Overview
Head of Nursing (Custodial Services) role at The Forward Trust. Location: Surrey Prisons & HMP Chelmsford (hybrid: remote with regular on-site presence). Travel to prisons is required, including HMP Bronzefield, HMP Coldingley, HMP Chelmsford, and others in the Surrey and Chelmsford region.
About The Forward Trust
The Forward Trust is a leading provider of substance misuse treatment services across custodial and community settings. We support individuals to make lasting changes, offering evidence-based clinical and psychosocial interventions to reduce harm and promote recovery.
Position
Head of Nursing (Custodial Services)
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Head of Nursing (Custodial Services) to provide clinical and operational leadership across our services in Surrey Prisons and HMP Chelmsford.
Responsibilities
* As Head of Nursing, you will have direct clinical and management responsibility for the effective delivery of substance misuse services in custodial settings. You will:
* Provide high standards of nursing care in line with clinical needs, evidence-based practice, and Forward Trust protocols.
* Clinically supervise Band 7 Nurses and Non-Medical Prescribers (NMPs) within a custodial framework.
* Act as the clinical lead, overseeing specialist substance misuse services and advising colleagues across multiple disciplines.
* Support and participate in audit processes, ensuring services comply with professional, regulatory and legal requirements.
* Provide specialist advice and training to nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
* Lead and coordinate teams delivering psychosocial and clinical interventions, including titration, safe dispensing of medication (including controlled drugs), and clinical risk management in high-risk environments.
* Educate, mentor and develop nursing teams and students, supporting skills growth and best practice.
* Act as a role model, demonstrating exemplary leadership, professionalism, and commitment to continuous improvement.
* This is a leadership role requiring flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to supporting service excellence across multiple sites.
Qualifications (essential)
* RMN or RGN with current UK registration.
* Advanced Nursing Qualification at Master’s level.
* Non-Medical Prescribing qualification with current NMC registration (or willingness to work towards).
* Management qualification (or willingness to work towards).
* Evidence of ongoing CPD in medicines management, substance misuse treatment, and clinical practice.
* Strong leadership and team development abilities.
* Excellent clinical supervision and decision-making skills.
* Ability to engage effectively in multidisciplinary teams and across agencies.
* Expertise in clinical risk assessment and management within recovery-focused models.
* Excellent organisational, negotiation, and influencing skills.
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
* Flexibility to adapt to evolving service needs.
Knowledge & Experience
* Minimum 7 years post-registration experience, including at least 2 years in substance misuse at Band 7 or above.
* Senior management experience (minimum 2 years).
* Competence in non-medical prescribing and administration of medications.
* In-depth knowledge of pharmacology, psychosocial interventions, and community provision.
* Strong understanding of prison-based drug and alcohol services, addiction treatment programmes, and CQC compliance.
* Experience in service development, audit, and quality improvement.
* Awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare delivery.
Benefits
* Training and development opportunities
* Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
* Season Ticket Loan Scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Crisis Loan Scheme
* Electric Car Scheme
* 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
* Access to Blue Light Card
* 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
* Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
* Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
* Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
Diversity at Forward Trust
* The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness.
* When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.
* To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here.
Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work
* We recognise the importance of safeguarding. Depending on the role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview. If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.
Seniority level
* Executive
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Health Care Provider
* Industries
* Non-profit Organization Management
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