Addiction and Recovery Support Worker

Addiction and Recovery workers work with people who are having problems with drugs and alcohol, and support them to help them make healthier choices around drug and alcohol use and recover from addiction.

You would be working mostly on a one-to-one basis, and this could take place in a support centre or in the community: on the streets, in community centres, in people's homes, or wherever the person you are supporting feels comfortable getting help. You would also have the opportunity to attend events and give people information about drug and alcohol use and the support available.

Addiction and Recovery Support Worker is also known as Alcohol and Substance Worker, Recovery Coordinators, Specialist Community Drugs Worker, Specialist Community Alcohol Worker, Addiction and Recovery Practitioner.

Role Characteristics

Support people and help them reduce or stop their drinking or substance misuse
Develop treatment plans based on the needs of the person you are supporting
Promote healthier living to people and groups
Provide education and information about the effects of addiction and substance misuse
Advocate for people's needs and rights within healthcare and social service systems
Collaborate with family members to involve them in the recovery process and provide support

Skills

Advice giving
Active listening
Team work
Empathy
Communication
Observation

Day in the life

Watch this video to hear more about Adam's role as a Recovery Coordinator.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

Volunteering or work experience

GCSEs

BTEC

T-Level

A-Levels

Undergraduate degree

How to become

There are many routes into support work with a focus on addiction and recovery; these include university or apprenticeships.
You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths and sciences, or equivalent.
You will normally need either A-Levels, BTEC or T-Levels depending on your preference in learning. However, volunteering and work experience will be greatly valued by employers.

You may also come into this work from a variety of backgrounds, like nursing, criminal justice, social care, youth work or counselling. They are not essential but completing qualifications such as Health and Social Care, Social Work or Youth and Community Development would help demonstrate transferable knowledge and skills.

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

You could become a more general support worker, volunteer co-ordinator or project team leader.
You could specialise in working with particular groups like young people.
You could train and educate others in supporting people with addiction problems.