Community Navigator – Scottish Borders – home based or Selkirk office – 3176

Purpose of the Role

The Community Navigator provides practical, person‑centred support to people with a disability who experience complex and interrelated barriers to social care and independent living. Working from a human‑rights‑based and holistic perspective, the postholder will support individuals to identify unmet needs, navigate services, and access appropriate support across multiple systems.

The role takes a solutions‑focused approach and involves close collaboration with statutory services, health, housing, benefits, and third‑sector organisations to improve outcomes for disabled people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide holistic, realistic, and person‑centred support to disabled people facing barriers across social care and related services
• Act on referrals from individuals and partner organisations, responding flexibly to complex needs
• Support individuals to navigate services including Social Work, Health, Housing, Benefits, and Third Sector organisations
• Carry out 1:1 home visits where required, alongside telephone and email support
• Take a solutions‑focused approach to advocacy, problem‑solving, and service navigationMaintain accurate, detailed records of all work undertaken, including qualitative and quantitative data, to support monitoring, evaluation, and quarterly reporting to funders
• Proactively identify, contact, and build relationships with organisations to expand referral pathways
• Attend monthly Self‑Directed Support (SDS) Forum meetings and provide written or verbal reports as required
• Engage in regular supervision and individual support sessions

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working with people who have a disability
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a high level of diplomacy and integrity
• Advocacy experience
• Ability to take a holistic and sensitive approach when working with people facing complex challenges
• Knowledge of local organisations and services within the Scottish Borders
• Experience of working with, or building effective relationships with, Local Authority, Health, Care Providers, and Third Sector organisations
• Good IT skills, including use of Word, Outlook, spreadsheets, and online platforms such as Zoom and Teams
• Relevant education, training, or equivalent experience
• Ability to travel independently across the Scottish Borders (own car)

Contract Details

• Contract type: Fixed term contract to March 2028.
• Hours:
  • Full‑time: 35 hours per week
  • Job‑share considered: two posts of 17.5 hours per week
• Salary: £36,400 per annum (pro‑rata for job‑share)
• Mileage: Reimbursed at 55p per mile
• Annual leave: 5.6 weeks per year (pro‑rata)
• Pension: Optional pension scheme
• This is a new post funded by the Scottish Government and supported by Glasgow Disability Alliance.
• Encompass Borders will be the local umbrella organisation.

Support and Supervision

The postholder will receive regular individual support and supervision to ensure effective practice, professional development, and wellbeing.

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