Zoe Hodgson

With expertise spanning substance misuse, counselling skills, peer support, behaviour change, and health education, I draw on over thirteen years of social care experience in my lectures on our BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care course. I’m also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

My professional journey has taken me across multiple roles in health and social care. In the field of addiction treatment, I worked extensively in community drug rehabilitation, providing practical and emotional support to individuals striving to overcome substance addiction and related issues. My work has always prioritised empowering individuals and communities, equipping them with the tools to achieve real, positive change in their lives.

In health education, I’ve designed and delivered engaging, impactful initiatives in schools and youth clubs focused on drug awareness, cessation, and sexual health, and I’ve worked closely with young people with disabilities. 

A highlight of my career was designing and managing an award-winning peer mentor programme, where recently abstinent drug users were trained to support others on their recovery journeys. This initiative, rolled out nationally by a leading social care charity, demonstrated the power of lived experience and peer support in creating lasting, meaningful change. I also led the recruitment, training, and supervision of large-scale volunteer and peer mentor programmes within the substance misuse field.

My students benefit from my practical insights into the complex rewards and challenges that come with supporting individuals with multiple social, emotional, and health needs. I focus on showing how we can empower others, sharing the practicalities of working in this ever-evolving sector, and helping students find their own professional path. My students have told me that they value the real-life stories I bring to the classroom and my ability to break down complex ideas in ways that are clear and practical.

If I could offer one piece of advice to students, it would be: don’t leave your work until the last minute, and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.