Health navigator
Also known as; Community health and wellbeing adviser, active health coach, health and wellbeing support worker, health and community navigator
A health navigator helps adults improve their health and wellbeing by encouraging physical activity and supporting healthier lifestyle choices. They work within the sport and physical activity sector, often in community or leisure settings, and are part of the wider public health workforce. Their role is especially important in addressing issues like inactivity, obesity and mental health conditions by having supportive, person-centred conversations and guiding people to local services and opportunities.
What does a Health navigator do?
The main responsibilities of a health navigator are:
Person-Centered Support
- Have friendly, respectful conversations tailored to each person’s needs.
- Help people set realistic health goals and create action plans.
- Respect diversity and individual preferences.
Effective Communication
- Use clear, empathetic communication (e.g. active listening, open questions).
- Build trust and strong relationships with clients and local partners.
- Understand and overcome barriers to communication (e.g. language, culture).
Supporting Behavior Change
- Use proven techniques like motivational interviewing and SMART goals.
- Help people stay motivated and prevent relapse.
- Track progress and offer ongoing encouragement.
Promoting Health and Physical Activity
- Explain the benefits of being active and risks of inactivity.
- Provide advice on healthy eating, smoking cessation, mental wellbeing, etc.
- Tailor advice to suit different groups (e.g. older adults, ethnic minorities).
Signposting and Referrals
- Know local services and professionals who can help (e.g. GPs, community groups).
- Refer or signpost people to appropriate support based on their needs.
- Keep up-to-date directories of local health and wellbeing resources.
Professional Practice
- Work within your own qualifications and experience.
- Follow legal and ethical guidelines (e.g. safeguarding, data protection).
- Keep accurate records and monitor client progress.
Ongoing Learning
- Regularly update your skills through training and reflection.
- Stay informed about health policies and local health initiatives.
- Seek mentoring and support when needed.
Skills and behaviours
Based on the CIMSPA Health Navigator Professional Standard, here are the key soft skills required to be a health navigator:
- Empathy – Understand and relate to others’ feelings and experiences.
- Active Listening – Pay full attention and respond thoughtfully.
- Clear Communication – Speak and write in a way that is easy to understand.
- Open-Mindedness – Respect diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and preferences.
- Relationship Building – Develop trust and rapport with clients and partners.
- Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with professionals and community groups.
- Adaptability – Adjust approach based on individual needs and situations.
- Problem Solving – Help clients overcome barriers to health and wellbeing.
- Motivational Support – Encourage and empower people to make positive changes.
- Emotional Intelligence – Recognise and manage emotions in self and others.
- Confidentiality – Handle sensitive information with care and discretion.
- Reflective Practice – Learn from experience and seek continuous improvement
How to become a Health navigator
Complete a qualification with a training provider
You can become a heath navigator by completing a qualification such as:
- Level 3 Diploma in Health and Wellbeing Improvement – Supporting behaviour change in professional practice
- Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Wellness through Lifestyle Behaviour Change
You can browse CIMSPA-endorsed heath navigator training courses on our training directory.
University
Some universities have embedded health navigator qualifications into their learning programmes. You can browse our CIMSPA endorsed training directory to check for colleges and universities that are recognised by CIMSPA for providing quality health navigator training to students. Here, you can also check what courses our endorsed colleges and universities offer as well as course entry requirements, a summary of course content/material and more information on how to apply.
Professional Standards
CIMSPA is the guardian of a single professional and apprenticeship standards framework for the sport and physical activity sector – outlining the minimum knowledge, skills and behaviours an individual must understand and demonstrate for every occupation and job role in the sector.
This standards framework is driving the development of quality education products for our workforce and supporting employers in assessing which job roles an individual is qualified for.
Health navigator Courses and qualifications
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
What's the best role for you?
Check out the Training Accademy
Career paths and progression
Career pathways
Career progression
As well as exploring new career pathways, as a health navigator, you can also choose to progress your career by completing further training or continued professional development (CPD) in your role. This training can be added to enable health navigators to show their expertise in additional populations, in different environments and with technical specialisms.
Examples of specialisms that may be added:
Delivery of physical activity, for example:
- Sports Coach.
- Fitness Instructor.
- Group Exercise Instructor
Continuing Professional Development
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Find a job as a Health navigator
The content of the job posts displayed on the CIMSPA jobs board are pulled in through feeds from websites which are not under the control of CIMSPA.
CIMSPA will not be liable for any false, inaccurate, inappropriate or incomplete information presented on the jobs board.