About DrPA Secure and the Canol Service

DoctorPA Ltd (trading as DrPA Secure) is an independent healthcare provider delivering specialist clinical services in secure, justice, and community settings. DrPA Secure holds registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in Wales.

The Canol Substance Misuse Service is a community-based drug and alcohol treatment service commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The service delivers opioid substitution therapy (OST) and drug treatment support across five locations in Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf Morgannwg: the Angove Unit (DATT) in Cardiff, St Andrews Place in Cardiff, Barry Police Station, Celtic Court in Bridgend, Oldway House in Merthyr Tydfil, and the former Post Office in Pontypridd.

The patient population is predominantly adults in or transitioning through the criminal justice system, including individuals subject to Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR) or Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATR) as part of community sentences. Many patients carry significant and complex health and social needs alongside their substance use, including co-occurring mental health conditions, blood-borne viruses, housing instability, and experience of trauma.

DrPA Secure delivers the Canol service in partnership with G4S Care and Justice Services, who hold the operational casework contract. The clinical team — led by a Clinical Lead and Advanced Nurse Practitioner and supported by registered nurses — is responsible for all prescribing, clinical assessment, physical health monitoring, and medicines management. The Service Manager provides the operational and governance leadership that enables the clinical team to deliver safely and effectively.

DrPA Secure has been operating in secure environments since 2014, providing high-quality healthcare services across the UK. We deliver our services based on our ethos of CARE:

• Compassionate care that is trauma informed and supportive
• Assurance that care is evidence-based and demonstrates high-quality outcomes for our patients
• Respectful of people’s cultural and religious beliefs
• Empowerment – we centre each resident by co-creating holistic care plans that treat individual needs and support long-term wellbeing

Job Summary

The Service Manager is the operational and governance lead for the Canol service. This is a senior leadership role that sits at the intersection of clinical governance, contract management, partnership working, and people leadership. The post-holder is responsible for ensuring the Canol service operates safely, effectively, and in full compliance with its HIW registration, the Independent Health Care (Wales) Regulations 2011, and its contractual obligations to commissioners.

The Service Manager works closely with the Director of Clinical Services and the Clinical Lead to ensure that governance and clinical leadership are closely integrated. They are the primary operational point of contact for commissioners, G4S, partner agencies, and staff across the five Canol sites, and they represent DrPA Secure in multi-agency forums, contract review meetings, and regulatory interactions.

This is a role for someone who combines strong organisational and governance skills with a genuine understanding of and commitment to the patient population. The Canol service works with some of the most marginalised people in society. The Service Manager must lead with compassion and professional rigour in equal measure.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Management

• Lead the day-to-day operational management of the Canol service across all five delivery sites, ensuring sessions are staffed, clinics run on time, and operational issues are identified and resolved promptly.
• Maintain an accurate and current staffing rota across all sites, managing leave, absence, and contingency cover in collaboration with the Director of Clinical Services.
• Manage the operational relationship with G4S Care and Justice Services, ensuring the clinical and operational functions of the service work seamlessly and that the boundary of clinical and operational responsibility is clearly maintained.
• Oversee site-level operational arrangements including clinic room access, security, equipment, and the physical environment, working with G4S and site owners to resolve any concerns.
• Act as the first point of escalation for operational issues arising at any Canol site, including building access, equipment failure, staffing shortfall, and G4S-related concerns.
• Lead on business continuity planning for the Canol service, ensuring the Business Continuity Plan is current, tested, and understood by all staff.

2. Clinical Governance

• Ensure the Canol service operates in full compliance with its HIW registration under the Independent Health Care (Wales) Regulations 2011, the National Minimum Standards for Independent Health Care Services in Wales (2011), and all applicable Welsh regulatory guidance.
• Support the Director of Clinical Services in maintaining the Canol clinical governance framework, including the clinical audit programme , the risk register , and the clinical governance meeting schedule.
• Ensure all clinical policies and standard operating procedures for the Canol service are current, accessible to staff, and reviewed at the required frequency.
• Manage the Canol complaints process with the Clinical Lead in accordance with the Complaints Policy and the Independent Health Care (Wales) Regulations 2011 Regulation 24, ensuring acknowledgements within 2 working days and responses within 20 working days.
• Ensure incident reporting, investigation, and learning processes are operational and that all notifiable events are reported to HIW within the required timescales (Regulations 30–31 IHC(W) Regs 2011).
• Coordinate preparation for HIW inspections and maintain a state of continuous inspection readiness across all five sites, including site audits, document checks, and staff briefings.
• Contribute to the production and submission of governance reports to commissioners, the Area Planning Board, and the DrPA Secure Board as required.

