Mental Health Together Navigator in Dartford

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 and showing compassion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to manage referrals and ensure people receive the most appropriate support.
2. Make initial contact with individuals by phone to identify needs and priorities.
3. Complete person‑centred assessments at initial Mental Health Together appointments using DIALOG+.
4. Develop an initial personalised support plan outlining next steps to meet needs and aspirations.
5. Consider the wider social factors affecting mental health and identify services that may provide appropriate support.
6. Work collaboratively from locality hubs to agree the most appropriate services and interventions following assessment.
7. Deliver agreed low‑intensity structured psycho‑social interventions, which may include CBT‑ or DBT‑informed support, with training and supervision from clinicians where required.
8. Manage a caseload effectively, recognising when to seek input from the wider team or specialist services.
9. Identify, assess and manage risk and safeguarding concerns, escalating appropriately.
10. Work independently in the community, building professional networks and knowledge of local assets to support individuals in achieving their goals.
11. Maintain timely, accurate and up‑to‑date records across Mental Health Together systems.

Other Duties

• Work collaboratively with other Porchlight services to share and embed best practice around mental health support.
• Undertake and participate constructively in induction, supervision, appraisal and relevant training, and contribute positively to good team relationships and continuous improvement of services.
• Represent Porchlight professionally at external meetings and forums in the local area, as required, maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality in line with organisational policy in relation to those using our services, staff and business sensitive information.
• Meet any other requirements to ensure effective delivery of the service, within reasonable expectations.

Person Specification

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to engage, motivate and support clients and carers where appropriate.
• Use verbal and non‑verbal skills to de‑escalate distress and anger.
• Support clients to make informed decisions and achieve agreed goals.
• Positive, flexible, and strengths‑based approach to mental health support.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with partners, managers and providers.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including contributing to multidisciplinary meetings.
• Ability to manage competing demands and maintain accurate electronic records.
• Awareness of long‑term physical conditions affecting wellbeing.
• Display an awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity.

Experience

• Delivering mental health and wellbeing interventions in a case management approach.
• Supporting clients with complex needs and multiple barriers in health and social care settings.
• Highly organised, with strong planning skills and ability to meet agreed targets.
• Understanding of inclusion, mental health and trauma‑informed practice.
• Knowledge of housing, health and social care systems, and the application of wellbeing and prevention.
• Signposting individuals to appropriate services.
• Understanding of the 6 Ways to Wellbeing and its practical application.

Qualifications

• Minimum of SVQ/NVQ level 3 or equivalent in mental health or a related field.
• Relevant additional training in the health and social care field such as safeguarding, motivational interviewing, or specific therapeutic interventions.
• Car user with full driving licence and access to own vehicle (subject to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995).

Personal Qualities

• A positive, self‑motivated and enthusiastic attitude to work.
• The ability to actively contribute ideas and suggestions that improve the quality of services.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary: £28,675 to £30,386 a year, rising after 5 years' service.