role would suit someone with an empathetic, non-judgmental attitude who can build strong working relationships with others. This is a fantastic opportunity to get hands on experience in a drug and alcohol service and put your passion for supporting and advocating for vulnerable people to great use.

The role:

This role will support people using opioid medications (excluding heroin). This may include medications obtained through prescription or other sources. The role focuses on engagement, harm reduction, recovery support, and helping clients access health and wellbeing services.

Working alongside experienced practitioners and healthcare professionals, volunteers will support the delivery of person-centred interventions that improve health outcomes and reduce risk.

Tasks may include:

• Build positive and professional relationships with clients.
• Support case management and maintain accurate client records.
• Assist in developing and reviewing harm reduction and recovery plans.
• Provide information on safer opioid use and overdose prevention.
• Attend and contribute to Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings.
• Signpost and refer clients to internal and external support services, including health, mental health, housing, employment, and social support services.
• Support clients to access healthcare apps, online resources, and digital tools.
• Encourage and support attendance at healthcare and clinical appointments.
• Promote recovery, wellbeing, independence, and social inclusion.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow safeguarding, data protection, and organisational policies.
• Potential to work up to co-managing a case load.
• Potential to work up to inputting client information on our internal database SystmOne.

Skills we would like you to bring to the role:

• Good IT skills
• Good written communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to keep a track of multiple tasks and report back on progress
• Non-judgmental towards people with lived experience
• Confident to contact people by email / phone
• Good time keeping
• Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction
• An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website
• A genuine interest in being part of the mission and vision of Waythrough
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training
• Driving license and own car is preferred, but not essential.

What We Offer

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

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

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

How to apply

If you’re viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click ‘Apply via company website’ to view the full job description and submit your application.

Please note that while this role has a stated closing date, we reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a high number of applications.

Closing date: