Head of Physical Health Nursing, AHP and Quality

NHS; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare authority is seeking a Head of Physical Health Nursing to lead the quality agenda across Specialist Services. This role demands a registered nurse with extensive leadership experience and an ability to apply quality improvement methodologies. The successful candidate will ensure compliance and foster a culture of continuous improvement, making significant impacts in complex care settings. If you are ready for a challenging leadership role that shapes patient care, we encourage your application.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years experience at band 8+.
• Experience in a range of healthcare pathways.
• Experience in managing multiple services.
• Experience working in prison/secure environments.
• Experience managing allied health professionals.

Responsibilities

• Lead on embedding physical healthcare pathways.
• Oversee clinical governance and accountability for quality.
• Work closely with senior leaders to deliver strategic priorities.

Skills

Registered General/Adult Nurse

Quality improvement projects

Policy development

Supervision of senior staff

Teaching/presentation skills

Education

Higher education expertise in physical health pathways

Tools

SystmOne

Job description

Head of Physical Health Nursing, AHP and Quality

The closing date is 18 January 2026

Are you an inspirational clinical leader with a passion for quality and improving patient outcomes? We're on the lookout for a dynamic and experienced professional to lead the quality agenda across our Specialist and Secured Services Care Delivery Pathway (SSCDP). This is a unique opportunity to shape and embed trauma-informed quality health care, drive excellence, and deliver real impact across complex and high-profile services.

In this role, you'll be a visible and credible presence, working across our secure and specialist environments to ensure outstanding care is consistently delivered.

You'll need to be a registered nurse with a strong understanding of a wide range of healthcare services and the requirements of CQC regulation. You'll have a knack for making sense of complex data, turning insight into action, and bringing people with you. You'll be approachable and calm under pressure, with the ability to inspire confidence and build a culture of continuous improvement.

Although not essential, experience of working within prison/secure environments and managing complex stakeholder relationships would be advantageous.

In return, you'll join a values-driven organisation committed to co-production, innovation, and creating services that people are proud to use – and staff are proud to lead. If you're ready to take the next step in your leadership journey and leave your mark on a vital area of care, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be responsible at an operational level with accountability for the delivery of the Quality and Governance of our physical healthcare delivery across the Secured and Specialist Delivery Pathway (SSCDP).
• Provide a range of quality services and interventions.
• Support and undertake research, clinical audit and evaluate the services as directed.
• Demonstrate and provide robust clinical leadership across the pathway and with all internal and external stakeholders, with a sound understanding of evidence-based nursing practice to provide a proactive approach to ensure quality and outcome driven practice on a day-to-day basis.
• Provide expert advice and support within scope of practice, reviewing and auditing the quality of care delivery both service wide and individual cases as required.

About us

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in the East of England and the Midlands. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.

Job responsibilities

You will lead on embedding our physical healthcare pathways, oversee clinical governance, and hold accountability for quality, safety and compliance across the board. You will also work closely with senior leaders, clinicians, commissioners and partner agencies to deliver strategic priorities and continuously improve service delivery.

We're looking for someone with outstanding communication skills, a track record of leadership, and the confidence to advocate for both patients and staff while holding a strategic view.

Person Specification

Skills

• Registered General/Adult Nurse
• Skilled in the application of quality improvement projects
• Skilled in policy development
• Skilled in supervision of senior staff
• Skilled in teaching/presentation to a range of audiences

Knowledge

• Additional higher education expertise in physical health pathways
• In depth knowledge of Regulatory/Quality frameworks
• Knowledge and application of a range of quality improvement methodologies
• In depth knowledge of SystmOne
• Knowledge of prison/secure related reporting metrics

Experience

• Minimum 2 years experience at band 8+
• Experience in a range of healthcare pathways
• Experience in working across/managing multiple services
• Experience of working in prison/secure environment
• Experience of managing allied health professionals

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.

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust