Overview
Head of Healthcare role at HMP Elmley. You will lead and manage the healthcare service on site, working with the Regional Service Manager, Heads of Healthcare, Elmley operational team and HMPPS colleagues, and liaising with commissioners and prison governors.
This role ensures effective clinical governance, chairs local Quality Management and LDQB meetings, participates in regional management meetings, contract monitoring activity and financial reviews. You will liaise with data analysts and quality management colleagues to fulfil reporting requirements. You will support operational managers and team leaders to provide safe, effective, high quality care and promote multidisciplinary, patient-centred services. This role is based on site at HMP Elmley.
Important sponsorship information: We are currently unable to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this post.
Main duties
* Provide direction and co-ordination with Prison Governors / Heads of Departments and managers in shaping and implementing future provision and quality of services.
* Develop and maintain strategic oversight of healthcare services and represent Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust as a member of the Prison Senior Management Team.
* Foster and maintain effective relationships with HMPS senior management, Governors and partner provider management and staff.
* Exercise a high degree of personal and professional autonomy, plan and reach complex judgments as required.
* Deputise for the Prisons Services Manager as required.
* Strategically develop, deliver, clinically audit and evaluate the Integrated Healthcare Service for the prison, including acute & primary care, pandemic/outbreak response and management, long-term conditions management, enhanced assessment/diagnostic intervention services and health promotion activities, in line with NHS Plan, NICE Guidelines, public health indicators and National Service Frameworks.
* Provide robust clinical leadership with evidence-based nursing practice to ensure quality and outcome-driven care daily.
About us
Oxleas - About Us
Oxleas offers NHS healthcare services in community and secure settings, including district nursing, speech and language therapy, learning disability and mental health care. We work with the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector across 4,300 staff and 125 sites, including prisons. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services across multiple regions.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to patients and families, guided by our values: We\'re Kind, We\'re Fair, We Listen, We Care.
Details
Date posted: 05 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,455 to £76,896 per year incl £2000 RRP
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Location: HMP Elmley, Church Road, Eastchurch, Sheerness, ME12 4DZ
Job responsibilities
Important information – pre-employment checks
All applicants must be willing to undertake National Security Vetting to work in a prison setting. This will be completed as part of pre-employment checks.
You will need to provide:
* Proof of right to work documentation
* Proof of ID (must include 1 photographic ID)
* Proof of address documentation
* For non-UK passport holders, correct documentation (right to work in the UK) and a Home Office Share code
* 5 years address history; where less than 5 years UK address history, a Police Certificate in English from prior residencies
* For UK passport holders who lived abroad >6 months in the last 3 years, a certificate of good conduct or overseas police check in English
* Guidance for obtaining a Police Certificate: gov.uk resources
* Country-specific checks via Embassies/High Commissions as needed
Management responsibilities
Operational
* Develop and deliver an effective integrated healthcare service clinical model.
* Develop, implement and maintain National Standards for Health Care in Prisons.
* Ensure clinics and consultations are clinically effective and timely; manage referrals efficiently and monitor quality of service delivery.
* Establish systems for triage, allocation of referrals and auditing of service delivery.
Management
* Promote health, prevent disease, and collaborate with professionals and agencies.
* Maximise resources and supervise staff deployment.
* Delegate responsibilities while maintaining accountability.
* Maintain an effective case management service and continuity of care within the prison pathway.
* Oversee care planning tools/CPA in line with Trust policies.
* Foster continuity of care with community and acute health services on release or discharge.
* Promote cross-professional and cross-organisational collaboration.
* Maintain partnerships with services involved in offender care and management.
Human Resources
* Manage day-to-day Integrated Healthcare Team and staff recruitment/retention.
* Establish clinical supervision, annual appraisal, and development needs.
Governance
* Ensure policies are fair, equitable and aligned with commissioners and clinical governance frameworks.
* Ensure compliance with prison and Trust policies; manage discipline, complaints and serious incidents as required.
* Ensure safe medication administration and high standards of electronic record-keeping and confidentiality.
General
* Collaborate with senior Trust personnel and other Directorates.
* Manage budgets and resources; act as budget holder and authorised signatory for the Integrated Healthcare team.
* Foster inter-disciplinary and inter-agency working; undertake other duties with the Prisons Services Manager.
Qualifications and experience
* Evidence of Leadership/Management qualification; Degree or equivalent experience
* Minimum 3 years’ middle management experience in a multi-disciplinary healthcare environment
* Experience in prison settings and managing diverse staff across 24/7 operations
* Experience in service implementation, development and change management
Skills
* Knowledge of prison healthcare issues and criminal justice system
* Understanding of National Offender Management Services approach
Regulatory
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks apply; post is subject to Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and DBS disclosure.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
#J-18808-Ljbffr