Criminal Justice Worker

Location: Southend on Sea

Salary: £24,960 - £26,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 2^nd December 2025

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Substance Misuse Practitioner to join our team, working within an integrated healthcare framework to support adults (18+) involved in the criminal justice system who require help with their drug and/or alcohol use.

You will provide client-centred treatment, delivering a range of psychosocial interventions using both harm reduction and abstinence-based approaches depending on individual need. A key aspect of this role will involve advising magistrates and probation teams on the suitability of individuals for Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs).

Through close collaboration with the Forward Trust’s Criminal Justice Team and partner agencies, you will complete assessments, author referrals, provide initial harm reduction advice, and contribute to seamless continuity of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver structured psychosocial interventions to service users in both 1:1 and group settings.
• Carry out comprehensive assessments, risk management plans, and develop SMART care plans.
• Provide expert advice to courts, magistrates, and probation teams on ATRs and DRRs.
• Facilitate group sessions using motivational interviewing and other evidence-based techniques.
• Build strong working relationships with partner agencies, including police, probation, CRC, and prisons.
• Contribute to service outcomes and targets set by Forward Trust and local commissioners.
• Ensure safeguarding, equality, diversity, and holistic care principles are embedded in practice.
• Travel as required to local prisons and partner agencies.
• Work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends, to meet client needs.

About You

We are seeking someone with proven experience of working within substance misuse services and the criminal justice system, alongside the following:

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Experience delivering structured interventions, both 1:1 and group-based.
• Strong assessment, care planning, and risk management skills.
• Knowledge of substance misuse issues, the criminal justice sector, safeguarding, and the recovery agenda.
• Experience working with CJ agencies such as probation, prisons, or police.
• IT literacy and accurate record-keeping.
• Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Desirable Experience & Knowledge:

• Experience of facilitating groups and using motivational interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge of NHS health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Familiarity with community support services and continuity of care.
• Understanding of 12-step recovery principles.
• Experience of utilising clinical supervision.

Additional Requirements:

• Full UK driving license with access to a vehicle.
• Flexibility to work evenings/weekends when required.
• If applicable, personal experience of addiction (minimum 3 years in recovery) or imprisonment (released at least 5 years).

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:

• Flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays 
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter 
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary) 
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Forward Trust, please proceed through the following link to be redirected to their website to complete your application.

 https://careers.forwardtrust.org.uk/vacancies/395/criminal-justice-worker.html

Contact information

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