Young Persons Worker | Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

The YPS will work with young people aged 21 years and under. They will provide assessment, risk management and a range of interventions to YP with hazardous, harmful and dependent drug and alcohol problems in the Hillingdon Borough. They will liaise closely with the Hillingdon Drug and Alcohol Service and other professionals working with young people.

The YPS will also provide support and training to other professionals working with YP to nursing and medical staff.

Clinical

• To provide comprehensive assessment of YP referred to the service. This may include using motivational interviewing techniques, self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration.
• Assessments will require testing of bodily fluids, and therefore direct contact with urine and / or saliva. It will also include dry blood spot testing.
• To participate in the Needle Exchange program when required.
• To assess the psychological, emotional, social and treatment needs of the YP, taking account of the needs of the family and local community.

To support YP to transition from YP services to other appropriate services and support to Employment Training and Education (ETE).

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest NHS providers of mental health, community health and substance misuse services in England. We are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred care that supports individuals, families and communities to achieve better health outcomes.

The Hillingdon Drug and Alcohol Service provides specialist support to children, young people and adults affected by substance misuse. We work collaboratively with a wide range of partner organisations, including schools, children's services, CAMHS, youth justice services and community organisations, to deliver holistic and responsive care.

As a Young Persons Worker, you will join a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving the health, wellbeing and life opportunities of young people across Hillingdon. We offer opportunities for professional development, clinical supervision and ongoing training within an organisation that values compassion, respect, empowerment and partnership.

The Young Persons Worker will provide specialist assessment, intervention and care coordination for young people aged up to 21 years who are experiencing difficulties relating to drug and alcohol use.

The post holder will undertake comprehensive assessments, identify risks and strengths, and develop person-centred support plans that promote recovery, resilience and positive outcomes. Interventions will be delivered using evidence-based approaches and tailored to the individual needs of young people and their families.

Key responsibilities include

Undertaking specialist assessments of young people referred to the service, including risk assessments and care planning.

Delivering a range of evidence-based interventions to support young people experiencing substance misuse difficulties.

Providing advice, information and harm reduction interventions to young people and their families.

Managing and reviewing a caseload, ensuring accurate and timely clinical documentation.

Working collaboratively with partner agencies including schools, CAMHS, children's services, youth offending services, social care and healthcare professionals.

Participating in safeguarding processes and ensuring risks are appropriately identified, managed and escalated.

Supporting young people to access education, training, employment and other community-based opportunities.

Contributing to the development and delivery of group programmes, outreach initiatives and health promotion activities.

Providing consultation, guidance and training to professionals working with young people across the borough.

Contributing to service development, quality improvement initiatives and clinical governance activities.

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across a range of settings, maintaining a strong commitment to collaborative working, safeguarding and improving outcomes for young people affected by substance misuse.

This advert closes on Monday 9 Nov 2026