Senior Navigator

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a dynamic and impactful partnership within the Probation Dependency and Recovery Service, led by Ingeus. This service is designed to support male service users (18+) on community orders and post-release licences, delivering tailored interventions that address individual dependency and recovery needs as part of the Community Probation system.

As a Senior Recovery Navigator, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality casework and targeted interventions, ensuring a responsive, resilient, and flexible approach to supporting service users in their recovery journey.

You will act as the key professional link between the service and the National Probation Service (NPS) Responsible Officer, building strong, collaborative relationships to effectively support service users in achieving sustainable recovery outcomes.

In addition to your direct casework responsibilities, you will provide line management, guidance, and support to Recovery Navigators within Waythrough, ensuring consistent delivery standards, professional development, and high-quality service provision across the team.

Duties include;

•   Support the delivery and ongoing development of Waythrough’s D&R services, contributing to effective service management within a specialist recovery-focused area.
•   Work directly with individuals accessing Waythrough services, supporting people with a wide range of substance use needs and varying levels of complexity.
• Work with Service Users of varying complexity of need and across each Complexity Level (as applicable)
•   Lead, mentor and develop staff and volunteers within the D&R service, supporting their growth through recruitment, induction, training, performance management, supervision and absence processes.
•  Use data, feedback and service insights to identify improvements and enhance outcomes for individuals accessing recovery support.
•  Deliver Waythrough’s D&R provision across Probation settings and other community or co-located environments, ensuring services meet local and regional needs.
• Apply and adhere to organisational policies at Waythrough, alongside Probation and wider criminal justice requirements.
•  Effectively manage and de-escalate challenging or high-risk behaviours, supporting individuals to regulate emotions while maintaining a safe environment for all.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Probation staff and other stakeholders to coordinate joined-up case management.
• Manage a caseload of individuals within the D&R service, working proactively from referral through to engagement, support planning and ongoing review.
•  Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of Waythrough’s recovery services, promoting innovation and best practice.
•  Empower individuals to recognise their strengths and build confidence in their ability to make positive, sustainable changes in their lives
• Support Service Manager to develop, deliver, monitor and improve processes, control systems and work environments to meet quality requirements and contractual needs including KPIs.
• Maintain operational relationships with local Probation staff to manage casework requirements.

What you'll need to succeed in the role;

• NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or above or equivalent)

• Relevant professional qualification e.g. addiction studies, counselling, social work, therapeutic qualification.(desirable)
• Ability to use Microsoft Office programs
• Ability to build rapport with Service Users and to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Awareness and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Understanding of and ability to implement interventions, including brief interventions MI, PSIs, CBT and ITEP.
• Knowledge/Experience of the Criminal Justice System (desirable)
• Knowledge of harm reduction approaches in relation to substance misuse (where relevant to post) (desirable)
• Working with models of service delivery and issues relating to recovery planning and risk management plans (desirable)
• Delivering 1-2-1 and group therapeutic interventions
• Previous managerial experience
• Knowledge of working within Safeguarding and Hidden Harm
• Experience of supporting trainees, apprentices or volunteers through formal or informal structures

Job description available upon request