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HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 8
Directorate: PGD
Job Description: Prison Group Drug and Alcohol
Strategy Lead
Document Ref.
HQ JES 2606 Prison Group Drug & Alcohol Strategy
Lead v3.0
Document Type
Management
Version
3.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
28 May 2025
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OFFICIAL
HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug & Alcohol Strategy Lead v3.0
OFFICIAL
Job Description
Job Title
Prison Group Drug and Alcohol Strategy Lead
Directorate
PGD
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.
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HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug & Alcohol Strategy Lead v3.0
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• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., safer
custody, security, healthcare providers and drug and alcohol services)
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),
local Criminal Justice Partnerships (LCJP), Lived Experience Recovery
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
Note: we recommend you choose 4 to 8 strengths locally - select from
the list of Civil Service strength definitions on the intranet.
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HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug & Alcohol Strategy Lead v3.0
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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
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HQ-JES-2606 Prison Group Drug & Alcohol Strategy Lead v3.0