Dual Diagnosis Support Worker: Sponsorship Available

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

We are seeking a compassionate and proactive Dual Diagnosis Recovery Worker to join our community mental health service. This role focuses on supporting adults with co-existing mental health and substance use needs, who may present with complex challenges and require consistent, engagement-focused interventions.

You will provide regular, practical and relational support to service users, building meaningful therapeutic relationships and maintaining consistent contact–particularly with those at risk of disengagement. Working alongside the Dual Diagnosis Clinical Lead and wider multidisciplinary teams, you will play a key role in improving service user engagement, ensuring continuity of care, and supporting recovery-focused outcomes.

The post offers an opportunity to make a tangible difference by helping individuals navigate services, reduce risks, and achieve more stable and independent lives.

 

Main duties of the job

  • Provide regular, practical, and relational support to service users, building engagement and maintaining consistent contact.
  • Develop and sustain therapeutic relationships with individuals who may present with complex, high-risk or challenging behaviours.
  • Support coordination between mental health and substance-use services, ensuring seamless care and reducing the risk of disengagement or loss to follow-up.
  • Deliver structured, recovery-focused interventions including motivational work, relapse prevention, and practical support with daily living.
  • Monitor and assess risks proactively, taking early action and escalating concerns in line with Trust policies and safeguarding procedures.
  • Assist in assessment, care planning, and the implementation and review of individualised care plans.
  • Work collaboratively with the Clinical Lead, care coordinators, and partner agencies to support effective service delivery and improved outcomes.
  • Promote joint working practices with drug and alcohol services and other relevant external organisations.
  • Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service evaluation, audit, and reporting requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A care related HNC/HND equivalent e.g. NVQ level 3 (or 2 and working to 3).

Desirable

  • Additional care related qualifications Assistant Practitioner Level 5

Experience

Essential

  • A minimum 12 months experience working with people in either the mental health or addictions sector with a specialist knowledge of mental health issues
  • To have knowledge of underpinning policy with regard to the clinical assessment and management of risk.

Desirable

  • Extensive experience of working with people and / or dual diagnosis

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to prioritise & plan workload
  • Effective time management
  • Driving licence and access to car

Desirable

  • Patience, resilience and an empathetic understanding of the needs of people with dual diagnosis
  • There is occasional exposure to hazardous/ highly unpleasant environmental conditions when home visiting, and DDRW’s may come across service users, who become verbally aggressive so resilience and conflict resolution training is needed

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 18 June 2026

To apply for this job please visit somersetft.tal.net.