Recruiting | Advanced Homelessness Practitioner
Recruiting | Advanced Homelessness Practitioner
| Full Time | 37.5 hours per week |
| Salary | £30,987.34 per annum pro rata |
| Closing Date | 30th November 2026 |
| Interview Date | TBC |
| Job Reference | AHP-BDP |
| Contract Type: | Permanent |
| Accountable to | Operations Manager ,Supervised by a Homelessness Team Leader |
| Location | Bristol |
About BDP:
Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) has been supporting the people of Bristol around their drug and alcohol for the past 40 years. We are committed to providing accessible and appropriate support for anyone who needs it and to reduce the harms caused by drugs and/or alcohol. Workers at BDP come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, but all share a drive to make a difference in the lives of the people we work with.
Our Horizons Service:
Horizons is a brand new partnership that is delivering services to support people affected by drug and alcohol use in Bristol. We have partnered with Turning Point (who are lead provider) and seven other local and national providers: The Nelson Trust, Hawkspring, One 25, Southmead Development Trust, Southmead Project, Wellspring Settlement, and Release. As a partnership we draw on the expertise of all of the organisations involved to create a service that best meets the unique needs of the people we support.
Purpose of role:
Individuals who use drugs and alcohol while experiencing homelessness face a unique and often overwhelming set of barriers that go far beyond basic needs. These include limited access to healthcare, stigma and criminalisation, lack of stable housing options, and heightened vulnerability to violence and mental health crises. Rather than being isolated problems, homelessness and substance use often form a cyclical relationship— each reinforcing the other in ways that make recovery and stability increasingly difficult to attain.
The Advanced Homelessness Practitioner, as part of Horizons’ Homelessness Intervention Team (HIT) will prioritise holistic and person-centred care, building strong relationships and offering drug and alcohol treatment in an effective, trauma-informed and flexible way.
Each team member holds a caseload of people and provides the full range of treatment options from harm minimisation & brief interventions, through to access to detox & rehab.
Key Responsibilities:
- To deliver direct access services for drug and alcohol users at a wide range of locations across Bristol, alongside volunteers, trainees & external partners.
- To provide a welcoming approach to engage and facilitate service users into treatment and other supportive activities.
- To provide evidence-based and solution-focused brief interventions (one to ones and groups), as well as crisis management if required.
- To assist in the development and delivery of a range of harm reduction interventions for people with problematic drug &/or alcohol use.
- To work with the clinical team to deliver Opiate Substitution Therapy to people experiencing homelessness.
- To provide harm reduction resources and interventions including Needle Syringe Programme (NSP) and naloxone distribution.
- To offer and encourage access to blood borne virus (BBV) testing by means of Dry Blood Spot tests, Hepatitis B vaccination and treatment for BBV infection where appropriate.
- In collaboration with nursing staff, develop and disseminate information and advice about health and social wellbeing.
- To be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting on areas for improvement and development.
- To maintain appropriate records (both electronic and manual), within required timescales.
- To assist in the promotional and educational work undertaken by BDP.
- To assist in the recruitment, training and, where appropriate, support of volunteers, peers, trainees and students on study placement.
- To take all reasonable steps to comply with the Health & Safety at Work Policy.
- To work within the framework and spirit of the agency’s Equalities Policy and to actively promote the policy within BDP and in all dealings with other agencies.
- After reasonable consultation to undertake any other task which is necessary, if called to do so through your line management.
What We’re Looking For:
Essential Criteria:
- Exceptional report writing and case notes
- Demonstrable experience in working within a substance misuse treatment and or Homelessness setting.
- Experience of holding a complex caseload
- Specialist interest depth knowledge of one or more complexities along side substance misuse. This may be mental health, long term conditions, criminality, Domestic Violence etc
- Understanding of risk and risk management, as it applies to substance misuse and homelessness
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of supervising staff, peers, volunteers
- Knowledge and experience of Opiate Substitute therapy
- Experience of working in an outreach setting
What we offer:
- 27 days annual leave yearly which increases by 1 day every year to a maximum of 32 days after 5 of service PLUS bank holidays
- Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program
- Thorough line management and reflective practice programme
- Extensive and ongoing training
- Cycle to work scheme
How to apply
Please download the job description and advert here:
Then visit our Application Hub to find our application form and other helpful information to support your application.
Please refer to the person specification available within the job description when completing your application.
Questions:
If you would like an informal chat about this role, please contact Hannah Brittain on 07547 353 757 or Hannah.Brittain@turning-point.co.uk
If you have questions regarding the application process or need some support in completing your application, please email recruitment@bdp.org.uk or call 0117 987 6001 and ask for recruitment.
