Band 6 Substance Misuse Nurse - HMP Highdown

Forward Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training opportunities

Cycle to work scheme

Pension scheme

Wellbeing days

Annual leave 25–30 days

Job summary

Forward Trust is seeking a Band 6 Substance Misuse Nurse for HMP Highdown and HMP Downview. The role is full-time, 35 hours weekly, delivering high-quality clinical care and recovery-focused interventions within a prison setting.

You will conduct assessments, manage a caseload, administer medications, and work with multidisciplinary teams to improve health outcomes and support patient recovery.

Qualifications

• NMC-registered nurse with current registration.
• Experience with substance misuse, mental health or complex clinical needs.
• Ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong clinical judgement and compassionate communication.

Responsibilities

• Deliver assessments, treatment and care planning for service users with substance misuse needs.
• Manage your own clinical caseload with autonomy.
• Administer and manage prescribed medications safely.
• Collaborate with prison staff, healthcare professionals and partner agencies to ensure seamless care.
• Carry out risk assessments and respond to complex situations.
• Provide clinical supervision and deputise for Lead Nurse when required.

Skills

NMC registered nurse

Substance misuse experience

Independent working

Team collaboration

Job description

Band 6 Substance Misuse Nurse - HMP Highdown

• Band 6 Substance Misuse Nurse - HMP Highdown

About The Role

We're looking for a compassionate and motivated Band 6 Substance Misuse Nurse to join our team at HMP Highdown and HMP Downview on a full-time, 35-hour per week basis. This is a rewarding opportunity to deliver high-quality clinical care and recovery-focused interventions to people with drug and alcohol dependencies within a prison setting.

You'll use your clinical expertise to support individuals on their recovery journey while working closely with prison staff, healthcare professionals and partner agencies to improve health outcomes and make a lasting impact.

What you'll be doing:

• Deliver high-quality assessments, treatment and care planning for service users with substance misuse needs.
• Manage your own clinical caseload with autonomy and professionalism.
• Administer and manage prescribed medications safely and effectively.
• Work collaboratively with prison staff, healthcare professionals and partner agencies to ensure seamless care.
• Carry out risk assessments and respond confidently to complex and challenging situations.
• Promote recovery, wellbeing and positive health outcomes through evidence-based interventions.
• Provide clinical supervision and support to junior colleagues, deputising for the Lead Nurse when required.

What we're looking for:

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Experience working with substance misuse, mental health or complex clinical needs.
• Confident working independently while thriving as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong clinical judgement, excellent communication skills and a compassionate approach.
• A commitment to delivering safe, person-centred care in line with the NMC Code and best practice.

If you're passionate about making a lasting impact and want to develop your career in a unique and rewarding environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Please see attached Job Description for full details

All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks.

Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Training and development opportunities
• BHSF Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Diversity at Forward Trust

The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness. Some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here .

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.