Turning Point is a health and social care social enterprise and charity. It provides services in more than 200 locations in England and Wales, specialising in substance misuse, mental health, learning disability, employment services, criminal justice, primary care and public health. With an annual income of more than £100m, Turning Point has 2,700 employees and over 400 volunteers. Its head office is in London but Turning Point also has a base in Manchester.

Turning Point was founded in 1964 as the ‘Camberwell Alcohol Project’. In 1969, the charity began working with London drug users and in 1972 opened its first project outside of the capital, an alcohol service in Manchester.

By 1984, Turning Point was running 21 substance misuse services around the country and in the same year introduced mental health services. In 1991 Turning Point set up its first learning disability service, in Wiltshire. In 1997 the charity began its now extensive work within the criminal justice system.

Although it has greatly expanded its activities, substance misuse services still form a major part of Turning Point’s project portfolio. It runs a range of drug and alcohol services that help people recover from addiction. These include: residential rehabilitation services, residential detox, psychological intervention, drug intervention, open access services and care coordination services.

Turning Point Cymru specialises in substance misuse services across South Wales. The Carmarthenshire-based services comprise advice and information, group sessions, one to one support and the provision of dedicated key workers.

Turning Point also provides a comprehensive and specialist support service for offenders with drug and alcohol misuse problems. Its ‘Drug Intervention Programme’ (DIP) links pre-existing healthcare and drug treatment services with a range of other supporting and rehabilitative help across the criminal justice system.

Turning Point has been delivering learning disability projects for more than 20 years. It works closely with beneficiaries, their circle of support, health professionals and commissioners in order to develop services that are tailored to a person’s needs. Aims include increasing skills, confidence and independence, assisting with personal budgets and enabling full participation in the local community.

Turning Point has been providing mental health services since the mid-1980s. Services include supported housing, community support, talking therapies, crisis interventions, independent hospitals, residential rehabilitation and forensic services.

Career options are varied at Turning Point. The charity offers support and project worker roles, clinical posts and head office positions (finance, HR and learning & development). Turning Point’s office teams are based in London and Manchester.