Group Associate Director-Physical Health

Job summary

Are you a visionary senior nursing leader passionate about transforming physical healthcare for people with complex mental health, learning disability, autism and neurodiversity needs? This is a unique opportunity to shape physical healthcare strategy at a national level, driving improvements that will positively impact thousands of service users across Elysium Healthcare. As Group Associate Director-Physical Health, you will provide organisation-wide strategic, professional and governance leadership for physical healthcare across all Elysium service lines. Working at a corporate level, you will set the vision, standards, policies and assurance frameworks that underpin the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality physical healthcare for people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism, neurodisability, eating disorders and other complex needs. In this influential leadership role, you will lead the development of evidence-based pathways, competency frameworks and improvement programmes designed to enhance physical health outcomes across the organisation. Your work will focus on reducing medication-related physical health risks, increasing access to national screening programmes, improving long-term condition management, strengthening early identification and intervention, and reducing avoidable emergency admissions and hospital transfers. Working in close partnership with the Chief Nurse, Group Medical Director

Main duties of the job

This role involves providing strategic and governance leadership for physical healthcare across Elysium Healthcare. The individual will develop pathways, frameworks, and programs to enhance healthcare outcomes, focusing on reducing physical health risks, improving long-term condition management, and reducing unnecessary admissions. Working collaboratively with senior leadership, they will ensure physical healthcare is embedded in all care models. The role includes setting and maintaining standards, providing expert advice, and driving workforce capability through training and competency development. The successful candidate should have extensive experience in physical healthcare leadership, expert knowledge in mental health settings, and strong strategic and communication skills.

About us

Elysium Healthcare is a part of Ramsay Health Care and employs over 8,000 staff. It operates over 80 services across England and Wales, offering mental health, neurological, learning disability, and autism care services. Elysium Healthcare is committed to inclusive recruitment and safeguarding the welfare of service users. It is a Disability Confident employer that follows safe recruitment practices. Employees are offered a competitive benefits package that supports their wellbeing and career development, including pension contributions, life assurance, and a range of discounts and offers through the Blue Light Card. The organisation operates with a global network extending across 10 countries and employing over 86,000 people worldwide.

Details

• Date posted: 16 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: Depending on experience Salary expectations will be discussed at interview stage.
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 1527024799
• Job locations: Elysium Healthcare, Remote (Home based), WD6 1JN, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Are you a visionary senior nursing leader passionate about transforming physical healthcare for people with complex mental health, learning disability, autism and neurodiversity needs? This is a unique opportunity to shape physical healthcare strategy at a national level, driving improvements that will positively impact thousands of service users across Elysium Healthcare.

As Group Associate Director-Physical Health, you will provide organisation-wide strategic, professional and governance leadership for physical healthcare across all Elysium service lines. Working at a corporate level, you will set the vision, standards, policies and assurance frameworks that underpin the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality physical healthcare for people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, autism, neurodisability, eating disorders and other complex needs.

In this influential leadership role, you will lead the development of evidence-based pathways, competency frameworks and improvement programmes designed to enhance physical health outcomes across the organisation. Your work will focus on reducing medication-related physical health risks, increasing access to national screening programmes, improving long-term condition management, strengthening early identification and intervention, and reducing avoidable emergency admissions and hospital transfers.

Working in close partnership with the Chief Nurse, Group Medical Director, Group AHP Lead, Group Social Work Lead and Executive colleagues, you will ensure that physical healthcare is embedded within all care models and remains a core component of exceptional service delivery. You will provide professional leadership and expert guidance across the organisation, helping services continuously improve quality, safety and clinical outcomes.

Key accountabilities:

• Lead the organisationwide Physical Healthcare Strategy, ensuring alignment with national standards and Elysium priorities.
• Set and maintain corporate standards, pathways, policies and competency frameworks for physical healthcare across all services.
• Provide expert professional advice to the Chief Nurse, Executive Team and governance groups on physical health risks, performance and priorities.
• Maintain clinical credibility and provide expert guidance for highrisk, complex or deteriorating physical health cases, offering strategic oversight and professional escalation.
• Oversee corporate quality assurance, including physical health monitoring, longterm condition management, screenandintervene pathways, IPC and resuscitation standards.
• Lead mortality and morbidity (M&M) review oversight, ensuring robust analysis, organisational learning and targeted improvements.
• Drive physical health workforce capability, leading training frameworks, competency development and specialist skills programmes.
• Lead organisationwide improvement and innovation, including pathway redesign, digital solutions and evidencebased practice.
• Build and strengthen external partnerships with acute, primary, community and specialist services to support highquality and coordinated physical healthcare.
• Provide highquality corporate assurance, producing thematic analyses, risk reports and strategic recommendations for the Executive Team and Board, while championing a culture of safety, learning and professional excellence.

To be success full in this role, you will have:

Knowledge and Skills

• Registered Nurse (NMC) or AHP (HCPC) with extensive senior physical healthcare experience
• Master’s degree in healthcare, leadership, advanced practice or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Specialist training in physical health, longterm condition management, IPC, and/or resuscitation.
• Leadership qualification (ILM 7, NHS Leadership Academy) (D).
• Evidence of advanced CPD in physical healthcare.
• Expert knowledge of physical health needs in mental health, LD, autism, neuro and ED settings.
• Strong understanding of NICE guidance, national sc
• reening programmes, IPC, resuscitation and longterm condition management.
• Highly developed strategic, analytical and leadership skills.
• Ability to produce and interpret complex data, clinical audits and corporate assurance outputs.
• Skilled in policy development, professional governance and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills across all levels.

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in physical healthcare within specialist or complex healthcare environments.
• Experience leading organisationwide improvement programmes, governance frameworks or clinical transformation.
• Demonstrated success in policy writing, pathway development and large-scale implementation.
• Experience providing expert clinical advice at senior/board level.
• Experience of partnership working across multiple sectors (acute, primary care, community, ICS).

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel across multiple regions and services.

What You’ll Get

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• Competitive annual salary
• £5,000 car allowance
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window.
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely-Vate; Your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub!
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support.
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future

About us:

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 80 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure