Head of Clinical Practice – Forensic Healthcare, Primary Care and Community Services

About the Role

The Head of Clinical Practice provides senior, strategic clinical leadership across a national portfolio, shaping the clinical direction and assurance arrangements for Forensic Healthcare (custody healthcare and Sexual Assault Referral Centres), Primary Care and Community Services. The post holder leads the design and standardisation of clinical models, pathways and professional practice standards, driving continuous improvement in quality, safety, workforce capability and outcomes across all services. A strategic priority is to strengthen clinical quality, risk and workforce resilience within custody healthcare services, ensuring consistently delivered, evidence-based and legally compliant care in complex, high-risk environments. Working within a robust clinical governance framework, the post holder supports the Group Medical Director by providing clear assurance on clinical quality and safety, influencing senior operational leaders and system partners to deliver sustainable services that meet contractual, regulatory and professional standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Forensic Healthcare Clinical Leadership: Set the clinical vision and standards for forensic healthcare services, acting as the senior clinical authority across custody healthcare teams and SARCs. Provide clinical assurance that care in custodial environments is safe, lawful and aligned to equivalence principles. Define and maintain organisation-wide forensic clinical practice standards in line with FFLM guidance. Lead clinical preparedness for external scrutiny (CQC, HMICFRS, IOPC). Champion high-quality clinical decision-making and embed trauma-informed approaches.
• Primary & Community Services Clinical Leadership: Set clinical direction for Primary Care services, assure safe systems including prescribing governance, long-term condition pathways. Provide strategic clinical leadership for ADHD services, ensuring alignment with NICE guidance. Strengthen system interfaces between specialist ADHD services and primary care.
• Workforce Leadership and Clinical Performance: Develop and deliver an integrated clinical workforce strategy. Lead a programme of clinical workforce resilience. Provide professional leadership for Allied Health Professionals. Partner with Group Medical Director on medical workforce strategy. Oversee professional practice systems including induction, supervision, appraisal, revalidation.
• Clinical Governance, Quality and Patient Safety: Strengthen governance maturity, assure compliance with CQC, FFLM, PACE, NHS requirements. Oversee safeguarding, infection prevention, medicines optimisation. Work with Head of Compliance and Risk on incident investigations. Promote a culture of openness and accountability.
• Strategy, Service Improvement and Innovation: Provide senior clinical input to business development, service design, bid activity. Drive clinical standardisation and quality improvement initiatives. Promote innovation in digital systems and forensic pathways.
• Operational Integration and System Working: Partner with Directors of Operations, build relationships with commissioners, ICBs, ICSs, police, safeguarding partners. Represent organisation in external forums.
• On-Call and Escalation: Contribute to senior clinical escalation and on-call arrangements, provide leadership during major incidents.

About You

You will be an experienced registered healthcare professional (NMC, HCPC or GMC) with senior clinical leadership experience in forensic, custody or similarly complex healthcare settings. Essential: significant senior clinical leadership in forensic healthcare, strong knowledge of FFLM guidance, experience in clinical governance, risk management, patient safety, and leading multidisciplinary teams including FMEs, HCPs and doctors. Desirable: experience in SARCs, ADHD services, neurodevelopmental care, police/justice partnerships, and both NHS and independent sectors.

Why Join [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]?

At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], we pride ourselves on being Truly Caring, Team First, and Pioneering Innovation. You’ll join a forward-thinking organisation that values integrity, inclusivity, and innovation, and empowers its leaders to make a real difference.

Benefits

• Bike2Work Scheme – Save up to 42% on bikes & equipment
• DSE Eye Tests and Spectacles – Up to £25 for eye tests, £50 for spectacles
• Employee Assistance Program – 24 hour helpline
• Employee Recognition – ‘On the Spot’ & ‘Extra Mile’ Awards
• Family Friendly Policy – Support for maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility leave
• Long Service Award – Celebrating 5 & 10 years of service
• Menopause Support – HRT subscription covered & Menopause Pledge
• NHS Discount – Blue Light Card
• Paid Sick Pay – 10 days per year
• Professional Development – Training, courses & team-building opportunities
• Workplace Savings and Low Interest Loans
• Your Birthday off!

Application Instructions

Please apply using the form below, uploading your CV and a message. Due to high volume, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 2 weeks. This advert will remain open until the position is filled. Interviews will be held throughout the advertising period. Please note the closing date: 15-05-2026.

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