Care Navigator

Mentalhealth UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established charity is seeking a dedicated Care Navigator to support individuals transitioning from prison to independent living. This role focuses on providing holistic care, ensuring continuity, and reducing health inequalities. By collaborating with community health services, you will help vulnerable individuals achieve their goals and improve their wellbeing. If you're passionate about making a difference in mental health and enjoy working in a supportive environment, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a team committed to creating a better life for those affected by mental illness.

Benefits

Employer pension

Flexible working

Life assurance

Up to £55 towards glasses or lenses

Training and e-learning

Annual leave: 25 days rising to 30 plus bank holidays

PULSE rewards platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Rethink day and birthday leave

Qualifications

• Educated to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, with relevant qualifications.
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals through interventions.

Responsibilities

• Provide Care Navigation Services to individuals released from prison.
• Conduct initial screenings and care mapping assessments.

Skills

Care Navigation

Health and Social Care

Supporting Vulnerable Individuals

Knowledge of Criminal Justice

Experience with Structured Support Programs

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Relevant training in Health and Social Care

Job description

This is a Permanent position with 35 vacancies that will close in a day at 23:59 BST.

Your role

About the Role

Rethink Mental Illness is seeking a committed Care Navigator who will work seamlessly with other Care Navigators and Apprentice Health and Wellbeing Coaches to ensure holistic and meaningful support for individuals with health vulnerabilities upon their release from prison. The role involves ensuring continuity of care and successful implementation of release plans. Care Navigators will use a coaching framework to manage wellbeing before and after release, aiming to prevent health decline and reduce reoffending. By fostering robust connections with community health services, the organization seeks to reduce health inequalities for those leaving the criminal justice system and facilitate a smooth transition to independent living.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide Care Navigation Services to individuals released from North East Prisons, supporting them pre and post-release in accordance with service guidelines, and collaborating with other agencies to improve health outcomes and reduce reoffending.
• Support individuals released from court and assist with related processes as needed.
• Conduct initial screenings and care mapping assessments with each service user, using service documents to plan their care and release, with supervision to ensure high-quality support.
• Develop tailored support models for patients through various modalities and intensities to promote self-management and engagement with services.

Model professional boundaries and embody the organization’s values through proactive, positive, and solution-focused approaches.

Qualifications & Skills

• Educated to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, with relevant qualifications or training such as Health and Social Care.
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals to identify and achieve their goals through 1:1 or group interventions.
• Knowledge of health, debts, social care, housing, court systems, mental health, criminal justice, and substance misuse.
• Experience working with structured, time-limited support programs and confidence in this approach.

Candidate must be a Driver

*Appointments will be at the minimum of the band.

Note: We may close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

*Given the nature of this role, which involves frequent travel and timely meetings, a clean driver’s license is essential.

Further details are available on our website. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to learn more about our work. We also offer a BUPA Employee Assistance Programme with access to appointments.

Who are we?

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity providing mental health services in England. We support thousands through groups, services, policy, campaigns, and advice, aiming for "A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness."

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

We value diversity and inclusiveness, recognizing that a diverse workforce enriches our understanding and service delivery. We support staff networks for ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues, are a Disability Confident Employer, and a signatory to the Race at Work Charter. We actively encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of mental illness, from diverse backgrounds, and with various identities and conditions.

Our values

• Commitment: Supporting everyone severely affected by mental illness.
• Hope: Offering a better quality of life.
• Expertise: Providing practical, personal support.
• People: Central to our work, governance, and membership.
• Equity: Ensuring justice and fairness, combating discrimination.

What you will receive

Opportunities for development, funded training, career growth, e-learning courses, and more. Benefits include:

• Employer pension
• Flexible working
• Life assurance
• Up to £55 towards glasses or lenses
• Training and e-learning
• Annual leave: 25 days rising to 30 plus bank holidays
• PULSE rewards platform
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Rethink day and birthday leave

Colleague testimonials

Quotes from staff emphasizing the supportive environment, meaningful work, and organizational culture.

Note: We may close applications early if we receive many responses, so apply promptly.