Service Manager Drug Strategy Lead HMP Millsike

This is a brand-new role for Forward Trust and a genuine opportunity to do something different. As Drug Strategy Manager at HMP Millsike, you will lead the development and delivery of a truly recovery-oriented, whole-prison approach to supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction, driving long-term, transformational change and meaningful recovery outcomes for prisoners. This role combines strategic ownership with hands-on leadership, including responsibility for the establishment of the Drug Strategy, the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) Unit, and a team of Recovery Navigators.

Who This Role Is For

• Experienced confident manager who can influence, challenge, and lead across multiple stakeholders and disciplines.
• Bring energy, credibility, and passion for recovery into everything they do.
• Thrive in complex environments and enjoy shaping something new.
• Demonstrate commitment to recovery that underpins your leadership style and drives excellence in practice.

What Makes This Role Different

• You’ll be encouraged to bring professional curiosity to the role, continually exploring emerging research, interventions, and technologies.
• Innovative approaches to reducing supply, demand, and harm.
• Evidence from the field and translating it into realistic, deliverable practice at HMP Millsike.

About You

• Experience in managing recovery services and/or security within a custodial setting.
• Strong people management experience.
• Confident navigating policy, governance, and compliance.
• Enjoys a challenge and strives for recovery excellence.
• Can build assured processes while keeping people and purpose at the centre.

We’re keen to meet people with relevant experience, strong values, and genuine passion, including those who bring diverse professional backgrounds. If you’re unsure whether you fully match the person specification, we’d still welcome a conversation to explore the role and answer your questions.

Role Details

• Full-time, permanent (35 Hours).
• Based at HMP Millsike.
• Primarily Monday–Friday, with one weekend in four.
• Flexibility required, including evenings, as the prison operates 7 days per week.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an in-person presentation followed by a panel interview, both of which will take place onsite at HMP Millsike. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their strategic thinking, leadership capability, and alignment with a recovery-focused approach throughout the process.

Please Submit

• A CV that not only outlines your work history but clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience align with the requirements of this role.
• A covering letter (maximum 1,500 words) setting out how you meet the skills, experience, and knowledge described in the Job Description.

HMP Millsike is in a rural location; therefore, access to a car is preferred. All prison-based roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and HMPPS security vetting. These checks can take up to 5 months to complete. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion of both checks. Please note if you have lived overseas within the last 5 years then checks may take longer.

Benefits

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally, the wellbeing of the employees who work for us is also important. As an employee, we offer the following benefits:

• Flexible working.
• Training and development opportunities.
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional).
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme.