Head of Healthcare - ORSS in Medway

Job summaryThis is a rare & exciting opportunity to lead healthcare within the UK's first Secure School & help shape a pioneering model of care for children in custody.Oasis Restore Secure School provides a fundamentally different approach to youth custody. Built on principles of education, wellbeing, relationships and hope, it creates an environment where children can recover from trauma, improve their health & wellbeing, & achieve positive futures.Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) provides an integrated healthcare service delivering physical health, mental health, neurodevelopmental, substance misuse & health promotion services to children aged 12-18. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Healthcare who is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children & young people & who can lead a compassionate, high-performing multidisciplinary team.This is a senior leadership role requiring an experienced healthcare professional with a strong track record of service delivery, quality improvement, safeguarding, partnership working & staff leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with Oasis Restore, Youth Custody Service, NHS England & wider system partners to ensure healthcare is fully integrated into the child's journey and delivered in line with Child First & trauma-informed principles.This is an opportunity to influence practice at local and national level while making a lasting difference to some of the most vulnerable children in society.Main duties of the jobThe Head of Healthcare will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership for all healthcare services delivered within Oasis Restore Secure School.Key responsibilities include:Leading and developing an integrated multidisciplinary healthcare team.Ensuring delivery of safe, effective, high-quality and child-centred healthcare services.Providing visible clinical and professional leadership that promotes a positive culture and high standards of care.Leading safeguarding, quality, governance and patient safety agendas.Working collaboratively with Oasis Restore, Youth Custody Service, NHS England and other key partners.Ensuring services are trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate and responsive to the complex needs of children in custody.Managing performance, workforce, budgets and service development.Driving innovation, service improvement and clinical excellence.Acting as a key member of the senior leadership team and contributing to the wider strategic direction of the Secure School We are looking for a leader who is:A registered healthcare professional.Experienced in leading complex healthcare services.Passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.Skilled in partnership working and managing across organisational boundaries.Experienced in safeguarding and working with vulnerable populations.Committed to equality, inclusion and trauma-informed practice.Able to inspire, motivate and develop multidisciplinary teams.About usCentral and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest and most innovative NHS trusts in the country, providing services to a diverse population across London, Milton Keynes and the South East. We are recognised for our commitment to delivering high-quality care, developing our workforce and improving outcomes for vulnerable and excluded populations.Health and Justice Services is one of CNWL's most ambitious and forward-thinking directorates, delivering healthcare across prisons, secure settings, courts, police custody, liaison and diversion services, and community justice pathways. Our services are built on the principles of compassion, partnership and reducing health inequalities.By joining CNWL you will benefit from:Leadership development opportunities through local, divisional and Trust-wide programmes.Protected supervision, appraisal and personal development planning.Access to a wide range of internal and external learning opportunities.Opportunities to contribute to service innovation, research and quality improvement.Flexible working arrangements where operationally appropriate.Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.Access to staff wellbeing services, psychological support and occupational health.Access to MyTrustBenefits, offering a wide range of national discounts and wellbeing resources.The opportunity to work within a supportive and values-driven organisation committed to Compassion, Respect, Empowerment and Partnership.DetailsDate posted09 September 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary 66,582 to 77,368 a year per annum (pro rata if P/T) ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time Reference number333-D-HJ-2077Job locationsOasis Restore Secure SchoolSir Evelyn RoadRochesterME1 3NDUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Head of Healthcare will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership for healthcare services delivered within Oasis Restore Secure School, ensuring children receive safe, effective, trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate care. The post holder will lead a multidisciplinary healthcare team and work closely with Oasis Restore, NHS England, Youth Custody Service, local authorities and other key partners to deliver integrated, child-centred services.The role is responsible for:Leading and developing an innovative integrated healthcare service across physical health, mental health, neurodevelopmental, substance misuse and health promotion services.Delivering high-quality healthcare services that meet commissioning requirements, clinical standards, safeguarding responsibilities and regulatory expectations.Providing visible leadership to multidisciplinary teams, promoting a positive culture of learning, inclusion, accountability and continuous improvement.Developing strong partnerships across healthcare, education, safeguarding and operational services to support a "One Team" approach for children in custody.Driving service development, transformation and quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes for children and young people.Monitoring performance, quality, workforce and contractual requirements, ensuring key performance indicators and governance standards are achieved.Leading financial management, budget oversight and workforce planning to ensure effective and sustainable service delivery.Managing clinical governance, patient safety, safeguarding, complaints, risk management and service assurance processes.Developing staff through effective supervision, appraisal, performance management and professional leadership.Representing healthcare within senior leadership and governance forums and contributing to wider organisational and strategic developments.Working collaboratively with commissioners, partner organisations and subcontracted providers to ensure healthcare services