Join Our Team as a Care Navigator
Location: HMP Millsike
Working hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Rethink Mental Illness work 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 compromises 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 and for Rethink Mental Illness employees, this is carried out between 0800 – 1600 Monday to Friday.
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
- Experience delivering structured, time-limited support
- 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!
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Why join Rethink Mental Illness?
We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:
- An inclusive culture, with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
- Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
- Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
- Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
- Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
- Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.
Our commitment to inclusion
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi-year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and want everyone to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or when in your role, please let us know and we will work with you to understand what support you need.
