Head of Criminal Justice Health Practice

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the operational development and delivery of Pact's criminal justice healthcare strategy at a pivotal moment for the charity. Working closely with our Head of Listen to Families, who leads our listening and policy activity in the health sphere, you will take national lead responsibility for shaping, embedding and continuously improving services that sit at the intersection of family support and healthcare within the criminal justice system. You will bring strategic vision alongside strong operational discipline, working through a matrix-management approach to deliver services that are clinically safe, contractually sound, and genuinely transformational for the people we support.

Key responsibilities

• You will lead the design, development, roll‑out and delivery of Pact's criminal justice healthcare services, including oversight of our family link workers, providing consistent and effective leadership through a matrix-management model.
• You will review current logic models, propose and embed effective service changes, implement practice guidance and procedures, and optimise programme integrity supported by robust impact data.
• You'll ensure services are safely and effectively aligned and integrated with clinical services led by Pact's strategic and operating partners, and that they are delivered in line with contractual, regulatory and budgetary requirements.
• Working collaboratively with Pact's senior leaders, our clinical healthcare partners, service commissioners, professional colleagues and experts by experience, you will deliver sustainable systemic service improvements and contribute to wider system change.
• You will monitor and evaluate the impact and outcomes of our services, using findings to drive continuous improvement in practice and delivery, and advise on the operational viability, feasibility, risks and implementation of key business objectives, ensuring these objectives are met.
• In close partnership with our Head of Listen to Families, you will strengthen the links between listening activity and improved patient outcomes.
• You will also contribute to Pact's overall corporate strategy through close involvement in organisation-wide, policy-focused and operational projects, and through involvement in bids, tenders and grant applications.
• From time to time, you will be called upon to represent Pact at external meetings, speak at industry events, and present reports to Pact's trustee board or committee meetings.

About you

We’re looking for a senior leader with significant experience in criminal justice healthcare, prison-based services, or a closely related field, who combines strategic thinking with hands‑on operational expertise. You will have a track record of leading services through change, managing complex stakeholder relationships across clinical and non-clinical partners, and using data and evidence to drive service improvement. You will be confident operating in a matrix environment, comfortable representing your organisation at a senior level, and deeply committed to the people and families we support.

How to apply

If you feel that you meet the requirements of this exciting new role, please complete an application form by clicking the apply now button. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Other information

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment). This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 3-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison. We will also require a certificate of good conduct from the Police Force of the country of residence if you have resided overseas for a period of over 12 months (in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over).