Introduction: Care navigation in general practice aims to connect patients to health, social and community services. The initiative seeks to support patients presenting with complex needs to gain access to ongoing care and support. This paper reports on the results of a scoping review that sought to assess the impact of care navigators in general practice and the key factors to consider for effective implementation. Methods: The scoping review searched 5 databases (Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus) plus a limited search of grey literature, ending with 32 studies and 14 grey literature sources published between 2019-2024. Extracted data examining implementation issues were presented as a series of positive statements, each describing a component which should be considered before implementation. These statements were mapped to a previously published realist framework developed for evaluating social prescribing in primary care. Results: The review found limited and inconclusive evidence to support the effectiveness of care navigation services in general practice in improving people’s health, supporting equitable access and cost-effectiveness. However, on balance, evidence was positive for people’s experiences of care and for work satisfaction in general practice teams. Key considerations for the effective introduction of care navigation into general practice were identified including planning, workforce availability, skills and training, general practice readiness for change, and flexible processes. External factors included buy-in from the voluntary, community and social enterprises sector and appropriate governance, funding and reporting. In mapping the evidence, our research resulted in meaningful groupings of between 3 to 8 specific mechanisms required for effective implementation across four domains: individual characteristics, interpersonal relationships, operational contingencies and policy context. Discussion: The review findings support the coherence of a using an evidence-based framework to identify the core issues to consider when designing and implementing care navigation in general practice.