Alternatives West Dunbartonshire Community Drug Services (Alternatives)

History and achievements

Alternatives has been established since 1996 as a charitable company, with premises across West Dunbartonshire. Its operation base currently consists of:

A main office in Quay Street, Dumbarton;
A 15-bed ‘Safe House’ in Jean Armour Drive, Clydebank;
4 x 2-bedroom Scatter Flats in Drumry
A National Link Service including Prison to Rehab
Social Enterprise Projects within the Concord Community Centre, Denny Tank Museum, Dumbarton and Dalmuir Flats, Clydebank.
A Family Support Service
A Volunteer Project
An Employability Pathway

Alternatives’ core theme and purpose is to facilitate the personal journey from chaos to wholeness for individuals who have a substance dependency or are in active recovery by normalising a lifestyle without such a dependency.

Much of Alternatives’ core work is through the delivery of residential and community-based activities including volunteering, training and education. Majority of service users are housed in the Safe House and associated Scatter flats as part of their recovery journey. Our last Care Inspectorate awarded Alternatives a score of 6s across the board for its core work, the highest mark available and 5s for the rest, still an excellent accolade. This was the subject of a Private Member’s Motion in the Scottish Parliament during January 2020, where Alternatives and its team were praised and endorsed.

Social enterprises

We run various Social Enterprise Projects throughout West Dunbartonshire as safe therapeutic placement opportunities for; Lived Experience participants, Volunteers, Trainees, Family Members, Community footfall.

Job description

To support the day to day running of the Residential Recovery House Programme including supporting the main house project and scatter flat operation, aimed at promoting positive alternatives to drug use and stability in the community.

This will involve working with individuals and families affected by drug misuse, collaboration with partner organisations and assisting in the implementation of the Safe as Houses Recovery Programmes and links to the community.

This role may be suitable for an internal or external secondment, as part of the candidate’s continuing professional development.

PVG Scheme Membership & SSSC Registration is required for this post.

Alternatives operates an Equal Opportunities Policy.

Hours: Rotating shift pattern averaging out at 36 hours per week covering over 7 days.

Job purpose/main scope of post:

To support the day to day running of the Residential Recovery House Programme including supporting the main house project and scatter flat operation, aimed at promoting positive alternatives to drug use and stability in the community.

This will involve working with individuals and families affected by drug misuse, collaboration with partner organisations and assisting in the implementation of the Safe as Houses Recovery Programmes and links to the community.

Under the direction of the service co-ordinator assist with the development and implementation of the structured Groupwork Programme.
To assist with the day to day running of the Recovery House services.
To provide support in the afternoons, evenings and weekends within the Recovery House and accompany residents to outdoor activities using company vehicles. .
To be directly involved in the planning and supporting of residents care plans alongside partner agencies.
To provide support to recovering participants in a non-judgemental manner
To work jointly with all partner agencies towards meeting the needs of service users.
To record work undertaken in a suitable form as designated by the Line Manager and to gather data and maintain data gathering systems.
To actively promote the services provided by Alternatives in line with policy guidelines, protocol and service philosophy.
To work as part of a team towards the aims of service users in line with agreed working practice and strategies.
To undertake such training programmes as may assist this agency and personal development.
To participate in formal consultation and supervision of as required.
To undertake the development and support of volunteers/peers workers in the delivery of the Community Programmes.
To undertake such other duties, appropriate to the grade, as may be delegated by the service co-ordinator.

Hours: Rotating shift pattern averaging out at 36 hours per week covering over 7 days.

How to Apply

To express your interest in this opportunity, please submit your CV, suitable applicants will then be issued with a full application pack, containing further information about the role and organisation, along with the application form required for consideration.

Completed application forms must be returned by 9:00am on Friday 2 October 2026.

Please note that late applications cannot be accepted.

2 Alternatives jobs in Scotland