Sex Worker Outreach Practitioner

Specialist Outreach Recovery Coordinator - Forward Leeds

Location: 3 Armley Court, Armley Road, Leeds, LS12 2LB

Working Hours: 37 hours - Monday to Friday
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03 per annum

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band. 

About Waythrough 

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England. 

 

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier and more independent lives?

Join Waythrough, one of the UK’s leading mental health and social support charities, and make a lasting impact every day.

We support around 125,000 people each year through almost 200 services, empowering individuals to overcome challenges around mental health, housing and substance use.

About the Role

We’re looking for a compassionate and motivated Specialist Outreach Recovery Coordinator to join the Sex Worker Outreach Team, a specialist team within Forward Leeds.

The team works with vulnerable people who are sex working or are victims of sexual exploitation and who require additional support with their needs and engagement in drug treatment services. The aim of the team is to engage and retain people who may otherwise find it challenging to access or remain engaged with our service.

This is an outreach role. Although you’ll be based from our Forward Leeds hubs to start and finish your day, attend meetings and complete administrative work, the majority of your day-to-day client contact will take place within the community.

There is a strong focus on safeguarding when supporting clients. The team provides more intensive, holistic and person-centred support, meeting people where they are and working alongside them to improve their quality of life, reduce harm and empower them to make positive and sustainable changes.

Alongside the specialist outreach element of the role, you’ll manage a caseload and provide collaborative recovery planning and case management across individuals’ recovery journeys, from assessment and engagement through structured treatment and towards sustained recovery.

What You’ll Do

• Build trusting relationships with people who may find it challenging to engage with drug treatment services.
• Provide community-based outreach, meeting people where they are and supporting them to engage with and remain in treatment.
• Manage a caseload, developing, implementing and reviewing individual recovery and treatment plans.
• Carry out triage, screening and comprehensive assessments with people accessing the service.
• Lead on risk assessments, risk management plans and safeguarding assessments and plans.
• Provide intensive, holistic and person-centred support tailored to each individual’s circumstances, needs and goals.
• Develop and deliver 1:1 and group psychosocial interventions and appropriate harm reduction support.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues, partner agencies and other services to provide coordinated support.
• Support people to access treatment and community resources, helping to build recovery, independence and social connections.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records and contribute to the safe and effective delivery of the service.

To Succeed in This Role, You’ll Need:

• NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards this in post.
• An understanding of interventions including brief interventions, motivational interviewing, psychosocial interventions, CBT and ITEP.
• A compassionate, non-judgemental and person-centred approach to working with vulnerable people.
• The ability to build trusting relationships with people who may find it difficult to engage with services.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding, risk management, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Confidence working independently in the community as part of an outreach service.
• Good communication, organisational and IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• A full driving licence – this is essential for the role.
• Access to your own car is desirable.
• Knowledge or experience of substance misuse, harm reduction, recovery planning and delivering 1:1 or group interventions would be advantageous.

To see the full job description please click here.

Working Hours & Outreach

This is primarily a community-based outreach role. You’ll start and finish your working day from one of our Forward Leeds hubs, where you’ll also attend meetings and complete administrative duties. Day-to-day client contact will mainly take place within the community.

The Sex Worker Outreach Team also delivers multiple out-of-hours outreach sessions on a rota basis which fall outside the usual 9am–5pm working day.

Participation in out-of-hours outreach is not mandatory; however, it is desirable. Where additional hours are worked, TOIL (time off in lieu) can be taken.

Due to the nature of the outreach work, applicants are required to hold a full driving licence. Having access to your own car is desirable.

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)

• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%

• Life assurance (3× annual salary)

• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay

• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave

• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications

• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme

• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals

• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus

• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership

• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good

• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

 

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk 

Closing Date:

2026-09-29