Band 8c Head of Offender Healthcare

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a registered health professional to take on the role of Head of Offender Health at HMP Birmingham, within Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. The role sits within the Offender Health Service and is responsible for delivering an integrated model of healthcare in partnership with Birmingham Community Healthcare, Cranstoun, and the Health and Justice Vulnerability Service (HJVS), which operates across police custody suites and courts.

The post holder will provide overall professional leadership and operational management across prison healthcare services and the HJVS service manager, ensuring effective coordination of staff, clinical activity, professional development and supervision of practice. The role includes providing specialist clinical advice, supporting staff and partner agencies, and promoting integrated working to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for service users.

Working closely with the Associate Director of Secure Care and Offender Health and senior colleagues, the post holder will monitor, challenge and continuously improve the quality of care, supported by a sound knowledge of national legislation relating to prison and mental health services. The role requires strong multi-disciplinary working, representation at key meetings and forums, and excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Offender Health is operationally accountable for the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality offender healthcare services within Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT). The post holder provides strong clinical and managerial leadership, ensuring integrated, person-centred care that meets the complex needs of people in custody.

The role has overall responsibility for offender healthcare services, including mental health, primary care, substance misuse, pharmacy and integrated offender health, ensuring effective multidisciplinary working and collaborative service delivery. The post holder leads on performance, quality and governance, with responsibility for service, workforce and financial performance, compliance with clinical governance standards, and the promotion of continuous improvement and best clinical practice.

A key aspect of the role is developing and maintaining effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including the prison environment, HMPPS, NHS England commissioners, local delivery boards and third-sector partners, to support the delivery of strategic and operational objectives.

The post holder is expected to be a visible, inclusive and empowering leader, providing professional role modelling, leading change through influence, and supporting teams to deliver high-quality care in a complex environment. The role may also involve deputising for the Associate Director of Operations.

About us

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.