Mental Health Link Worker / Navigator: Sponsorship Available

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to offer a Mental Health Navigator / Link Worker post within Community Mental Health (CMHT).

  • Will you enjoy working within a team of dedicated, friendly people who believe in helping people by addressing wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity?
  • Are you passionate about providing support to people who have a serious mental illness (SMI) to enable them to connect with their communities, addressing barriers such as social isolation?
  • Can you effectively engage with a diverse range of VCSE organisations, NHS Teams including Primary Care?
  • Can you work with individuals to co-produce goals based on the persons priorities, interests, values and motivations
  • If that sounds like you – then we want to hear from you!

You will be based at Weavers Croft, alongside the clinical lead. This is a base for mental health community teams. The post would mainly involve working in and around Gloucestershire with an expectation of some out of county visits.

You will work collaboratively with VCSE organisations, and primary care working with individuals who have a SMI or at serious risk of developing one. You will be a key role in the Locality Community Partnership meeting held in each locality, bringing together key partners to plan and deliver collaborative care for people with mental health complexities.

 

Main duties of the job

  • Proactively spending time with specified VCSE organisations including attending meetings and forums, and attending activities which include clients of the VCSE services
  • Build capability, confidence and resilience in the VCSE to identify and support individuals in emotional distress; and recognise and respond to suicide risk.
  • Increase VCSE awareness of, and access to mental health services and available training to enable them to signpost/refer effectively.
  • Support earlier identification (on the part of both the VCSE and Mental Health Services) of people in crisis by enabling concerns to be communicated quickly.
  • Help Improve connectivity between mental health and third sector services.
  • Support the personalisation agenda.
  • Supporting GP practices to connect with GHC mental health services.
  • Carrying a limited caseload only to support people referrals across services and broker access to services

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • NVQ level 3 or equivalent level of competency-based training in a relevant health or social care area PLUS theoretical and practical knowledge to diploma level equivalent, obtained through formal competency training, short courses and experience OR successful completion of approved associate practitioner training or relevant foundation degree or commitment to obtain within 2 years.
  • IT Skills

LENGTH AND / OR NATURE OF EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Child Protection, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
  • Experience in mental health or social care services at Bands 2, 3 or 4, ideally in a community setting.
  • Knowledge of the CPA process
  • Knowledge and understanding of care planning and risk assessment (completed an Approved course in relation to Risk Assessment).
  • Knowledge and understanding of using a Recovery based approach to care.
  • Knowledge and understanding of social inclusion approach
  • Clinical skills training (awareness of physical health and wellbeing).
  • Awareness of issues of diversity

Desirable

  • Knowledge and understanding of Voluntary Care Sector and partnership working

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 22 June 2025

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.