About us

Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. We know that given the right support, anyone can change their life for the better.

Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. By focusing on their strengths, potential and opportunities, we support the people we work with to overcome their problems and live safe, successful, independent lives.

Our charity is powered by over 600 passionate colleagues who bring a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues to grow. We are proud to say that many have actual lived experience of the challenges faced by those we support. We are looking for committed and compassionate professionals to join our team, who share our enthusiasm for changing lives.

About the Service - Treatment & Recovery Services

Our dedicated treatment and recovery services offer tailored support to help people challenge dependency. We understand that recovery from dependency is a personal process, and we know that it is possible with the support.

At Changing Lives, we recognise that substance dependency is often something that emerges linked to life experiences and we are here to help people explore, make meaning and decide what changes they would like to make moving forward.

We work with people at every stage of their recovery journey. We offer an effective therapeutic support for people, and on-going support as life progresses. We also support people to connect within their communities and to other services that can help with other issues arising, including employment, housing, family relationships, mental health and more.

About the Job

We are looking for a committed individual to join our team as a Counsellor, based in York, who can support the Oaktree's Team in delivering a structured abstinence-based rehabilitation programme. The rehabilitation programme is offered on a day patient basis to clients with drug and alcohol addiction. As well as offering 1:1 counselling sessions the successful candidate would be expected to support the team to deliver the wider therapeutic programme. This programme includes psycho-educational workshops and other therapeutic activities.

Counsellors will come across a wide range of presenting issues including loss, abuse and other adverse traumatic life events. The role also involves delivering the weekly after-care group for clients who have completed the 12-week programme, as well as the assessment and evaluation of people wanting to enter treatment as to their suitability for treatment.

If you believe you have what it takes to be our Oaktree's Counsellor, then we would love to hear from you.