Head of Healthcare - Custodial Care Leader

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly capable and resilient Head of Healthcare to lead the delivery of healthcare services within a secure custodial environment at HMP Wakefield, a Category A high security prison for males. The role is a senior operational management position requiring a confident registered clinician with substantial experience in budget management, governance, and staff leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong operational leadership across all healthcare services (primary care, mental health, and substance misuse) ensuring consistent, high quality care delivery.
• Take full responsibility for budget management, including planning, monitoring, and delivering services within financial constraints while ensuring value for money.
• Lead and embed a culture of clinical governance, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, policies, and best practice.
• Oversee risk management, quality assurance, and continuous service improvement initiatives.
• Manage, support, and develop a multidisciplinary workforce, including performance management, workforce planning, and staff wellbeing.
• Act as a key liaison with prison leadership, commissioners, and external stakeholders to ensure integrated and effective service delivery.
• Maintain the strategic direction of the service and deliver on agreed contractual requirements and targets from NHS England.
• Lead, develop and motivate the team to deliver the best service possible.
• Work closely with senior management within the prison, the finance business partner, and the regional manager.

Salary and Working Hours

Full time role offering a salary up to £65,000 per annum + £4,000 car allowance + 10% discretionary bonus.

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, with flexibility as needed.

Interviews are planned for 11 June in Leeds. Candidates must have a legal right to work in the UK; offers will be subject to additional vetting and security checks.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified and registered clinician (e.g., Nurse or Paramedic) with substantial post registration experience.
• Proven experience in a senior operational management role within healthcare, ideally in a secure, custodial, or similarly complex environment.
• Strong and demonstrable budget management and financial oversight experience.
• In depth understanding of clinical governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Confident and credible leader with experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to work effectively within a challenging and highly regulated environment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

Employer Details

Practice Plus Group

5 Love Ln

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF2 9AG

United Kingdom

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