Primary Care Service Lead – HMP High Down
Closing date: 17 November 2025
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Health and Justice Services, Children and Young People Service Line delivers high‑quality, integrated and trauma‑informed service for young people within the youth justice settings.
We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Primary Care Service Lead to join our team at HMP High Down.
As part of our prisons health care team you will look after the healthcare needs of patients in secure environments and have a real impact on promoting health and well‑being. Our services run 7‑day a week to ensure patient care is delivered to the highest standard.
Main duties of the job
* Overall responsibility for line‑management, clinical, operational and performance functions, ensuring effective resource use, awareness of financial impact and delivery of evidence‑based patient care.
* Provide clear, visible leadership, vision and clinical expertise with the Head of Health and Care to enhance the service user experience.
* Implement contracted service development and improvements, day‑to‑day clinical performance, workforce and budget management and professional clinical leadership.
* Monitor and report on all relevant contractual targets, including Prison Health Performance & Quality Indicators.
* Act as the senior nurse manager contact for primary care on all managerial and clinical matters.
* Attend Trust and prison‑led meetings as required and integrate primary care services with other aspects of the prison health service.
* Support the team in creating effective pathways of care for the patients served.
* Deputise for the Head of Health and Care and oversee peer healthcare service manager areas as required.
* Work within a multi‑disciplinary, multi‑agency service team approach.
About us
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust offers its staff ongoing career progression through monthly supervision, internal and external training opportunities, and career pathways such as the Preceptorship Programme, support for revalidation, and annual award ceremonies.
Excellent staff benefits include health and wellbeing services, cycle‑to‑work schemes, season ticket loans, and a relocation package subject to meeting criteria.
Staff also enjoy free use of onsite leisure facilities and free parking, and have access to the MyTrustBenefits portal for discounts on a wide range of products.
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and personal specification for the full list of role and responsibilities.
* Provide effective leadership and direction to all staff within the Primary Care Team.
* Ensure the service is cost effective, well‑organised, evidence‑based and service‑user focussed.
* Meet performance targets agreed with the Head of Healthcare and communicate risks to the Regional Operations Manager and Business & Performance Lead.
* Implement service changes with measurable outcomes and agreed timescales.
* Advance innovative ideas, provide vision and inspire staff to deliver care more effectively.
* Provide specialist primary care nursing advice to GPs and other prison colleagues.
* Lead the realisation of everyday practice within a Clinical Governance framework, including incident and complaint management.
* Manage patient care in in‑patients, segregation, wings/houseblocks and other prison areas.
* Conduct death‑in‑custody reviews and action plans, and manage clinical risk.
* Develop nursing practice in primary care and chronic disease management.
* Monitor cleanliness, safety and infection control to professional standards.
* Ensure timely completion of all relevant documentation in line with NMC, CNWL Trust policy and data protection.
* Represent the prison health service at appropriate meetings and comply with the Modern Matrimonial Charter.
* Maintain professional practice culture and compliance with Care Quality Commission standards.
* Partner with the prison and other healthcare providers to develop clear operational policies and protocols.
* Support risk management processes such as ACCT and the care pathway for clients.
* Hold monthly supervision and annual appraisals for all primary care staff, including healthcare assistants and administrators.
* Lead recruitment of vacant clinical posts in primary care for the Health & Justice Directorate.
* Encourage ongoing professional development and maintain professional registration.
* Implement care quality standards and keep updated with national policy and legislation.
* Provide cover for the Head of Healthcare as required.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
* Professional registration: RGN – Nursing and Midwifery Council.
* Evidence of continued professional development (e.g., ANP).
* Management qualification and understanding of management theory.
Experience
* Senior nursing positions in adult healthcare services.
* High‑level leadership qualities and multi‑professional, multi‑agency working.
* Preparation of reports and presentations to internal and external agencies.
* Safeguarding legislation experience.
* Experience delivering nurse/AHP‑led clinics and leading on their development.
Other
* Ability to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy at an appropriate level.
* Commitment to anti‑discriminatory and anti‑racist practices.
* Commitment to a 7‑day a week service model.
Knowledge & Skills
* Complexities of multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency issues affecting prison healthcare provision.
* Human resources processes: training, recruitment, workforce planning, staff budgeting, performance management, union negotiation and disciplinary action.
* Good interpersonal, diplomatic, negotiating and problem‑solving skills.
* Ability to work to deadlines under pressure.
* Develop training opportunities for professional and unqualified staff.
* Engage service users, carers and advocates in their care.
* Manage and deliver new services in a rapidly changing environment.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Influence people positively and motivate and develop others.
* Build and maintain internal and external partnerships.
* Work effectively as part of a senior management team.
* Manage change positively and proactively.
* Link with statutory and non‑statutory service providers and chair interdisciplinary meetings.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check for any previous criminal convictions.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust – Salary: £61,631 to £68,623 per annum (pro‑rated if part‑time).
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