Head of Healthcare

Job summary

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We are seeking a highly capable and resilient Head of Healthcare to lead the delivery of healthcare services within a secure custodial environment. You will be joining HMP Lancaster Farms, a Category C male prison located on the outskirts of Lancaster, with capacity of around 550, with expansion plans of around an additional 250.

This is a senior operational management role, requiring a confident registered clinician with significant experience in budget management, governance, and staff leadership.

You will be responsible for the overall operational performance of the healthcare service within the prison, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centred care in a complex and challenging environment. This role demands a strong leader who can balance clinical credibility with robust management and financial oversight.

Salary

Bespoke induction, including our Introducing Health in Justice training course 

Regional and national career development opportunities

Our bespoke Learning Management System to address your learning needs 

Candidates are required to have a Legal right to work in the UK due to the nature of the role, offers of employment will be subject to additional vetting and security checks.

Main duties of the job

As our new Head of Healthcare, your responsibilities will vary. Some of your duties will include:

•  Provide strong operational leadership across all healthcare services (primary care, mental health and substance misuse) within the prison, 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 your team to deliver the best service possible
• Work closely with senior management within the prison, as well as the finance business partner and regional manager

If you are interested in career development, we have a wide range of opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience, which include both internal and external options for development and learning.

About us

This is a critical leadership role where you will directly influence the quality, safety, and effectiveness of healthcare services for a vulnerable population, while ensuring strong operational control, financial discipline, and governance standards.   Experience required:  

•  A 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
• A confident and credible leader with experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to work effectively within a challenging and highly regulated environment

Secure environments are one of the most challenging, yet rewarding places for healthcare professionals to work. If youre looking for a role where you can develop your existing healthcare skills and learn something new every day in an environment that never stands still, then this could be the right opportunity for you