Recovery Navigator

Recovery Focus; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days’ annual leave

Pension scheme with employer contrib.

Life assurance (3× annual salary)

Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly

Birthday leave and extra days

Professional fee reimbursement

24/7 online GP access

£500 bonus

Cycle to Work scheme

Blue Light Card discounts

Job summary

Waythrough is seeking a Reconnect Navigator to support people leaving prison and reconnecting with their communities. Based at HMP Holme House, you will manage a complex caseload, develop recovery plans, and collaborate with prison and community services to ensure safe, sustainable transitions.

You will need NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent, a good understanding of substance misuse, and experience in delivering individual and group interventions.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent, or willingness to work towards one.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and recovery planning.
• Experience delivering one-to-one and group therapeutic interventions.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of individuals before and after release from prison, coordinating care with internal teams and families.
• Develop personalised recovery plans with service users identifying strengths and needs.
• Help individuals access community services, recovery opportunities and mutual aid groups.
• Build relationships with community services and voluntary organisations to improve continuity of care.
• Coordinate information sharing between prison teams and community services for risk management.
• Complete assessments and safeguarding documentation with accurate records.
• Promote engagement with health and wellbeing services including mental health and smoking cessation.

Skills

Motivational Interviewing

CBT knowledge

Asset mapping

One-to-one interventions

Group interventions

Microsoft Office

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Recovery Navigator - Reconnect to Health

Location: HMP Holme House, Holme House Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QU (Outreach work also required as part of this role).
Working Hours: 37 Hours per week 8am-4pm Monday to Friday
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,877.80 - £34,240.03

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

About the role

Waythrough is proud to be a delivery partner within Reconnected to Health, providing drug and alcohol recovery services across all seven North East prison establishments. Led by Spectrum Community Health CIC, the partnership brings together Spectrum, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust and Waythrough to deliver holistic, collaborative care to people in custody.

We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Reconnect Navigator to join our team at HMP Holme House, supporting people as they prepare to leave prison and transition back into their local communities.

You will work with individuals throughout their recovery journey, providing collaborative recovery planning and case management to help them overcome barriers, access the right support and build positive, sustainable connections beyond prison. Working closely with prison colleagues, community drug and alcohol services, families and voluntary organisations, you will help people build on their strengths, develop their recovery capital and access opportunities that support their health, wellbeing and long-term recovery.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference, supporting people to rebuild their lives and successfully reconnect with their communities. The role can be fast-paced and involve managing a complex caseload, so we are looking for someone who is organised, proactive and committed to achieving positive outcomes.

Please note: This role is based at HMP Holme House and involves outreach work within the community. You must hold a full, valid UK driving licence and have access to your own vehicle.

What you will do

• Manage a caseload of individuals who require additional support before and immediately after release from prison, coordinating care with internal teams, community agencies and families where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with service users to develop personalised recovery plans that identify their strengths, needs and support networks.
• Help individuals access community services, recovery opportunities, mutual aid groups, peer support and other resources to support their transition from prison.
• Build effective relationships with community drug and alcohol services, voluntary organisations and other key partners to improve continuity of care.
• Coordinate information sharing between prison teams, community services and relevant professionals to support effective risk management and positive outcomes.
• Complete assessments, risk assessments, risk management plans and safeguarding documentation, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records are maintained.
• Promote engagement with wider health and wellbeing services, including mental health support, smoking cessation and blood-borne virus testing and treatment.
• Support positive family involvement in recovery, helping to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol-related harm on family life.
• Identify and promote peer-led support and recovery opportunities that help individuals develop meaningful connections within their communities.
• Work in line with Waythrough policies, safeguarding requirements, clinical governance standards and all relevant prison security procedures.

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting people to make positive changes and who understands the importance of person-centred recovery and continuity of care.

You will have:

• An NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or above, or an equivalent qualification, or a willingness to work towards one.
• A sound understanding of substance misuse, recovery models and recovery planning.
• Knowledge of interventions such as motivational interviewing (MI), psychosocial interventions (PSIs), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and ITEP.
• An understanding of community engagement and asset mapping to help people access local support and resources.
• The ability to undertake assessments, develop recovery plans and contribute to effective risk management.
• Experience delivering one-to-one and group therapeutic interventions.
• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Experience in prison settings, substance misuse services or managing a caseload would be beneficial. However, we are open to candidates with transferable skills and relevant experience who are willing to learn and develop in the role.

You will be an excellent communicator, highly organised and proactive, with the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while also managing your own workload. Above all, you will share our commitment to Waythrough's values of kindness, courage and respect.

If you are looking for a role where you can help people overcome barriers, build a positive future and reconnect with their communities, we would love to hear from you.

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
• Life assurance (3× annual salary)
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
• Recognition and long service awards via our and portals
• £500 bonus
• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

Closing Date

2026-11-12