HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 7
Directorate: Safety and Rehabilitation
Job Description: Substance Policy Lead
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2741 Substance Policy lead v1.0
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
14 September 2020
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Head of Group
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-2741 Substance Policy Lead v1.0
Job Description
Job Title
Substance Policy Lead
Directorate
Safety and Rehabilitation - Rehabilitation and Support Services Group
Band
7
Overview of the job
The Drug Strategy and Delivery Team is responsible for the delivery of the recently
published HMPPS Drug Strategy (“the strategy") and associated Guidance and Good
Practice, ensuring the agency is reducing the level of drug misuse amongst prisoners
through a comprehensive range of activity brigaded under each of the three themes
of the strategy, which align to the overarching Government Drug Strategy:
1. Restricting Supply
2. Reducing Demand
3. Building Recovery
The post holder will lead on the Incentivised Substance Free Living (ISFL) project,
focusing on the reducing demand and building recovery strands of the drugs
strategy.
This an opportunity for an experienced and skillful individual to oversee the
continuing development of processes, procedures and to influence policy
development around reducing the harm caused by drugs in our prisons. The post
holder will be required to build effective relationships with, and lead the
coordination of, colleagues across HMPPS and MoJ to ensure the strategy is
delivered. They will be responsible for ensuring any wider activity regarding ISFL is
visible within the agency.
The role will also require some travel to prisons and other regional locations
(approximately once a month), with the occasional overnight stay.
Whilst the role is non-operational it is focused on achieving operational
improvement in prisons and so requires the post holder to have (or to develop) a
good understanding of the operational realities of drug misuse in prisons and the
operational context in which the Unit’s activities sit. Operational experience of
working in prisons would be highly desirable.
Summary
The job holder provides strategic leadership and is responsible for planning and
managing the work around ISFL units in prisons, including rolling out the programme
of new units to be introduced throughout 2020. This involves responding to
fluctuating workload and maintaining a calm approach in the face of competing
interests.
The post holder will support on diagnostic visits to prisons, making SMART
recommendations for establishments. They will provide advice to the Band 9 line
manager, the Band 10 Head, and to other senior managers throughout HMPPS
regarding drug demand reduction and building recovery.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
? Lead on the ISFL project, providing support to existing units, supporting
establishments to set up new units, and chairing quarterly ISFL HMPPS wide
meetings.
? Support on drugs diagnostic visits offering advice and support to
establishments on the demand aspects of the strategy.
? Conduct support visits to establishments in relation to their drug strategies.
HQ-JES-2741 Substance Policy Lead v1.0
? Identify and communicate current trends in relation to substance misuse
for establishments, regions and nationally.
? Produce support documents for Drug Strategy portfolio providing guidance
and advice to establishments.
? Review and support establishments in design, implementation and updates
of drug strategies and individual aspects of the strategy.
? Collaborate with PGD Drug Strategy leads and address individual concerns
with a support visits and follow up reports.
? Engage with Business Leads and wider teams to support the
implementation of shared service solutions.
? Ensure that best practice is shared through a variety of forums, including
the bi-monthly regional drugs lead meetings, internal learning events,
opportunities to promote ISFL on the intranet.
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.
Behaviours
? Changing and Improving
? Developing Self and Others
? Working Together
? Seeing the Bigger Picture
? Making Effective Decisions
? Communicating and Influencing
? Working Together
? Managing a Quality Service
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Experience
? Strong understanding of operational practice, particularly the appropriate
management and development of drug strategies within the custodial
setting.
? Experience of delivering multi-site projects within set time frames.
? Experience of developing projects across partners both internal and external.
? Strong communication (written and verbal).
? Experience of developing collaborative and partnership working with senior
stakeholders.
? Organisation and problem solving skills.
? Project management experience or qualification (Prince 2).
Technical
Requirements
Ability
HQ-JES-2741 Substance Policy Lead v1.0
Minimum Eligibility
Please do not alter this box
? 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
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ-JES-2741 Substance Policy Lead v1.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Changing and Improving
Strong understanding of
operational practice, particularly
the appropriate management and
development of drug strategies
within the custodial setting.
Developing Self and Others
Experience of delivering multi-site
projects within set time frames.
Working Together
Experience of developing projects
across partners both internal and
external.
Seeing the Big Picture
Strong communication (written
and verbal).
Making Effective Decisions
Experience of developing
collaborative and partnership
working with senior stakeholders.
Communicating and Influencing
Organisation and problem solving
skills.
Working Together
Project management experience or
qualification (Prince 2).
Managing a Quality Service
HQ-JES-2741 Substance Policy Lead v1.0