Clinical Navigator - Urgent Community Response in Northampton

Clinical Navigator - Urgent Community Response

Band 3

Main area Urgent Community Response Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent: Substantive Post Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (7.5 Shift patterns rotational over a 7 day week - Earlies, Lates and Twilight (finishing at 1am) shifts.) Job ref 270-TH486-AD

Site Lotus House Town Northampton Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

The Clinical Navigator is a key member of the Urgent Community Response (UCR) Service, providing a responsive and professional first point of contact for patients, carers, healthcare professionals and partner organisations. Working within the UCR Single Point of Access, the post holder will receive and process referrals, ensuring people are directed to the most appropriate service or healthcare professional in a timely manner.

This role combines excellent customer service, coordination and administrative skills to support the delivery of rapid community-based care. The Clinical Navigator will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to manage referrals, support patient flow, prioritise urgent requests and contribute to the efficient day-to-day operation of the service.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the first point of contact for referrals and enquiries received by the Urgent Community Response service, providing a professional and compassionate service to patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
• Receive, record and process referrals accurately using electronic patient record systems, ensuring all information is complete and up to date.
• Assess and prioritise referrals within agreed protocols, directing patients to the most appropriate service, clinician or care pathway according to urgency and need.
• Support the coordination of daily service activity, including managing caseloads, scheduling visits and assisting clinical teams to ensure timely patient responses.
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, handling sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, empathy and discretion.
• Maintain accurate electronic records and contribute to service monitoring, data collection, audit and quality improvement activities.
• Escalate risks, safeguarding concerns and complex situations appropriately, supporting safe and effective patient care.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a positive, patient-focused service that supports admission avoidance and rapid community intervention.

Working for our organisation

NHFT is an NHS Community and Mental Health Foundation Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in hospital settings and in the community. We provide over 200 services across the county - as well as some specialist services in bordering and nearby counties. We work together with our partners to ensure that everyone who comes through our doors receives compassionate, person-centred care, regardless of their background or circumstances.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning, to improve the care and safety of our patients and colleagues. We have achieved our ‘outstanding’ rating by encouraging opportunity, innovation, development and growth across our workforce.

At NHFT we believe that work should be rewarded in every sense which is why we are proud to an accredited living wage employer.

We aim to support financial wellbeing and create an environment where are people feel valued and able to thrive.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details which is attached.

Person specification

Experience

• Educated to GCSE Level or equivalent including English and Mathematics
• Experience of working in healthcare, social care, customer service or call handling environment
• Experience of managing and prioritising multiple tasks in a busy and fast-paced setting
• Experience of using electronic patient records, databases or information systems
• Previous experience within Urgent Community Response, NHS Community Healthcare Services or Single Point of Access
• Evidence of referral management, patient navigation or care coordination

Skills

• Flexible and adaptable to changing service demands
• Reliable, resilient and able to work under pressure
• Strong IT skills including outlook, Microsoft teams, excel

We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

All roles are subject to the home office immigration rules and therefore eligibility must meet certain requirements for any sponsorship to be considered. Please visit the government website for more information regarding eligibility,

At NHFT we support many of our colleagues to work flexibly and we will consider requests for flexible working from day one. For this role, we are open to discussing a range of options including flexible hours, agile/home working, compressed hours and part time hours. Please have a conversation with the recruiting manager about the flexibility you need and we will promise to explore what is possible with you.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

All posts that are engaged in a regulated activity will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a DBS re-check on a three yearly basis whilst employed in such a role. Staff employed in these posts will therefore be asked to register with the DBS Automatic Update Service upon receipt of their DBS certificate and must update yearly , the annual fee will be reimbursed subject to Trust policy. For further information please visit: DBS Update Service: applicant guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note if a DBS is applicable for the position then a charge will be deducted from your first salary.

Please note that all new starters to the trustare subject to a probationary period.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Abby Wainwright Job title Head of Service for Urgent Community Response Email address abigail.wainwright@nhft.nhs.uk