It doesn’t matter whether you’re a film star or a fisherman, life experience can be a major benefit in most jobs.
There is one area, however, where it can help more than most.
If you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction and have managed to turn your life around, who better to guide others through the process of recovering and making the most of their lives?
Many people who have problems with addiction are vulnerable – having the support of someone who understands their situation can be extremely helpful.
Of course, it’s not essential to have lived through rough times to want to help.
Most importantly, to be an Addiction Recovery Support Worker takes a calm, caring and completely non-judgmental approach.
It goes without saying there can be challenging times when people are trying to break free from addiction and this role won’t be for everyone.
Whether you’re kickstarting a career in social work or wishing to transfer your skills from another area, volunteering can be a valuable asset for of any application for roles on s1jobs.
It’s a great way to find out what counselling and recovery looks like in the real world.
It’s also valuable for making contacts and gaining references.
There are training courses to complete before working in the field but generally there are no formal qualifications required to get on these – good news for those who have maybe had their youth blighted by addiction and are now keen to train.
It’s also possible to specialise in recovery work, if you come from a nursing background, or areas such as social care and youth work.
Professionals in criminal justice can also transfer their experience, people skills and knowledge of the law, as it’s vital for offenders to deal with substance problems after their release.
The work is wider than counselling and providing emotional support. There are practical areas – such as getting people back into education and employment and making sure they have somewhere to live and are living a healthy lifestyle.
Each of these are areas of social work you can go on to specialise in, as a Housing Officer or Care Support Worker.
Recovery brings with it a world filled with many opportunities.
Find out more by looking at the roles currently on offer in Care Work with s1jobs