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.
Main duties of the job
1. Operational Management
2. Clinical Governance
3. Medicines Management and CD Governance
4. Workforce Leadership
5. Safeguarding
6. Commissioner and Partnership Management
7. Patient Experience and Engagement
8. Financial and Contract Management
About us
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 peoples cultural and religious beliefs
Empowerment we centre each resident by co-creating holistic care plans that treat individual needs and support long-term wellbeing
Details
- Date posted: 29 July 2026
- Pay scheme: Other
- Salary: £25,000 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
- Reference number: E0454-26-0297
- Job locations: Harlech Court, Bute Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 2FE, United Kingdom, Gladstone Road, Barry, CF631TD, United Kingdom, Probation, Broadway, CF37 1BA, United Kingdom, 7 St. Andrews Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BE, United Kingdom, 41/43 Market Street, Bridgend, CF31 1LJ, United Kingdom, 2nd Floor Oldway House, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF4 8UX, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
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 Use 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.
PLEASE FIND FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED OR ON OUR WEBSITE :
WWW.DRPASECURE.CO.UK
Person specification
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.
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 and Abilities
Essential
- 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
Essential
- 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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Service Manager - Canol Substance Use Service with DoctorPA Secure LTD in Cardiff, Wales. It is listed as a Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £25000.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 14 Aug 2026.
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