Substance Misuse Lead Nurse - HMP Styal in Wilmslow

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Nurse to join our team at HMP & YOI Styal, taking clinical responsibility for the coordination and delivery of high-quality substance misuse care in a secure environment. This pivotal leadership role provides expert oversight to ensure safe, effective, and person‑centred support for women experiencing substance use issues alongside physical and mental health needs.

As part of an integrated Clinical and Psychosocial Recovery Team, the Lead Nurse will oversee clinical assessments, care planning, and interventions, promoting evidence‑based practice in line with national guidance (e.g. NICE) and local policy. As clinical lead, you will act as a key point of escalation, supervise and mentor staff, and support the development of care pathways and service improvements. This role offers the opportunity to influence service design, support workforce development, and build strong partnerships with prison services, NHS providers, and community teams to ensure continuity of care.

With excellent clinical judgment, leadership, and a compassionate approach, you will help deliver recovery‑focused, trauma‑informed care for vulnerable individuals in the criminal justice system. A rewarding and impactful role for a nurse ready to make a real difference, leading a dedicated multidisciplinary team and supporting positive outcomes within the prison setting.

• Provide clinical leadership and coordination of the substance misuse team within the prison.
• Deliver assessments, care planning, and clinical interventions for individuals with substance misuse needs.
• Act as senior clinical decision‑maker, offering expert guidance to nursing and support staff.
• Supervise, mentor, and appraise staff, supporting professional development and competency‑based practice.
• Promote high standards of evidence‑based, trauma‑informed, person‑centred care.
• Work collaboratively with psychosocial, mental health, and physical healthcare colleagues to ensure integrated care.
• Lead development and review of clinical protocols, policies, and care pathways aligned with national guidance (e.g., NICE).
• Participate in strategic planning, audits, quality improvement, and clinical governance.
• Support accurate data entry (e.g. SystmOne, NDTMS), ensuring compliance with reporting and CQC standards.
• Coordinate OST safely, including detox planning and medication reviews.
• Maintain partnerships with prison staff, community services, and stakeholders to ensure continuity of care.
• Contribute to workforce planning, rota management, and safe staffing.
• Uphold information governance, safeguarding, and patient confidentiality.
• Facilitate service user involvement and peer‑led initiatives to enhance recovery.
• Lead or support research, audit, and reflective practice to improve service quality.

Join our team. We're looking for passionate individuals to join our diverse and innovative team. Whether you are starting out in your healthcare journey or are an experienced healthcare professional looking for a new challenge, we've got a role for you!

Access to NHS Pension, annual leave on your Birthday, refer a friend scheme, training and development opportunities, flexible working, access to Employee Assistance and Health and Wellbeing programmes, up to 33 days annual leave.

We have an ambition to become a truly lived experience inclusive employer, changing how we approach staff experience and value personal stories our colleagues bring with them. We welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who belong to LGBTQIA+ Community and are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and Asexual, people with a disability, neurodivergent applicants and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Spectrum Community Health CIC provides a range of award‑winning healthcare services on behalf of the NHS, Local Authority Public Health services, and other partners across substance misuse, sexual health, and health and justice settings. As a not‑for‑profit social enterprise and Community Interest Company, our focus is centred on people - our patients, service users, staff and partners.

The Lead Nurse will be responsible for the daily clinical coordination and leadership of the substance misuse service within HMP & YOI Styal. Working as part of an integrated recovery team, the post holder will deliver high‑quality, trauma‑informed care to women experiencing substance misuse issues and associated health needs. They will provide expert clinical oversight, supervise nursing staff, and ensure all care is delivered in accordance with national standards and local protocols. The Lead Nurse plays a key role in service development, continuous quality improvement, and partnership working across healthcare and custodial teams. This role requires excellent leadership, clinical judgment, and a passion for improving outcomes for women in custody.

• Registered Nurse (Adult, Mental Health, or Learning Disabilities) with valid NMC registration.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Relevant post‑registration qualification or experience in substance misuse or addiction services.
• Non‑Medical Prescriber (V300) or working towards.
• Mentorship, teaching, or assessor qualification (e.g., Practice Assessor).

• Clear understanding of substance misuse treatment (e.g., OST, harm reduction, detox, relapse prevention).
• Awareness of relevant national guidelines (NICE, NMC, PHE).
• Understanding of safeguarding and risk management principles.
• Awareness of trauma‑informed care and recovery models.
• Familiarity with clinical systems like SystmOne or NDTMS reporting.

• Demonstrable experience in a clinical role working with substance misuse, mental health or complex needs.
• Experience working with individuals with complex or multiple health needs.
• Evidence of experience supervising or supporting other staff members (e.g., mentoring, line management).
• Experience delivering care planning and clinical interventions.
• Previous experience working in a secure environment (e.g., prison, forensic unit).
• Evidence of involvement in service development, audit, or quality improvement.

This 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.