Deputy Head of Healthcare | Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Rochester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Deputy Head of Healthcare at HMP Rochester. This role involves managing a multi-disciplinary team, developing integrated healthcare services, and providing clinical leadership. Ideal candidates will have strong NHS knowledge and experience in complex patient management. Excellent leadership and quality improvement skills are critical for this position, along with the capacity to work across multiple sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a senior clinical lead within a similar setting.
• Strong knowledge of NHS public health indicators and national service frameworks.
• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary clinical teams and complex patient pathways.

Responsibilities

• Accountably manage a multi-disciplinary team including mental health and primary care services.
• Lead the development of integrated health-care services within the prison.
• Provide expert clinical leadership and oversight of complex patients.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Quality improvement

Multi-disciplinary team management

NHS public health knowledge

Complex patient pathway management

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity for a Deputy Head of Healthcare at HMP Rochester. The post holder will support the Head of Healthcare to ensure effective day‑to‑day operational management of all clinical services across the prison and deputise in their absence.

Responsibilities

• Accountably manage a multi-disciplinary team including mental health, primary care, substance misuse nursing, pharmacy and administration services.
• Work closely with partners to ensure the smooth running of all other services (GP services, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy, dentistry, sexual health, drug & alcohol & IAPT services).
• Act up in the absence of the Head of Healthcare and be flexible and willing to cross‑cover sites depending on service needs.
• Lead the development and implementation of integrated health‑care services within the prison, including acute & primary care, long‑term conditions management, substance misuse services, enhanced assessment and diagnostic intervention services and health promotion activities.
• Provide expert clinical leadership and oversight of complex patients, national standards, clinical audits and evaluation of integrated health‑care services.
• Ensure day‑to‑day management, coordination of health‑care provision and integration among all teams within health‑care delivery.
• Lead the cycle of clinical audits, evaluation of services, and support the Head of Healthcare in implementing clinical policies and quality agenda.
• Develop and maintain inter‑disciplinary and inter‑agency working with all relevant agencies and organisations.
• Provide supervisory oversight, allocation of resources, monitoring of performance and staff development.
• Maintain compliance with all prison and trust clinical policies, procedures and security requirements.
• Act as an authorised signatory for the Integrated Health‑Care team and liaise with senior trust personnel.
• Support the HoH in developing and maintaining an effective case‑management service, including clear care and continuity pathways for patients in custody.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Proven experience as a senior clinical lead within a similar setting.
• Strong knowledge of NHS public health indicators and national service frameworks.
• Experience in managing multi‑disciplinary clinical teams and complex patient pathways.
• Excellent leadership, clinical audit and quality improvement skills.
• Capacity to work across sites (HMP Rochester/Cookham Wood) and partner with other Kent prisons.
• Knowledge of prison health services and ability to liaise with the Prisons Service, Ministry of Justice, Probation Services, CPS, NHS and community services.
• Must undertake National Security Vetting.
• Proof of right‑to‑work documentation, ID, address proof (UK passport holders: 5‑year address history).
• Non‑UK passport holders must have a valid right‑to‑work and provide a Home Office share code; may need a police certificate if less than 5 years UK address history.

Other Information

• Important Sponsorship Information: No certificate of sponsorship will be provided for this post.
• This advert closes on Monday 5 Jan 2026.