remain responsive, innovative and evidence based. Job description Job responsibilitiesThe Head of Healthcare will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership for healthcare services delivered within Oasis Restore Secure School, ensuring children receive safe, effective, trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate care. The post holder will lead a multidisciplinary healthcare team and work closely with Oasis Restore, NHS England, Youth Custody Service, local authorities and other key partners to deliver integrated, child-centred services.The role is responsible for:Leading and developing an innovative integrated healthcare service across physical health, mental health, neurodevelopmental, substance misuse and health promotion services.Delivering high-quality healthcare services that meet commissioning requirements, clinical standards, safeguarding responsibilities and regulatory expectations.Providing visible leadership to multidisciplinary teams, promoting a positive culture of learning, inclusion, accountability and continuous improvement.Developing strong partnerships across healthcare, education, safeguarding and operational services to support a "One Team" approach for children in custody.Driving service development, transformation and quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes for children and young people.Monitoring performance, quality, workforce and contractual requirements, ensuring key performance indicators and governance standards are achieved.Leading financial management, budget oversight and workforce planning to ensure effective and sustainable service delivery.Managing clinical governance, patient safety, safeguarding, complaints, risk management and service assurance processes.Developing staff through effective supervision, appraisal, performance management and professional leadership.Representing healthcare within senior leadership and governance forums and contributing to wider organisational and strategic developments.Working collaboratively with commissioners, partner organisations and subcontracted providers to ensure healthcare services remain responsive, innovative and evidence based.Person Specification Qualifications EssentialRegistered healthcare professional with current professional registration (NMC, HCPC, GPhC or equivalent).Degree qualified or equivalent professional qualification.DesirableManagement or leadership qualification (e.g. ILM, Chartered Management, Leadership Programme, MSc Leadership)Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to senior healthcare leadership. Experience EssentialSignificant experience in a senior healthcare management role equivalent to Band 8a or aboveExperience leading large multidisciplinary teams including professional, clinical and managerial staffExperience managing operational healthcare services, including responsibility for performance and service deliveryExperience leading service improvement, transformation or change programmes with demonstrable outcomesExperience of managing quality, governance, safeguarding, risk management or patient safety within healthcare servicesExperience of working in partnership with multiple organisations and stakeholdersExperience working with children, young people or vulnerable populationsDesirableExperience working within a secure, residential, custodial, forensic or youth justice environmentExperience leading integrated healthcare services across physical health, mental health and neurodevelopmental pathwaysExperience of contract management or oversight of subcontracted services Skills and Knowledge EssentialKnowledge of clinical governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and healthcare regulationAbility to analyse information and make sound decisions in complex situationsKnowledge of safeguarding and child-centred healthcare practice.DesirableKnowledge of Child First approaches, trauma-informed care or restorative practiceKnowledge of commissioning, healthcare contracts or NHS service developmentKnowledge of "Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in Secure Settings (2023)" Attitudes, Aptitudes and Personal Characteristics EssentialDemonstrates compassionate and inclusive leadershipStrong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young peopleDemonstrates integrity, openness and professional credibility Person Specification Qualifications EssentialRegistered healthcare professional with current professional registration (NMC, HCPC, GPhC or equivalent).Degree qualified or equivalent professional qualification.DesirableManagement or leadership qualification (e.g. ILM, Chartered Management, Leadership Programme, MSc Leadership)Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to senior healthcare leadership. Experience EssentialSignificant experience in a senior healthcare management role equivalent to Band 8a or aboveExperience leading large multidisciplinary teams including professional, clinical and managerial staffExperience managing operational healthcare services, including responsibility for performance and service deliveryExperience leading service improvement, transformation or change programmes with demonstrable outcomesExperience of managing quality, governance, safeguarding, risk management or patient safety within healthcare servicesExperience of working in partnership with multiple organisations and stakeholdersExperience working with children, young people or vulnerable populationsDesirableExperience working within a secure, residential, custodial, forensic or youth justice environmentExperience leading integrated healthcare services across physical health, mental health and neurodevelopmental pathwaysExperience of contract management or oversight of subcontracted services Skills and Knowledge EssentialKnowledge of clinical governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and healthcare regulationAbility to analyse information and make sound decisions in complex situationsKnowledge of safeguarding and child-centred healthcare practice.DesirableKnowledge of Child First approaches, trauma-informed care or restorative practiceKnowledge of commissioning, healthcare contracts or NHS service developmentKnowledge of "Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in Secure Settings (2023)" Attitudes, Aptitudes and Personal Characteristics EssentialDemonstrates compassionate and inclusive leadershipStrong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young peopleDemonstrates integrity, openness and professional credibilityDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameCentral and North West London NHS Foundation TrustAddressOasis Restore Secure SchoolSir Evelyn RoadRochesterME1 3NDUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameCentral and North West London NHS Foundation TrustAddressOasis Restore Secure SchoolSir Evelyn RoadRochesterME1 3NDUnited KingdomEmployer's website