NHS Scotland
Health Improvement Practitioner - Prison Health Care
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Health Improvement Practitioner - Prison Health Care
Health Programme Coordinator – Prison Healthcare Health Improvement Team
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC)
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people nationwide, along with services supporting an additional 2.2 million through regional and national partnerships.
The Role
Are you passionate about reducing health inequalities? Join NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s Prison Healthcare Health Improvement Team and make a difference by developing and delivering impactful health programmes within the prison estate. This is a unique opportunity to work in public health, supporting individuals in custody to improve their well-being, reduce harm, and develop life-enhancing skills.
Key Objectives of the Role
You will:
- Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of peer mentor programmes and alcohol/drug harm reduction initiatives across prisons in Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
- Empower individuals in custody to become peer mentors, equipping them with knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to support others holistically.
- Deliver naloxone training to prevent drug-related deaths and enable peer mentors to deliver this training within prison settings.
- Facilitate one-to-one and group sessions covering health topics such as:
- Substance use and harm reduction
- Smoking cessation
- Oral health interventions
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to contribute to wider health improvement programmes, including:
- Quit Your Way (smoking cessation)
- Mouth Matters (oral health)
- Advocate for healthier lifestyles in a challenging yet rewarding environment.
Location & Requirements
The role is primarily based at HMP Barlinnie (81 Lee Avenue, G33 2QX). Travel will be required across multiple prison sites, and a mandatory ‘in-person’ interview and pre-interview information session are also scheduled.
Accountabilities
People & Resources
- Lead programme implementation and facilitators in prisons and develop key processes (e.g. mentorship structures).
- Support and motivate peer mentors, ensuring their development and engagement.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with volunteer peer mentors and institution staff.
- Contribute toward multi-agency working with relevant professionals and stakeholders.
Programmes & Services
- Develop, deliver and evaluate interventions such as naloxone training and other community-based health programmes.
- Ensure all training meets institutional safeguarding and Equal Opportunities polices.
- Work with Health Improvement Team to shape prison-based health themes and objectives, following central NHS притиatives.
Purposeful Data
- Monitor and track peer mentor activity and health programmes, ensuring outcomes align with evidence-based goals.
- Quarterly service reviews to assess and improve programme effectiveness.
Trusted Leadership
- Reflects organisational values and understands organisational purpose, ethics and behaviour, demonstrating those values when working with individuals of different backgrounds.
- Actively participate in team and departmental refugee and resilience discussions.
- Support improvement cultures, including obtaining user feedback and feed forward on issues and practice.
- Embed supportive management standards and contracts to improve relationships and team dynamics.
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Personal Accountabilities
** Skills & Experience Required**
- Health-related degree or equivalent (e.g.: public health, nursing, addictions studies).
- PTCd qualification is desirable or commitment to register for one.
- Relevant probationary experience in public health, substance use, volunteer-led initiatives, or frontline mental health support is useful.
- Clear understanding of public health in correctional settings and national policies such as the Scottish Government's Sure Start in Prison Strategy.
- Excellent facilitation skills for delivering both group and one-to-one training sessions.
- Ability to adapt to diverse cultures and engage sensitively.
- Strong communication and relationship-building with individuals from vulnerable backgrounds.
- Commitment to team collaboration across multiple sectors and a collaborative mindset.
- Practical ability to travel across prison sites, as required (e.g., community ethics programmes).
This role will appeal to those with a passion to champion equality and deliver transformative health programmes in challenging environments.
Location, Duration & Working Pattern
Location
Based at HMP Barlinnie, Edinburgh, with operational travel required across prison sites in Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
Duration
Fixed-term contract for 36 hours per week.
Working Hours
Weekdays (Monday to Friday):
- Monday to Thursday – 08:00 to 4:00
- One 2:30pm finish per week.
Person Specification & Key Dimensions
You will demonstrate:
- Achieving desirable outcomes for public health initiatives in correctional settings
- Experience enhancing individual ambitions to make positive life choices.
- Facilitation of group support towards emotional well-being.
- Strong analytical skills for programme monitoring/ evaluation.
- Innovation and adaptability in diverse societal settings.
Why This Role?
Impact & Meaning
🔹 Direct action: Contribute to reducing drug-related harm and improving health in one of GCs most vulnerable communities. 🔹 Empowerment: Develops peer mentors into health advocates within their peer groups. 🔹 Professional growth: Opportunity to broaden your expertise in training delivery, programme management, and public health practice. 🔹 Dynamic work: Your week will be varied – from direct training and mentorship to policy dissemination and multi-agency partnerships.
Team & Culture
Through your passion and commitment, you will join a supportive, experienced team dedicated to thriving communities and skilled interagency collaboration. Staff retention rates in the team are exemplary, and the opportunity to enhance resilient, compassionate care is a leader in prisoner rehabilitation.
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**About Netherstone Health Praxis (NIHP)
Our Health Improvement & Voluntary Programme Team sits alongside NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, working across primary care, community and hospitals to address health inequalities and behavioral determinants.
Our holistic approach integrates prison healthcare, education, and study with social providers to ensure each individual’s point of need is met effectively.
Why Work for NHSGGC?
We pride ourselves on working together, showcasing pride in the work they do and caring for staff.
Supportive Policies:
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Bursary Scheme affirming lifetime learning
- Extensive consultative opportunities (Involvement & Representation)
- NHSGGC specific rewrite standing out for employees.
Benefits: 🔹 27 days annual leave increasing with service, public holidays included 🔹 Pension scheme membership including life insurance 🔹 Salary sacrifice car benefits 🔹 Actionable development opportunities (study bursaries, virtual training, workshops in mental health resilience) 🔹 NHS discounts and benefits across retail, travel and businesses 🔹 Access to quality confidential support including counseling & professional therapy
Recruitment Guidance for Applicants
💡 Authenticity is crucial. Wherever possible, application responses should reflect your personal skills and experiences directly.
🖥️ AI tools: ChatGPT or Copilot can assist in planning, grammar checking, or pinpointing ideas, ensuring your original voice shines through.
🚫 AI-generated content: Submissions that use AI for routine text creation risk being withdrawn.
NHSGGC and Scotland's Health Services recognise the unique skills of our colleagues. As part of the NHS workforce, we take personal professional development seriously – and invite enthusiastic contributions.
Flexible & Inclusive Working
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde supports a balanced work-life equilibrium.
If flexible options are available (within service scope), applicants requesting varied hours are encouraged to apply.
Nhsgc Welcomes Applications to Foster Diversity
NHSGGC pledges equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are committed to an equitable workforce strategy supporting staff converting armed forces’ experiences into engaging career paths.
By endorsing The Armes Forces Covenant, we welcome applicants with military connection for whom military experience boosts interview selection.
For Special Mentions:
- Contact the Recruitment Service for portal/access issues before proceeding.
- Seek pre-flume consultations (consultations before informal/employment opportunities).
By signing this application, you confirm that your answers are entirely authentic personal achievements.
Interested?
To explore further: 📧 Please refer to Claire Murphy – dhhi-senior 770 2000 Ext 232616 or claire.murphy7@nhs.scot
Applicationчным directsDHSCO PublicHealthMyriad offers capabilities for today's tasks leadership. Apply to NHSGGC and be part of healing change.
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