Pathways to Employment: Your guide to a career in substance use services
This toolkit brings a range of information and support together into one resource for people with lived and living experience of substance use looking to pursue careers in the drug and alcohol sector.
Alternative career support
What if I don’t want to work in substance use services?
Not everyone will want to work in substance use services. It is important that career advice and support is available to everyone.
What do I need to consider if I want a different career?
Below are alternative options that you could consider as a next step if you want to explore another career:
1. Look for other volunteering opportunities in different sectors.
2. Identify if there are there any other jobs that you could try to gain experience in.
3. Have conversations with peers or people in the services that you have engaged with before.
4. Search for jobs online, have a conversation with a trained careers adviser at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) or other relevant support organisations.
5. Consider if there are any qualifications that you want to work towards or might need for a specific job.
6. Understand if there are any college and or university courses available that might help.
7. Look at any modern apprenticeships that you might want to consider.
Below are some links to other potential routes for either learning or employment that can support you.
Apprenticeships
- SDS have information that they provide about apprenticeship opportunities.
- Apprenticeships in Scotland allows you to search and look to see what apprenticeships are on offer across the country.
Education
- You can find out about the different types of college and university courses on offer.
- The Scottish Wider Access Programme supports access to higher education for adult learners.
- You can find a list of Scotland’s colleges.
- You can find a list of Scotland’s universities.
Employment and Training
- Myjobscotland is the website for the public and third sector where many job opportunities will be advertised.
- My World of Work is a good guide to training and studying.
- Mygov.scot can help support you in finding employment and a career.
- Goodmoves for searching for jobs in the voluntary sector and some volunteering opportunities.
What is No One Left Behind?
No One Left Behind is the shared approach between Scottish and Local Government to delivering an all-age, place-based, person-centred model of employability support in Scotland. It promotes a strengthened partnership approach where Scottish & Local Government work together with public, private, and third sector organisations to design and deliver services.
Through the No One Left Behind approach, services are flexible, person-centred, integrated and aligned with other key services including health, justice and advice services. Support is offered to individuals regardless of age or background and are completely voluntary.
What support should you expect?
- To be supported into the destination which is right for you.
- An Employability Key Worker to work on an individual plan to help you to reach your goals and accounts for your personal circumstances.
- Support to be tailored to assist your needs, when you need it.
- Preparing for employment can include access to training, education and/or volunteering.
- Throughout your journey, you’ll be treated with dignity and respect, following Employability Service Standards.
- Your Employability key Worker will work with employers giving you the best chance of sustaining employment.
- Ongoing support once in work.
You can find out how to get in touch with your local service here on the Employability In Scotland website.
Believe in Yourself and Make a Difference
Your lived experience has the power to change lives. Substance use services across Scotland are looking for people like you, your skills, your experiences, and your passion to make a real impact.
Everyone’s journey to employment is unique. This toolkit can guide you through the key steps and help you understand what is possible.
No matter where you are in life, you can achieve your goals. There is a network of people, organisations and resources to support you every step of the way.
Take the first step today - your story can provide hope and create positive change.
If you have any questions or comments relating to the content of this toolkit, these can be directed to drugsandalcoholworkforce@gov.scot.