The Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS) is helping to professionalise the recovery sector by creating a social work qualification pathway, with its first apprentice completing her degree programme and six more colleagues due to graduate over the next three years.

Kate Harvey’s completion of the three-year social work degree apprenticeship at the University of Hull brings to fruition an ambition ADS began discussing in 2013: supporting experienced recovery staff to qualify as social workers and strengthen professional practice within alcohol and drug services.

Opportunity for existing employees
Rather than recruiting externally to a dedicated apprenticeship post, ADS opened the opportunity to all existing employees, regardless of grade. The decision reflects its commitment to growing its own talent and developing social work expertise within the sector.

Kirsty Young, Quality and Performance Director and Principal Social Worker at ADS, said: “For us, this is about more than supporting individual colleagues to gain a qualification. It is part of our commitment to helping professionalise the recovery sector and championing the contribution social work can make.

“Our staff already bring valuable knowledge, skills and experience. We wanted to build on that expertise by creating a route into qualified social work, regardless of their grade.

“This is an investment in our people, their careers and the professional expertise available to those who use our services.”

ADS recognises the close fit between social work and supporting people whose needs can extend across health, housing, relationships, employment and involvement with the criminal justice system.

“Social workers see the whole person, understand the wider circumstances affecting someone’s life, advocate for their rights and help bring services together around their needs,” Kirsty said.
“That combination of compassion, professional curiosity, sound judgement and practical problem-solving is closely aligned with recovery work.”

Wider investment in staff
The apprenticeship forms part of ADS’s wider investment in staff development. Its operational career map sets out roles, training and progression routes, helping employees understand how they can develop within the organisation.

Kate joined the East Riding Partnership following a career break to raise her children, bringing experience in mental health and health and social care.

In her role she supported people experiencing homelessness or involved in the criminal justice system, helping them access healthcare, manage bills, develop everyday living skills and prepare for employment.

“As social workers at ADS, we are given the gift of time,” Kate said. “Without that time, it would be a completely different job.”

Sharing experience
Sharing her experience with potential apprentices, she added: “You’ll gain real skills – not just academic knowledge, but practical, life-changing ones. This job is hard, but the impact you have is real.”
Asked whether the effort was worthwhile, her verdict was clear: “100% yes.”

Kirsty praised Kate’s determination and the support provided by colleagues, particularly Ali Haynes, Liz Hartley and her mentor, Paul Martindale.

“Kate’s achievement shows what investing in our own people can make possible,” she said. “With six more colleagues following this pathway, we are building lasting opportunities for our staff while helping strengthen professional practice across the recovery sector.”

Assessed and Supported Year in Employment
Kate is preparing to begin her Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), with her university graduation ceremony expected in January.

Encouraging others to consider recovery services, Kate said: “For anyone out there who doesn’t know what they want to do, the opportunities are there. There is lots of training and support. Drug and alcohol services really do want people to come and work for them.”