Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Community Navigator

The closing date is 03 September 2025

Job summary

We are looking for you to join our Thames Valley Liaison and Diversion team. You will have a keen interest in Liaison and Diversion and a passion about supporting our service users as they make their way through police custody, court and prison. You willsupport Prison leavers under the RECONNECT project.

We are a dynamic, people-centred team who are looking for some who is passionate about health outcomes for those making their way through the criminal justice system.

With a reputation for excellence, our service is committed to improving the health of our clients, identifying care pathways, and reducing reoffending.

Recognised with a number of awards, including a Thames Valley/Hampshire Constabulary Police Commendation, Berkshire Healthcare 'Team of the Year' and runner-up for the Howard League for Penal Reform 'Liaison and Diversion Service of the Year'.

We value our employees and put people first. We achieved an 'Outstanding' rating overall in our latest CQC inspection, which found that: 'Managers across Berkshire Healthcare promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.'

We operate across Thames Valley, for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust. This is a full-time role; however, we would also consider applications from candidates seeking part-time hours

Main duties of the job

  • Monday - Friday 9am-5pm based primarily within Trust settings, whilst meeting service users within the community at various locations.

  • You will support people within community settings who are typically hard to engage, you will talk to families and friends, to gain a holistic understanding of the client's circumstances and facilitate their access to support services, providing individualised support with practical problems or difficulties that may be affecting their health and wellbeing.

  • An empathetic advocate of service users, you will promote their rights and responsibilities, building a rapport, whilst maintaining appropriate and transparent boundaries. You will be emotionally resilient, able to cope with people potentially displaying challenging behaviour and distressing situations

  • To provide help and advice to service users that includes housing, social isolation and exclusion, education, debt management and employment problems etc.

  • To work closely and build links with all referring agencies within the community and probation acting as a single point of contact for health

  • To work autonomously, with the ability to organise and manage own time according to delegated workload

  • To Support Peer Support Workers who are on fixed term contracts during their induction period.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

FOR SECONDMENT ROLES ONLY - If the secondment role becomes permanent, the successful candidate may be offered the permanent position.

Details

Date posted

20 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS816-A

Job locations

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

  • Knowledge of the Liaison & Diversion agenda
  • NVQ level 2 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant training to diploma level equivalent and/or practical experience of working in health or social care setting.
  • Full driving License and car owner Ability to travel between sites

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for you to be considered for this role:

  • Knowledge of the Liaison & Diversion agenda
  • NVQ level 2 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant training to diploma level equivalent and/or practical experience of working in health or social care setting.
  • Full driving License and car owner Ability to travel between sites

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • NVQ level 2 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant training to diploma level equivalent and/or practical experience of working in health or social care setting.

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Able to develop through supervision and recognise own limits
  • Willingness to complete a level 3 health and social care diploma

Desirable

  • Evidence of commitment to continue professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supporting people with identified vulnerabilities
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

  • Having direct lived experience of recovery from substance misuse, mental health or other vulnerabilities and can demonstrate recovery and recovery capital.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Knowledge of the Liaison & Diversion agenda
  • Knowledge of the health & social care systems
  • Ability to use problem-solving approach in everyday situation
  • Ability to work collaboratively with individuals and other organisation

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Full driving License and car owner - Ability to travel between sites
  • Skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • NVQ level 2 in Health & Social Care or equivalent and relevant training to diploma level equivalent and/or practical experience of working in health or social care setting.

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Able to develop through supervision and recognise own limits
  • Willingness to complete a level 3 health and social care diploma

Desirable

  • Evidence of commitment to continue professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supporting people with identified vulnerabilities
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

  • Having direct lived experience of recovery from substance misuse, mental health or other vulnerabilities and can demonstrate recovery and recovery capital.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Knowledge of the Liaison & Diversion agenda
  • Knowledge of the health & social care systems
  • Ability to use problem-solving approach in everyday situation
  • Ability to work collaboratively with individuals and other organisation

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Full driving License and car owner - Ability to travel between sites
  • Skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lived Experience and S/U Engagement Manager

Lucy Bashir

Lucy.Bashir@berkshire.nhs.uk

07584556882

Details

Date posted

20 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS816-A

Job locations

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Supporting documents

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