HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 8
Directorate: Public Sector Prisons
Job Description: Prison Group Drug and Alcohol
Lead
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
Document Type
Management
Version
3.0
Classification
Official - Sensitive
Date of Issue
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Head of Group
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
Change History
Date
Version Nature of Change
Edited By
Sections Affected
22.11.18
0.1
Initial draft version
Ailish Nunn All
01.03.19
1.0
JD reformatted and baselined - to
MS
All
be used by all Prison Groups,
including LTHSE and Women’s
Group
09/10/19
2.0
Success Profiles Conversion
SC
All
18/02/25
2.1
JD reformatted and baselined,
includes alcohol- to be used by all
Prison Groups, including LTHSE and
Women’s Group.
21/03/25
Baselined and reformatted pending
DC
All
moderation & TU consultation
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
Job Description
Job Title
Prison Group Drug and Alcohol Lead
Directorate
Public Sector Prisons
Band
8
Overview of the
The job holder will be responsible for providing regional drug and alcohol
job
strategy advice to establishments within their Prison Group. Providing
assurance to the Prison Group Director (PGD), Area Executive Director
(AED) and delivering work aligned to the strategic direction set out by
HQ. The post will provide direct support to establishments to deliver a
comprehensive prison drug and alcohol strategy. They will be the integral
link for establishments, the PGD and HQ in all matters associated with
this essential work.
In the interests of promoting drug and alcohol strategy outcomes for all,
support from this role should also be made available to privately
managed prisons.
This is a non-operational role, open to both operational and non-
operational staff. There is no line management responsibility.
Summary
The role is responsible for leading the development and management of
the regional drug and alcohol strategy, ensuring alignment with national
policies and HMPPS objectives. This includes supporting establishments
in reducing drug and alcohol supply and demand, overseeing provider
contracts and fostering recovery environments like Incentivised
Substance Free Living Units (ISFLs) and Drug Recovery Wings (DRWs).
The post holder will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders,
ensuring integrated service delivery and effective joint working across the
region.
Additionally, the role involves monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness
of drug strategies, conducting assurance visits, and identifying areas for
improvement. The post holder will disseminate best practices, support the
annual needs analysis process, and provide responsive support during
drug-related incidents. They will also ensure compliance with national
drug policies and drive improvements in service delivery and outcomes
within the region.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities,
Activities and
activities and duties:
Duties
• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of
the regional drug and alcohol strategy, ensuring alignment with
national policies, strategic goals and HMPPS objectives, including the
development of recovery environments (ISFLs, DRWs) across the
assigned establishments.
• Provide detailed management information to the Area Executive
Director, Prison Group Director and HQ, offering insight into
performance, governance and practices within each establishment.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., safer
custody, security, healthcare providers and drug and alcohol services)
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
to reduce drug and alcohol supply and demand, supporting the
development and implementation of relevant policies and strategies.
• Support establishments in reducing drug and alcohol supply and
demand, offering direct support to Governors, conducting assurance
visits and providing advice on improving drug strategy outcomes.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of drug and alcohol strategies
within establishments, using established tools to assess outcomes
against local action plans, identifying areas for improvement and
providing ongoing support.
• Oversee and manage provider contracts for services related to drug
and alcohol, ensuring services meet outcomes and are aligned with
national standards and regional needs.
• Support an annual needs analysis process to ensure that drug-related
needs are identified and addressed appropriately within each
establishment.
• Drive improvements in service delivery and compliance with national
drug and alcohol strategies and policies, fostering a whole-prison
approach to rehabilitation and recovery.
• Identify, capture and disseminate good practices and lessons learned
across establishments and the wider Prisons Directorate to promote
consistency and enhance service delivery.
• Respond to drug and alcohol- related incidents (including deaths in
custody) and support HMIP outcomes related to drug strategies,
ensuring timely action, reporting and improvements.
• Collaborate with Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators (H&JPC),
Formatted: Font: 12 pt
local Criminal Justice Partnerships (LCJP), Lived Experience Recovery
Formatted: Normal
Organisations (LEROs) to strengthen external partnerships, continuity
of care, and enhance service delivery.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at
present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected
to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level
that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-
examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in
the first instance with the job holder.
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities,
activities and duties:
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through
the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
Strengths
NB: The below are for guidance only. It is advised strengths are chosen
locally, recommended 4-8.
• Change Agent
• Service focussed
• Influencer
• Relationship Builder
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
• Team player
Experience
• Knowledge or experience of drug strategy delivery in prisons or in the
community.
• Working in partnership with a range of internal and external
stakeholders
• High level written and oral communication skills.
• Good data analysis and analytical skills.
• IT literacy.
Technical
Requirements
Ability
Minimum
Please do not alter this box
Eligibility
• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking
up post.
• All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal
candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a
probationary period within HMPPS.
• All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group
or organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
37 hour working week
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
Factor Examples
Please provide job-specific examples to support the factors below (please refer to guidance
for completion)
Factor
Examples
Skills & Knowledge Advanced knowledge and understanding of policies and frameworks
such as the HMPPS Drug and Alcohol Operational Framework, testing
policies, recovery environment framework. Knowledge in this should
support the development, implementation and management the
regional drug strategy and support local establishments to develop their
own.
The job holder will possess the skills, knowledge and confidence to
advise Governors, Deputy Governors and local leads to support and
challenge their local drug and alcohol strategy and assist in improving
drug supply, demand and recovery.
