Care Navigator

Rethink Mental Illness; North East; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

25 days annual leave

Wellbeing support

Learning and development opportunities

Contributory pension

Enhanced family leave

Travel schemes

Discounts & Blue Light Card

Referral bonus up to £300

Job summary

Rethink Mental Illness is seeking a Care Navigator at HMP Durham to support people leaving secure settings, coordinating health services and reducing health inequalities.

You will work 8am–4pm or 9am–5pm, and a full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle is essential. The role involves coaching, risk management and collaboration with community partners to secure smooth re-entry and ongoing support.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 with Care Navigation training.
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals 1:1 or in groups.
• Knowledge of health, social care, debt, housing, court systems, mental health, criminal justice and substance misuse services.
• Capable of delivering time‑limited, structured support.
• Patient, calm and able to maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to develop risk management plans and individual support plans.
• Strong time‑management and prioritisation.
• Excellent written and spoken communication; non‑discriminatory relationships.
• Experience using clinical outcome measures and IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals pre- and post-release from North East prisons.
• Screen and care‑mapping assessments to plan release and health support.
• Deliver tailored, person‑centred support using defined frameworks.
• Use a coaching framework to empower clients to manage plans independently.
• Strengthen links with statutory and non‑statutory services for continuity of care.
• Attend multi‑disciplinary meetings and maintain professional boundaries.
• Keep detailed, timely records on clinical systems.
• Meet deadlines and adapt to changing demands in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

NVQ Level 3

1:1 & group interventions

Health & social care knowledge

Time management

IT skills

Communication skills

Care navigation experience

Risk assessment

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Health & Social Care

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Database systems

Job description

Location: HMP Durham – Agile role

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm or 9am–5pm

Care Navigation services aim to provide a seamless package of support to individuals leaving secure settings and returning to the community, reconnecting individuals with health services to reduce health inequalities and in turn reduce reoffending. The Care Navigators are embedded in integrated mental health teams and community settings, providing 1:1 and group assessment and support in a variety of settings and hold highly autonomous roles.

• The applicant must have a full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle with business car insurance.

What I Will Do And Achieve

Join our team as a Care Navigator, working with colleagues to support people with health vulnerabilities as they move from prison back into the community. Using a coaching approach, you’ll help maintain wellbeing before and after release, strengthen links with community health services, and reduce the risk of ill health and reoffending. Your work will ensure a smooth transition and help reduce health inequalities for those leaving the criminal justice system.

Provide High‑Quality Care Navigation

• Support individuals pre‑and post‑release from North East prisons, and where needed, those released directly from court.
• Complete screening and care‑mapping assessments to plan effective release and health support.
• Deliver tailored, person‑centred support using a range of approaches and intensities.
• Use a coaching framework to empower individuals to manage their health and release plans independently.

Improve Health Outcomes & Reduce Reoffending

• Strengthen links with statutory and non‑statutory services to ensure continuity of care in the community.
• Promote positive health behaviours and contribute to health promotion events.
• Help reduce health inequalities by preventing a decline in wellbeing after release.

Work Collaboratively & Professionally

• Build effective relationships with partners and agencies, attending multi‑disciplinary meetings as needed.
• Uphold strong professional boundaries and model proactive, solution‑focused practice aligned with organisational values.
• Communicate clearly in both written and verbal form, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Deliver Accurate and Accountable Practice

• Keep detailed, timely and professional records on relevant clinical systems.
• Follow all pathways, processes and activity expectations, contributing to a high‑volume, fast‑paced service.
• Use self‑reflection, supervision, and training to maintain high standards and continually develop your practice.

Manage Your Workload Effectively

• Work autonomously, planning your time and caseload efficiently.
• Meet deadlines, adapt to changing demands, and multitask confidently in a dynamic environment.
• Take a flexible and pragmatic approach to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients and the service.

Champion Organisational Values

• Demonstrate enthusiasm, integrity, transparency, and commitment to high‑quality care.
• Represent Rethink Mental Illness positively in all aspects of your work.

Essential Skills And Experience

• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) with training relevant to Care Navigation, e.g., Health and Social Care.
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals through 1:1 and/or group interventions, helping them identify, set and achieve goals.
• Working knowledge of health, social care, debt, housing, court systems, mental health, criminal justice and substance misuse services.
• Skilled in delivering structured, time‑limited support and confident working within defined frameworks.
• Passionate about supporting individuals leaving the criminal justice system, providing professional, high‑quality, person‑centred care that recognises diversity and individual life experiences.
• Patient, calm and respectful, with the ability to maintain professional boundaries in challenging situations.
• Capable of assessing needs, developing risk management plans and creating, implementing and reviewing individual support plans.
• Strong time‑management skills with the ability to prioritise effectively and respond positively to unforeseen challenges.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build professional, non‑discriminatory relationships.
• Experience using clinical outcome measures to inform practice.
• Confident IT user, including Microsoft Word, Excel and database/information systems.
• Willing to engage in ongoing training, coaching and personal development, using supervision positively and being self‑reflective.
• Able to remain calm under pressure, seeking guidance from managers when required.

Why join Rethink Mental Illness?

We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:

• An inclusive culture, with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
• Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
• Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
• Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.

Our commitment to inclusion

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti‑racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi‑year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf