Neighbourhoods Navigator
Job summary
Neighbourhood Navigation is the new social prescribing service for east Surrey and will provide a means of enabling GPs, nurses, other health and care and social professionals to refer or signpost people via Joy Connect and the Navigators into a range of local, non-clinical community-based services.
As a Navigator you will be part of team and working alongside health professionals from across the five Neighbourhood teams in East Surrey, providing a key role in supporting people to prevent ill health and to lessen the impact on the long-term conditions for everyday life.
You will be working closely with patients to understand their needs and use the Joy platform to find the best community support that will improve their overall health and wellbeing, gain confidence, and empower people to make informed decisions about their own health.
This is a part time role, for 22.5 hours per week.
**Interviews will be held on 29 October 2026**
Main duties of the job
As a navigator you will be working directly with patients referred in by a variety of health professionals, you will need to be a good listener, a strong communicator and a problem solver to signpost patients correctly into a community group, club or support.
There is a variety of community support within east Surrey, the Navigators will play a part in extending this support and building the knowledge within the Joy marketplace.
Your role will be to empower people to manage their existing health or social issues by supporting and guiding them.
You will use online tools such as MYCaW to easily evaluate and understand what is most important to the person, and how we can help them to re connect, grow in confidence and take control of their health.
About us
First Community is a staff-owned social enterprise, rated Good by the CQC, providing NHS community services across east Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We are looking for people who share our values: First-rate care, First-rate people, First-rate value.
Recognised as one of the country's leading community healthcare employers in the 2025 NHS Staff Survey, First Community offers a supportive workplace where everyone has a voice and opportunities to develop their full potential.
We offer: NHS terms and conditions, excellent training and development, flexible working, NHS pension, flexible retirement options, and a range of employee benefits.
If you need flexibility, please talk to us when you apply or at interview. We will consider all requests carefully and accommodate them where possible, depending on the role.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, and candidates with disabilities. We are committed to fair recruitment, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.
Sustainability is central to our work as we support the NHS Net Zero ambition.
To stay safe online, only use our website to find and apply for jobs, and only trust recruitment communications from our published contact details. Any job advert, recruitment communication or offer can be verified through the contact details on our website.et.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-clinical social prescribing services, giving people time to focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing.
The Neighbourhood Navigators will be key to supporting the delivery of the new East Surrey social prescribing service and the new digital Joy platform. The Joy platform allows health professionals to access preventative care options for patients that will lead to a better, long term health outcomes for people. The service will be aligned and integrated with the five East Surrey neighbourhoods and the local health and wellbeing networks.
Navigators will receive referrals from GPs, nurses, Health and Social Care and from voluntary and community sector organisations. The navigators will use a whole population approach to support people to manage their physical and mental wellbeing, build community resilience and make informed decisions and choices when their health changes. This can improve overall health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce ill health, lessen the impact of long-term conditions and help to reduce the pressure on NHS services.
The new service will be working in partnership with key stakeholders in East Surrey including GP practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Growing Health together, Local Authorities, Voluntary Community and social Enterprises (VCSE), Ageing well steering group, East Surrey Place, local community providers and Community link workers.
When completing your application please refer to both the Application Guide and full Job Description & Person Specification - these can be found under supporting documents.
Person Specification
Skills
- Excellent listening and communication skills, able to adapt communication style and approach to fit the person and individual situation.
- Excellent listening and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Understanding of the needs of small, volunteer-led groups and how to support their growth and sustainability
- Commitment to shared decision making when working with individuals.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Good IT skills and record keeping
- A team player
- Evidence of accuracy and attention to detail in tasks.
- Ability to understand an area and map organisations.
Experience
- Experience of working within social prescribing, voluntary sector, primary care, public health or health promotion.
- Experience of working with GPs, and other clinical and non-clinical staff within a referral-based service.
- Working in partnership and build effective relationships with community organisations.
- Outgoing and passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of others.
- Experience of working with adults in need of support.
- Knowledge of using coaching, brief interventions, motivational interviewing & outcome measures.
- Be committed to supporting individual decision making and a person-centred approach.
- Experience of facilitating group workshops/exercises.
- A good understanding of the importance of building personal and organisational relationships within a community
- An understanding of Safeguarding vulnerable adults and ability to implement relevant procedures.
Knowledge
- Good understanding of health and wellbeing
- issues, health inequalities, wider determinants
- of health and Social Prescribing.
- Understanding of East Surrey Place,
- neighbourhood health and Health and
- Wellbeing networks.
- Good IT and administrative skills e.g.,
- Microsoft Office, databases and web
- platforms.
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as part
- of a team.
- Full driving licence and access to a car.
- Ability to manage varying workloads and prioritise tasks.
- Flexible, adaptable, and creative.
Qualifications
- Educated to A Level or equivalent qualifications
- Health and wellbeing or motivational interviewing qualification
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
First Community Health and Care
Address
First Community Health & Care
Consort House
5-7 Queensway
REDHILL
RH1 1YB
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/