The job holder will be required to have a strategic awareness of the
national targets in relation to drugs and alcohol and lead on
implementation within region.
The job holder will need to display knowledge around managing
contracts, in order to monitor contracts of provider agencies working
within prisons within the region to deliver drug or alcohol services,
ensuring relevant outcomes are measured. An example of this may be
the seizures and testing contract.
Accountability &
Ensuring the strategy is implemented across different levels of the
Decision Making
group, locally and regionally, measuring its impact, and making
adjustments as needed.
Liaise with HQ, PGD and local prisons to escalate concerns where
needed and support prisons to address and mitigate any live risks.
Ensuring all key stakeholders are informed, engaged, and collaborating
efficiently to reduce drug and alcohol use, improve public health, or
achieve other specific goals relating to drugs and alcohol within the
group.
Provide assurance to the Area Executive Director, Prison Group
Director and HQ that establishments are effectively managing their drug
and alcohol strategy.
Problem Solving
Ability and requirement to be able to source a vast range of information,
in order to consider and recommend appropriate solutions to problems,
and actions to manage an issue. An example of this may be responding
to HMIP visits, drug and alcohol related incidents or improving
treatment outcomes.
Ensure that recovery environments (such as ISFLs and DRWs) are
integrated with the wider prison regime, aligning with education,
employment and resettlement pathways to support sustained recovery.
Monitor emerging trends in drug and alcohol use, supply methods, and
associated risks. Develop and implement responsive strategies in
collaboration with security teams, healthcare providers, and other
partners to mitigate new and evolving threats.
Recognising how different systems within the prison (e.g., healthcare,
security, reoffending) interact and how drugs and alcohol may affect or
be affected by these systems. Develop strategies that address these
interdependencies to reduce supply, demand and harm.
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
Resource
Support the analysis or data and performance outcomes to inform and
Management &
advise prisons on the allocation of resources across establishments,
Financial Impact
ensuring funding and staffing are directed towards high-impact areas.
Contribute to the development of business cases across the group,
ensuring they support the expansion and improvement of recovery
environments (such as ISFLs and DRWs), ensuring proposals are
evidence-based, aligned with strategic priorities and demonstrate value
for money.
Provide oversight of contracts such as healthcare, substance misuse
and testing contracts. Support the management of resources related to
drug and alcohol detection and seizures processes.
Organising &
The job holder will be expected to carry out regular site visits which will
Planning
need to be coordinated with the establishment, other departments
within the wider Prisons Group and may involve joint visits with HQ
functions. Including planning and coordinating support for
establishments before, during and after HMIP inspections, ensuring that
drug and alcohol strategy processes are effectively reviewed, gaps
identified and recommendations are addressed.
Develop and implement structured plans to engage with healthcare
and drug and alcohol service providers, ensuring collaborative
approaches are in place to enhance service delivery, address
performance issues and improve recovery outcomes.
Organise and facilitate joint working initiatives with other regional
functions (e.g., safer prisons, security and reducing reoffending) to align
objectives, promote best practices and deliver coordinated events that
support whole-system approaches to reducing drug and alcohol related
harm.
People
Provide strategic leadership and engage with establishment Governors,
Management
Prison Group Directors, HQ as well as a wide range of internal and
external stakeholders.
The role does not involve direct management responsibility but the role
provides significant strategic leadership to establishment band 7 drug
strategy leads and will require the ability to successfully matrix manage.
The role will involve matrix managing of drug and alcohol services
within prisons to ensure successful service delivery within prisons.
Information
Analyse data and information, and present data in written form for a
Management
wide range of audiences. Information provided will need to be
summarised and presented in an easy-to-read format.
Job holder will provide advice and guidance for key stakeholders in
relation to the policies within the job holder’s area of responsibility.
Shares information as appropriate within the Prison Group, this may
involve contributing to group business plans, updating group risk
registers and information that supports HQ and PGDs with external and
internal briefings.
Work with colleagues in intelligence functions, share risks and issues
appropriately ensuring those of a sensitive nature are considered and
only shared where necessary.
Influencing &
Collaborate with establishment Governors, Deputy Governors and local
Interaction
leads to support and advise their drug strategy, providing challenge
where appropriate.
Organise and chair regional drug strategy meetings, bringing together
local drug strategy leads, key stakeholders and at times coordinating
joint events with other group leads (e.g., safety, reducing reoffending)
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0
A degree of strong influencing is required in the development and
implementation of a drug and alcohol strategy. Working alongside key
senior stakeholders internally and externally. Representing the region in
this specialised area of work.
Collaborate with Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators (H&JPC),
Formatted: Font: 12 pt
local Criminal Justice Partnerships (LCJP), Lived Experience Recovery
Formatted: Justified, Space After: Auto, No widow/orphan
Organisations (LEROs) to strengthen external partnerships, continuity of
control, Don't allow hanging punctuation, Don't adjust space
between Latin and Asian text, Don't adjust space between
care, and enhance service delivery.
Asian text and numbers, Font Alignment: Baseline
Engage with other group leads and HQ functions such as drugs,
security and safety to ensure consistency and collaborative working
Formatted
across the group.
Emotional Demand Demonstrate resilience when challenging those who in some cases
& Risk
may be more senior to them.
The post holder will have access to sensitive material and will come
face to face with prisoners during establishment visits. This will be
regularly, likely during briefings, recovery environment visits.
The post holder will be required to travel within their group and it may
require staying away from home. It may involve travelling to other
prisons or for training in central locations.
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug Strategy Lead v3.0