Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Mental Health Navigator

The closing date is 26 October 2025

Job summary

The Common Point of Entry/ Gateway is the front door to mental health services across Berkshire. It is a predominately telephone based service offering specialist mental health assessment and signposting to Primary, Secondary, and tertiary based mental health services in Berkshire.

We are primarily based in Bracknell, however, do offer face to face assessment and liaise with associated Primary, statutory, and Secondary care services throughout Berkshire.

We operate between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday on a flexible 3 shift basis (8-4pm, 12-8pm and 9-5pm), we offer a mixture of home, Hub and locality working. With support and advice available from an experienced and motivated MDT.

We are innovative, stable and experienced team who offer high level of support with a good balance of home and office-based work. The Team is committed to offering a good work/life balance with opportunities for personal and professional development.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with experienced Mental Health Practitioners, and other members of MDT in facilitating assessments as well as signposting to other agencies ( through our digital platform Elemental), where applicable. They may also be responsible for offering some follow up sessions to clients, to implement the care plan/s identified in their initial assessment and/or triage.

The will contribute towards providing high quality assessments from CPE whilst supporting the close working relationships with other statutory and non statutory agencies within Berkshire. With the support of the wider MDT, these roles will embed the "helping you help yourself" ethos for all clients and carers.

We are seeking a motivated and passionate individual who will be expected to have regular contact with referring professionals as well as service users, families and carers. They will have the ability to work well within a team environment and be able to manage and prioritise workload, being able to work on their own initiative with minimal supervision, to meet deadlines and prevent delays for people accessing services to meet their health needs.

In return we offer structured supervision, access to training and development as part of your own personal development programme. This is a friendly and supportive team environment within an organisation that truly makes a difference for people with mental health conditions, their families and carers

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

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,860 to £31,671 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS890-A

Job locations

London House

London Road

Bracknell

RG12 2UT


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

  • NVQ Level 3 in Health Social Care or other relevant setting.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and relevant legislations.
  • Previous knowledge and experience of working in similar environment, with service users who have complex mental health needs.
  • Effective and competent interpersonal, influencing, communication, observation and reporting skills.

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:

  • NVQ Level 3 in Health Social Care or other relevant setting.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and relevant legislations.
  • Previous knowledge and experience of working in similar environment, with service users who have complex mental health needs.
  • Effective and competent interpersonal, influencing, communication, observation and reporting skills.

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 3 in Health 7 Social Care or other relevant setting.
  • Evidence of good customer service

Desirable

  • Degree in relevant healthcare field

Previous experience

Essential

  • Strong knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and relevant legislations.
  • Previous knowledge and experience of working in similar environment, with service users who have complex mental health needs
  • Experience of working efficiently in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Effective and competent interpersonal, influencing, communication, observation and reporting skills
  • Strong organisational skills and the ability to analyse situations and make the right decisions
  • Ability to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others as well as being able to cope with distressing circumstances
  • Ability to cope in a pressurised environment and apply practical problem solving skills in everyday situations
  • Competent IT skills and the ability to navigate around various systems and software packages
  • Ability to work flexibly on a shift pattern as required and the ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • NVQ level 3 in Health 7 Social Care or other relevant setting.
  • Evidence of good customer service

Desirable

  • Degree in relevant healthcare field

Previous experience

Essential

  • Strong knowledge and understanding of the health and social care systems and operating frameworks, clinical observations and relevant legislations.
  • Previous knowledge and experience of working in similar environment, with service users who have complex mental health needs
  • Experience of working efficiently in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Effective and competent interpersonal, influencing, communication, observation and reporting skills
  • Strong organisational skills and the ability to analyse situations and make the right decisions
  • Ability to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others as well as being able to cope with distressing circumstances
  • Ability to cope in a pressurised environment and apply practical problem solving skills in everyday situations
  • Competent IT skills and the ability to navigate around various systems and software packages
  • Ability to work flexibly on a shift pattern as required and the ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements of the position

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

London House

London Road

Bracknell

RG12 2UT


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

London House

London Road

Bracknell

RG12 2UT


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Service Lead

Preeti Singh

Preeti.Singh@berkshire.nhs.uk

03003652000

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,860 to £31,671 a year per annum (inc. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS890-A

Job locations

London House

London Road

Bracknell

RG12 2UT


Supporting documents

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