Care coordinator (primary care and mental health)

A care coordinator in the NHS is usually a non-clinical or support-level worker who arranges care around a patient, but the title covers two quite different jobs. In primary care it is typically a GP practice or primary care network (PCN) role, often on band 3 or band 4. In mental health it names the person who holds a service user’s care plan together, and that person is often a nurse, occupational therapist or social worker on a higher band. The advert title alone tells you very little, so check the job description before you apply.

The two meanings

In primary care, a care coordinator works for a practice or a PCN and helps patients who have long-term conditions, complex needs or a lot of appointments to keep track of. They book and chase appointments, call patients who are overdue a review, and point people to other services such as community teams or voluntary groups. Some PCN care coordinators work from a list of patients that the practice has identified as likely to benefit from extra support.

In secondary mental health services, “care coordinator” describes a function more than a job. Under the care programme approach, each person receiving more than one kind of support has a named care coordinator who writes the care plan, keeps it up to date and brings the different professionals together. The person doing it holds a clinical post, so vacancies will say “community psychiatric nurse” or “mental health practitioner” rather than “care coordinator”. If you see “care coordinator” in a mental health trust advert, read the person specification to see whether a professional registration is required.

What the primary care job involves

Days are mostly phone calls, records and admin, with some face-to-face time. Typical tasks include:

• contacting patients to arrange reviews, screening or follow-up
• building a care and support plan with the patient, usually after a conversation about what matters to them
• linking people to community services, benefits advice or social groups
• updating the clinical system and flagging anything urgent to a GP or nurse
• helping patients move between the practice, hospital and social care

It is not a clinical role. You do not diagnose, change medication or give clinical advice. Social prescribing link workers do related work with a stronger focus on community activities; see social prescribing link worker.

What the job pays

Primary care coordinator posts are usually advertised on Agenda for Change band 3 or band 4 where the employer follows national terms. From 1 April 2026 in England, band 3 runs from £25,760 to £27,476 and band 4 from £28,392 to £31,157. Band 3 has a step after two years, and band 4 after three. The band 3 and band 4 pages lay out the points.

GP practices are mostly independent businesses and are not bound by Agenda for Change. A practice that employs you directly may set its own rate, so the advert is the only reliable guide. PCN posts hosted by an NHS organisation more often follow the national bands.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own pay scales, and Scotland’s are higher at the same band. For take-home figures, use the take-home pay calculator.

Qualifications and skills

The primary care role usually has no degree requirement. Employers ask for good GCSEs or equivalent in English and maths, experience of working with the public, and confidence with IT. Previous work as a healthcare assistant, receptionist or in a customer service or caring job all counts. See NHS jobs you can get without a degree for similar entry routes.

Employers look hard at how you talk to people. Much of the work is calling someone who is anxious, unwell or reluctant to engage, and keeping the conversation useful. Expect questions on confidentiality, safeguarding and handling a distressed caller.

Posts that involve contact with patients usually need a DBS check. An enhanced check costs £41.00 from 5 October 2026.

Where it can lead

Band 4 care coordinators can move into senior coordinator or team lead posts, practice management, or apprenticeships towards nursing associate, registered nurse or other clinical routes. Employers sometimes support this through the apprenticeship levy. The mental health version of the role is reached through professional registration as a nurse, occupational therapist, social worker or similar, not through a coordinator job as an entry point.

To find vacancies, search NHS Jobs for “care coordinator” and also for the names of PCN and practice employers in your area. Many PCN jobs are advertised directly by the practice or by a federation, so check local sites as well as the national portal.