Volunteer Drug Workers

As a Drug Worker Volunteer for WDP you would be based in one particular treatment centre and become part of a team of workers, some paid, and some voluntary.

This type of volunteering provides a valuable presence within our services, providing an enriching experience for both volunteers and clients.

This can be an excellent opportunity to enhance and develop your transferable skills.

Duties often include:
• Help facilitate the 'drop-in' space
• Be a welcoming presence for clients in the project
• Providing harm reduction advice
• Needle exchanges
• Completing initial assessments
• Assistance with form filling
• Support with making difficult phone calls

This programme may be for you if:
• You have completed WDP’s Training Course
• You want to take further steps toward becoming a drug worker
• You can commit to a regular 2 or 3 days each week
• You would enjoy the commitment of working as part of a project based team
• You can commit to a 6 month period of volunteering

Please email your interest to The Volunteer Team and we will be able to get in touch with you when we have places available.

Induction Training for Volunteer Drug Workers

Our course is designed as a basic primer for voluntary placements and is a series of intensive workshops which cover a range of skills & topics. Various training methods & media will be used to keep the experience fresh and exciting. We encourage participants to engage fully in the learning process. Consequently, a lively and at times informal atmosphere can be expected.

In summary the course aims to:
• Raise awareness of issues relating to substance misuse
• Inform about structure & range of drug treatment services
• Look at possible consequences of drug use
• Equip you with professional codes of conduct
• Increase your level of personal/professional confidence
• Strengthen future applications you make for voluntary placements -
with WDP or other service providers

The training course covers the following:
• Introduction
• Basic Drugs Awareness / Harm Reduction
• Safer Injecting
• Assessment Skills
• Care Planning / Key-working
• Treatment Process / Models of Care
• Professional Boundaries
• Child Protection
• Skills Practice
• Substance misuse in film/TV
• Evaluation and Certificates

NB: This is an outline for the next course, it maybe subject to change.

General information:
• Each of the training days are from 10.00am to 4.30pm
• WDP deliver this training completely free of charge.
(This includes the issue of required materials)
• Lunch & refreshments provided
• We may be able to help with travel expenses, but you will need to
agree this with the course coordinator prior to the course
• A certificate of attendance is issued upon completion of the course

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