3. Medicines Management and CD Governance

• Work closely with the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO) to ensure CD governance arrangements across all five sites are compliant with the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) (Wales) Regulations 2008
• Oversee operational implementation of the CD Ordering SOP across all sites, including temperature monitoring, key safe arrangements, and stock reconciliation.
• Ensure all staff involved in CD handling have current CD competency training and that training records are maintained by the Head of Clinical Operations.
• Support the ANP in monitoring medicines management compliance across the service, including pharmacy relationships, dispensing arrangements, and Buvidal clinic logistics.
• Escalate any CD discrepancy, medicines management incident, or supply chain concern to the CDAO immediately.

4. Workforce Leadership

• Provide leadership, supervision, and support to Canol service staff in their non-clinical functions, working in close partnership with the ANP who leads clinical supervision.
• Coordinate induction, onboarding, and mandatory training for new Canol staff in conjunction with the Clinical Lead.
• Maintain oversight of the training matrix for all Canol clinical and recovery staff, ensuring mandatory training compliance is monitored and reported quarterly.
• Support staff wellbeing, particularly following difficult incidents, patient aggression, or exposure to traumatic presentations, ensuring access to debrief and support.
• Lead or contribute to formal HR processes involving Canol staff, including absence management, capability, and conduct, in line with DrPA Secure HR policies.
• Lead on safer recruitment processes for Canol vacancies, ensuring enhanced DBS checks, reference checks, and professional registration verification are completed before employment commences.

5. Safeguarding

• Act as the named safeguarding lead for the Canol service, or ensure a suitably qualified named safeguarding lead is identified and their details are communicated to all staff, commissioners, and the relevant local authority safeguarding boards in Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf Morgannwg.
• Ensure all staff have current safeguarding training at the required level for their role (Level 3 for clinical staff).
• Ensure the Safeguarding Children and Adults LOPs are implemented consistently across all sites and that staff know the referral pathways and contacts for both commissioner areas.
• Participate in local multi-agency safeguarding forums and ensure the Canol service has effective relationships with the safeguarding teams of both Cardiff and Vale UHB and Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB.

6. Commissioner and Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for G4S, OPCC / HMPPS commissioners, managing day-to-day commissioner relationships and attending contract review meetings.
• Prepare and present performance data, activity reports, governance summaries, and quality improvement plans to commissioners at the required frequency.
• Manage the operational relationship with the Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf Morgannwg Area Planning Boards (APB), ensuring the Canol service engages constructively with the APB harm reduction, BBV, and commissioning agendas.
• Ensure DRR/ATR reporting obligations to probation are met and that the interface between the clinical team and the G4S casework function on DRR/ATR reporting is clear and effective.
• Maintain effective relationships with partner agencies including NHS Health Boards (CAVUHB and CTM UHB), Public Health Wales, Local Authorities, community mental health teams, housing services, and the criminal justice system.
• Represent DrPA Secure at multi-agency strategic and operational forums relevant to the Canol service.

7. Patient Experience and Engagement

• Lead patient experience and engagement activity within the Canol service, including the quarterly patient feedback survey, peer mentor programme, and any patient forum or service user involvement activity.
• Ensure patient feedback is reviewed, themes are identified, and actions are taken and communicated back to patients.
• Ensure that the Canol Patient Guide is current, available at all five sites, and accessible in alternative formats on request.
• Ensure information about how to raise a complaint or concern is displayed at all sites and that patients are actively informed of their right to do so without fear of impact on their care.

