Job Description

Hope Worker Recovery Navigator

Location: 243 Shalesmoor, Sheffield, S3 8UG

Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240 per annum

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 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.

About the Role:

We’re looking for a compassionate and proactive Hope Worker to join our team. In this role, you’ll support individuals affected by substance misuse by providing immediate, practical help and encouraging long-term recovery.

You’ll work closely with service users, professionals, pharmacies, and the wider community to reduce harm, prevent relapse, and help people build healthier, more stable lives.

The role is community-based and involves working flexibly across a range of settings, including community centres, outreach locations, pharmacies, and service users’ homes through regular home visits and welfare checks.

Our approach is recovery-focused, trauma-informed, and centred around building positive, trusting relationships that promote long-term stability and resilience.

Our Values:

Honest – Open, realistic, and building trusted relationships

Committed – Passionate about delivering the best outcomes

Inventive – Creative, adaptable, and driven to improve services

What You’ll Do

Service Delivery & Support

As a Hope Worker, you’ll play a key role in supporting individuals to:

• Manage and sustain positive recovery outcomes and reduce risks associated with substance misuse.
• Complete assessments, risk assessments, support plans, and reviews.
• Deliver brief and extended interventions that motivate positive change.
• Support walk-in assessments, referrals, and triage activity.
• Work alongside Recovery Coordinators to support structured recovery pathways.
• Improve wellbeing through tailored support planning and practical assistance.
• Build confidence, resilience, and stronger community connections.

Outreach & Community Engagement:

You’ll provide flexible support through outreach work, home visits, welfare checks, community centre sessions, pharmacy partnerships, and engagement activities across Sheffield.

This includes:

• Delivering targeted outreach, in-reach, and cross-reach activities.
• Engaging service users and encouraging participation in recovery plans.
• Working with families, carers, community groups, and partner agencies where appropriate.
• Supporting individuals in accessing healthcare, housing, benefits, education, training, and employment opportunities.

Health Promotion & Harm Reduction

You’ll also:

• Provide advice on safer drug use, safer sex, and blood-borne viruses (HIV, Hepatitis B & C).
• Support needle exchange services in both fixed-site and community settings.
• Work with pharmacies and local communities to expand naloxone distribution.
• Deliver harm reduction training and contribute to health campaigns and prevention initiatives.

Specialist & Complex Needs Support:

The service supports adults with a range of complex and multiple needs, including substance misuse, homelessness, mental health challenges, offending behaviour, and social isolation.

You’ll:

• Support individuals using alcohol, opiates, non-opiates, IPEDs, NPS, and OTC substances.
• Work with partner agencies to support individuals with complex needs.
• Manage a small caseload requiring intensive, multi-agency support.
• Help individuals access services that improve recovery outcomes and social stability.

Training & Development

You’ll also:

• Deliver education sessions to staff, partners, and the public.
• Maintain accurate records, case notes, and reports.
• Participate in supervision, training, and ongoing professional development.

To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need

We’re looking for someone who is compassionate, motivated, and committed to supporting individuals with complex needs to achieve positive outcomes.

Essential:

• NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent), or willingness to work towards it.
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals, such as those affected by substance misuse, mental health challenges, homelessness, or social exclusion.
• Strong communication, organisational, and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to build positive professional relationships and maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Confidence working independently in community and outreach-based settings, as well as collaboratively within a wider team.
• A flexible and proactive approach to supporting individuals with varying levels of need.

Desirable:

• Experience in outreach or community-based roles.
• Knowledge of harm reduction and recovery-focused approaches.
• Experience working alongside partner agencies and community services.

What We Offer

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

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)

• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%

• Life assurance (3× annual salary)

• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay

• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave

• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications

• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme

• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals

• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus

• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership

• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good

• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

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

Closing Date:

2026-06-05