Join Our Team as a Care Navigator Location: Durham – Agile role The Specialist Health Care Navigation (SHCN) service supports individuals returning to the community from secure settings, helping them reconnect with essential health services and reduce health inequalities. Working within integrated mental health teams, SHCN professionals provide personalised 1:1 and group support to improve wellbeing, promote engagement with care, and reduce the risk of reoffending. The service offers a highly autonomous and rewarding role focused on enabling successful and sustained community reintegration. *The applicant must have a full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle. 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. If you’re passionate about empowering individuals, reducing stigma, and improving mental health outcomes, we’d love to hear from you! IND1