8. Financial and Contract Management

• Monitor service activity against commissioned volumes and report variances to the Director of Clinical Services.
• Manage service-level budgets within DrPA Secure’s financial governance framework and flag any financial risks to the Director of Clinical Services promptly.
• Support the Director of Clinical Services in contract negotiations, service developments, and bid responses relevant to the Canol service.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience in health, social care, or criminal justice management.

Desirable

• Management or leadership qualification (e.g. ILM, CMI, or equivalent).
• Safeguarding qualification at Level 3 or above (children and adults).
• Professional registration with NMC, HCPC, or equivalent — for candidates with a clinical background.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of managing health, social care, or substance misuse services — including direct operational management responsibility.
• Experience of working within or managing services regulated by a healthcare regulator (CQC, HIW, or equivalent), including preparation for and participation in inspections.
• Experience of working with adults in the criminal justice system — including people on community orders, people leaving custody, or people subject to DRR/ATR or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the regulatory framework for independent healthcare in Wales — including the Independent Health Care (Wales) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards for Independent Health Care Services in Wales (2011).
• Knowledge of opioid substitution therapy (methadone, buprenorphine), controlled drug governance obligations, and the Orange Book (2017) clinical guidance.
• Experience of managing complaints and incidents, including producing written investigation reports and presenting learning to governance bodies.
• Experience of safeguarding in a health or social care context — including making referrals, working with multi-agency safeguarding teams, and understanding the duty of care obligations in Wales under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
• Experience of managing commissioner relationships and preparing performance and governance reports for commissioners or boards.
• Experience of partnership working in a complex multi-agency or multi-contractor environment.
• Experience of managing HR processes including recruitment, induction, absence management, and disciplinary matters.

Desirable

• Experience of working with or for G4S or another criminal justice contractor in a health and justice setting.
• Experience of working in the Cardiff and Vale or Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area, with knowledge of local partner agencies and referral pathways.
• Knowledge of the Welsh Substance Misuse Treatment Framework and the Welsh National Core Standards for Substance Misuse Services (2010).
• Experience of using SystmOne clinical records system.
• Welsh language skills — written and/or spoken.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to lead and inspire a multi-site, multi-disciplinary team, fostering a positive culture of accountability, compassion, and professional rigour.
• Excellent written communication — able to produce governance reports, policy documents, complaint responses, and commissioner briefings to a high standard.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills — able to identify risks, assess options, and make proportionate decisions under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills — able to build effective relationships with commissioners, partner agencies, staff, and patients.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple sites and maintain oversight of governance obligations and deadlines.
• Competence in producing and presenting data, performance reports, and governance summaries to diverse audiences.
• Ability to challenge poor practice and manage performance with sensitivity and professionalism.
• Digital competence — proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfortable using clinical information systems.
• Ability to travel regularly across all five Canol service sites in Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

Values and Personal Qualities

• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for people affected by substance misuse, who may have experienced significant trauma, disadvantage, and marginalisation.
• A non-judgemental and person-centred approach — able to lead a team that treats patients with dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances.
• Resilience and emotional intelligence — able to remain calm, objective, and effective in a demanding and sometimes distressing working environment.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with an understanding of the particular vulnerabilities and protected characteristics relevant to the Canol patient population.
• Honesty, integrity, and openness — including willingness to escalate concerns, acknowledge errors, and lead a culture of learning.
• Commitment to the DrPA Secure CARE values: Compassion, Assurance, Respect, and Empowerment.

Equal Opportunities

DoctorPA Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or marriage and civil partnership status.

We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of the criminal justice system or substance misuse, where this is compatible with the requirements of the role and the DBS check.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory completion of an enhanced DBS check, receipt of two satisfactory professional references, and verification of the right to work in the UK.

General Information

The post holder may be required to perform other relevant and appropriate duties as reasonably needed. This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Benefits

• Pension salary scheme available
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): confidential 24/7 support
• Access to perks at work

Please note, in order to apply, all applicants need to have been living in the United Kingdom (with residency in the UK, such as UK/Irish/EU Passport, or an Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa) for the last 5 years with no more than a 28-day break being outside of the UK and no gaps in employment during this time.

EMAIL CV TO: RECRUITMENT@DRPASECURE.CO.UK

Shortlisted candidates will be asked for RTW, DBS/CTC consent and references.