At a Glance
- Tasks: Be the first point of contact for those seeking mental health support and create positive experiences.
- Company: Join Porchlight, a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals and promoting mental wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, pension schemes, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Embrace a collaborative team environment with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them navigate mental health services effectively.
- Qualifications: Experience in community mental health settings and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
You will be one of the first people that those using Mental Health Together will meet, so you will have a strong commitment to ensuring that this first experience is positive, being a strong communicator as well as showing compassion. This role is part of the newly established Kent & Medway service, Mental Health Together (MHT) for which Porchlight is one of the strategic partners; this is the transformed multi-agency offer, which brings all the services and agencies that support people with varying mental health needs much closer together. This ensures that people get the right care, without having to navigate service boundaries and without repeatedly telling their story.
As part of one team of professionals from across different organisations that make up Mental Health Together, you will value partnership and collaboration, recognising the different skills and understanding that each person brings to the team. This role is perfect for individuals with significant experience of working within a community mental health and or wellbeing setting, working with individuals with complex mental health needs to help them achieve their goals. As well as understanding how mental health systems work, you will have good insight into local services and support, and how social factors can affect mental health.
The role requires:
- Significant experience within a community mental health and wellbeing setting.
- The ability to listen to, and understand people, with complex mental health needs to find out what is important to them, and then make a plan together that they can achieve.
- Someone who values working as a team to get the best possible outcomes for people, particularly where things have not always worked in the past.
- Someone who is passionate about improving people’s experience of mental health services.
Working pattern: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday with some flexibility required.
Location type: On-site
Contract type: Permanent
Interview date: 13th to 18th August 2026
Our application form and interview process have been designed to assess your transferable skills rather than direct experience. This helps remove barriers for people who may have the right values, abilities, and potential but may not have formal experience in the role they’re applying for. We actively encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
The charity Porchlight is a charity supporting people who are homeless, vulnerable, and isolated. At Porchlight, we are passionate about helping vulnerable people to reach their full potential. We strive for a fairer society where vulnerable people find stability, the most excluded are included, and where homelessness and poverty are things of the past. Porchlight is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
The benefits include:
- Generous annual leave entitlements
- Generous pension scheme
- Occupational sick pay
- Occupational maternity and support pay
- Employee assistance programme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to mental health first aiders
- Sponsorship for professional qualifications
- Staff loans
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Life assurance
Mental Health Together Navigator in Canterbury employer: Porchlight
Porchlight is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees. With a strong focus on employee well-being, the organisation offers generous benefits such as annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and access to mental health support, ensuring that staff feel valued and empowered. Located in Kent & Medway, Porchlight provides unique opportunities for professional growth within the community mental health sector, making it an ideal place for those passionate about making a meaningful impact in people's lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mental Health Together Navigator in Canterbury
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Porchlight.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Porchlight!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Porchlight, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Porchlight or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Mental Health Together Navigator in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Porchlight:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Porchlight! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Porchlight
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
