At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide person-centred support for individuals transitioning from prison to the community.
- Company: Join Rethink Mental Illness, a leader in mental health support.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to reducing stigma and promoting inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and improve mental health outcomes.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
Location: HMP Millsike
Working hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Rethink Mental Illness works alongside Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust to deliver an integrated stepped care mental health service within HMP Millsike. The team comprises a range of highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively to provide the highest quality of care for those with mental health needs within the prison.
Purpose of the Role
To provide person-centred support for individuals with health vulnerabilities transitioning from prison to the community, ensuring continuity of care and effective release planning. The role focuses on reconnecting individuals with health services, improving wellbeing, reducing health inequalities, and supporting a sustainable reduction in reoffending through coaching-based interventions and collaborative working with partner agencies.
What I will do and achieve
- Delivering Person-Centred Support
- Provide holistic care navigation to individuals before and after release from prison, ensuring continuity of care and effective, well-planned transitions into the community.
- Complete initial screenings, care mapping assessments, and structured release plans using a tailored, person-centred approach.
- Deliver flexible 1:1 and group-based support using a coaching framework to promote independence, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.
- Improving Health and Reducing Reoffending
- Reconnect individuals with appropriate health and community services, reducing health inequalities and supporting sustained recovery.
- Prevent deterioration in physical and mental health by enabling access to ongoing care and promoting self-management.
- Contribute to reducing reoffending by supporting stability, engagement, and positive lifestyle changes.
- Collaborative and Multi-Agency Working
- Work closely with prison staff, healthcare providers, and statutory and non-statutory agencies to coordinate safe and effective release planning.
- Build and maintain strong professional relationships, representing both the service and service users in multi-disciplinary settings.
- Support health promotion initiatives and joint working to improve service reach and impact.
- Quality, Performance and Accountability
- Maintain accurate, timely, and professional clinical records in line with organisational and national requirements.
- Manage a high-volume caseload, balancing competing demands while meeting service targets and deadlines.
- Work autonomously with strong organisational skills, adapting to a fast-paced and evolving environment.
- Professional Standards and Development
- Uphold safeguarding, confidentiality, and professional boundaries at all times, modelling a proactive and solution-focused approach.
- Engage fully in supervision, reflective practice, and ongoing training to continuously improve service delivery.
- Demonstrate commitment, motivation, and resilience in delivering high-quality support within a challenging but rewarding area of work.
Essential Skills and Experience
- NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant area such as Health and Social Care.
- Experience supporting vulnerable individuals to set and achieve goals through 1:1 and group interventions.
- Working knowledge of mental health, substance misuse, housing, social care, and the criminal justice system.
- Strong assessment skills, including risk management and support planning.
- Passionate about supporting individuals leaving the criminal justice system, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Calm, patient, and respectful, with the ability to manage challenging situations and maintain professional boundaries.
- Confident communicator with strong interpersonal and written skills.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and adapt to changing demands.
- Competent in IT systems, including Microsoft Office and clinical databases.
- Committed to ongoing professional development, reflective practice, and using supervision effectively.
If you’re passionate about empowering individuals, reducing stigma, and improving mental health outcomes, we’d love to hear from you!
Why Work With Rethink Mental Illness
- Inclusive Culture: Join staff networks that champion diversity and inclusion.
- Wellbeing Support: Access our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, and the Unmind mental health app.
- Recognition & Rewards: Enjoy discounts, cashback offers, and celebrate achievements through our PULSE platform.
- Flexible Working & Generous Leave: Starting at 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with options to buy or sell extra days.
- Learning & Development: Grow your career with structured onboarding and training opportunities.
- Financial & Family Support: Contributory pension scheme, enhanced family leave, and travel benefits like season ticket loans and cycle-to-work schemes.
- Referral Bonus: Earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Diversity is important to us, and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services.
We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background- regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.
Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation
We have an ambition of becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement. We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
Care Navigator employer: Rethink Mental Illness
At Rethink Mental Illness, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. Our Care Navigators play a vital role in transforming lives within HMP Millsike, benefiting from flexible working hours, generous leave, and comprehensive training opportunities, all while contributing to meaningful change in the community. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values diversity, promotes mental health, and empowers individuals to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Care Navigator
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the mental health field, especially those connected to Rethink Mental Illness. Attend events or join online forums where you can chat with professionals and learn more about the role of a Care Navigator.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to care navigation and mental health support. Think about your past experiences and how they relate to the skills needed for this role. We want to hear your stories!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to speak with someone from Rethink, let them know why you're excited about supporting individuals transitioning from prison to the community. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Rethink Mental Illness.
We think you need these skills to ace Care Navigator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Care Navigator role. Highlight your relevant experience in supporting vulnerable individuals and your understanding of mental health, as this will show us you’re a great fit for our team.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t forget to emphasise your strong assessment skills and ability to manage a high-volume caseload. We want to see how you can balance competing demands while still providing top-notch care to those who need it most.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application! We value authenticity and want to know what drives your passion for supporting individuals leaving the criminal justice system. Share your story and motivations with us.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rethink Mental Illness
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Care Navigator inside HMP Millsike. Familiarise yourself with person-centred support, care navigation, and the importance of continuity of care. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience supporting vulnerable individuals, especially in a mental health context. Prepare examples of how you've used assessment skills, risk management, and support planning in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of the job.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with various agencies, highlight your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you've successfully collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. This will show that you can build strong professional relationships, which is crucial for this position.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, or how they measure success in the role. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the organisation aligns with your values and career goals.
