About this role
Job summary
Are you passionate about reducing health inequalities, improving lives and helping people in prison build healthier futures? This is an exciting opportunity to join Spectrum in a new and influential role, leading the development of a whole-prison public health and recovery-oriented approach across three male Category C prisons in the NorthEast and HMP Low Newton, a women's prison.
You can make a real difference by embedding health promotion, social prescribing, digital inclusion and peer support into prison healthcare. You will help create healthier, more hopeful environments where people are supported to make informed choices, improve wellbeing, access meaningful activity and prepare for successful resettlement.
Working at the heart of Spectrum's public health ambitions, you will contribute to trauma-informed, strength-based and recovery-focused models of care. The post aligns with national HMPPS strategies, the Chief Medical Officer's report, Spectrum's healthcare peer support model at HMP Low Newton, the North of England Recovery in Prisons Project and local place-based public health priorities.
A pivotal role in widening access to public health interventions across the Spectrum North East prison cluster. Building on existing social prescribing work, you will co-design referral pathways that connect people to non-clinical support such as creative arts, physical activity, nature-based opportunities including Green Outside of Prisons, peer support and community services.
Main duties of the job What you'll be doing
Develop, implement and review multi-year public health and health promotion plans across the North East prison cluster.
Work collaboratively with prison, healthcare, public health, voluntary sector and community partners to improve access to support and continuity of care.
Use population health data, evidence and lived experience insight to identify priority groups and design targeted interventions.
Support trauma-informed, health-promoting environments that encourage purposeful activity, peer learning and recovery.
Plan and coordinate public health interventions across multiple prison sites, adapting plans in response to operational pressures, emerging needs and new evidence.
About us
BE THE DIFFERENCE IN HEALTHCARE
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 Time for you day (additional day off) Welcome payment for some posts 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.
Job description Job responsibilities About you
Were looking for someone who is motivated by the opportunity to improve health equity for people in contact with the justice system. You will be confident working across complex systems, able to build trusted relationships, and committed to inclusive, person-centred and recovery-focused practice.
Significant experience in prisons, criminal justice, inclusion health or public health practice.
A strong understanding of prison systems, organisational culture, security requirements and healthcare delivery.
Experience of delivering or leading public health work, ideally in complex or underserved communities.
Highly developed specialist public health knowledge, underpinned by theory, evidence and practical experience.
A public health qualification such as an MPH, UKPHR practitioner registration, SCPHN qualification or equivalent experience would be highly desirable.
Why join Spectrum? At Spectrum, you will be part of an organisation committed to improving health, reducing inequalities and delivering compassionate, high-quality care for people who often experience significant barriers to support. This is a role where your ideas, leadership and public health expertise can directly shape services, influence culture and create lasting impact.
If you are ready to lead innovative public health work in a unique and meaningful setting, we would love to hear from you.
Interviews are likely to be held on 14 September 2026.
Person Specification
application form Essential
Highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience Knowledge of specialist public health field acquired through relevant degree plus additional training or experience to master's degree or equivalent Significant experience in prisons/criminal jus-tice/inclusion health or public health practice Significant experience of public health work and/or specialist public health knowledge Excellent communication, training, and relationship-building skills (including with low-literacy popula-tions). Experience of working with excluded or disadvantaged populations Ability to lead change, influence stake-holders (governors, officers, clinicians), and overcome institutional barriers. In depth understanding of prison systems, organisa-tional culture, security and healthcare
Desirable
Public health qualification (MPH, UKPHR practitioner registration or SCPHN qualification, or equivalent) Direct experience in prison healthcare or equivalent institutional settings Demonstrable experience of delivering training to large groups Experience of de-veloping non-clinical support pathways in institutional or inclusion health settings Track record of leading or taking a key role in delivering peer-led programmes Experience of delivering training to large numbers of staff, especially in prisons or similar institutional settings
Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Spectrum Community Health CIC
Address Navigation Walk
Wakefield
WF1 5RH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://spectrum-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)