Job summary Are you a dynamic and experienced Allied Health Professional (AHP) looking for a leadership role where you can make a real difference in the lives of our community? Due to the retirement of the current post holder we are seeking a passionate Chief AHP to join our team and help shape the future of AHP services within our Trust. As the Chief AHP, you will report to the Chief Nursing Officer and take on a pivotal role in shaping the future of AHP services within our Trust. You will be responsible for professional leadership, development, and clinical service delivery across all Allied Health Professionals. Your strategic vision and innovative approach will help us achieve our goals and improve health outcomes for the population we serve. You will be responsible for the strategic leadership and day to day management of spiritual care services supporting the needs of service users, carers and staff. You will manage and develop the Trust's University Partnership, ensuring that it continues to grow and provide valuable opportunities for all partners. You will oversee high-quality placements for non-medical students/trainees, ensuring that placements are innovative and provide excellent learning experiences. Please contact the current post holder to discuss the rolesally.judges1nhs.net Main duties of the job The Chief AHP has delegated responsibility from the Chief Nursing Officer for the professional leadership, leadership development, professional standards, registration oversight and clinical service delivery across all Allied Health Professionals within the Trust. As a pivotal member of the Quality and Safety Directorate you will contribute and lead safety initiatives within the organisation. The post holder is responsible for the strategic leadership and day to day management of spiritual care services supporting the needs of service users, carers and staff. The post holder will have responsibility for managing the Trust's University Partnership and leading its further development. You will be responsible for ensuring that placements are of high quality and that innovation is at the heart of clinical placement expansion and experience To be considered for this role you will have: Extensive AHP experience preferably within mental health and/or learning disabilities services Highly developed AHP clinical skills in a relevant area Excellent authentic values based leadership skills Demonstrable experience of leading improvement activities A robust understanding of the role of AHPs in delivering safe service Experience of working in partnership to bring about effective change A passion for developing our future workforce Experience of bringing innovation to workforce development About us Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. Date posted 21 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8d Salary £90,290 to £103,799 a year per annum, pro rata (inclusive of HCAS) Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 367-CORP-9093-A Job locations The Colonnades Beaconsfield Road Hatfield AL10 8YE Job description Job responsibilities Job Summary The Chief AHP will report to the Chief Nursing Officer and has delegated responsibility from the Chief Nursing Officer for the professional leadership, leadership development, professional standards and clinical service delivery across all Allied Health Professionals within the Trust. The Chief AHP will deputise for the Chief Nursing Officer as required and will be a pivotal member of the Quality and Safety Directorate. The Chief AHP will work collaboratively within services and across service boundaries to assist the Chief Nursing Officer to develop a whole system approach that is dedicated to the health improvement of the population that the Trust serves. As an experienced AHP, the post holder will work strategically to raise the profile of AHPs to support the development and delivery of the AHP strategic plan aligned to the Trusts priorities. They will play a key role in identifying the AHP workforces transformative potential, supporting innovation and new ways of working to meet current and future needs of the local population. A key priority will be liberating the potential and demonstrating the value of AHPs. The Chief AHP will also work with system partners across the ICS (Integrated Care System). This will include developing and supporting AHP developments to meet population health requirements and maximising the impact of AHPs. They will maintain an external focus to ensure that HPFT contribute to the national development of AHP services, whilst ensuring the internal strategy is achieved and that it continues to align with broader drivers. They will work closely with professional leaders and operational services within mental health, Learning Disabilities, community health and specialist services to ensure Trust decisions are inclusive of AHPs views. The Chief AHP is the senior professional leader for the relationship with system, regional and national AHP leaders. The post holder will have responsibility for managing the Trusts University Partnership and leading its further development. The post holder is responsible for the strategic leadership and day to day management of placements for non medical students/trainees. They are responsible for ensuring that placements are of high quality and that innovation is at the heart of clinical placement expansion and experience The post holder is responsible for the strategic leadership and day to day management of spiritual care services supporting the needs of service users, carers and staff. The Chief AHP is also responsible for the CQC Standard for Nutrition. The Chief AHP holds management and budgetary responsibility for the Practice Education and Spiritual Care Teams. All staff should comply with the Trusts Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity. Key Relationships The post holder will be required to establish effective relationship with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders for example; Executive team Divisional Directors and clinical leaders Deputy Director Nursing, Quality and Safety/DIPC, Deputy Director Nursing, Quality and Safety/DIPC, Allied Health Professionals leads Staff representatives and trade unions. Key partner organisations across the ICS, service users and carers NHS England Integrated Care System Duties and Responsibilities The post holder will work closely with the Chief Nurse to deliver a coordinated approach to the clinical service delivery across all Allied Health Professionals within the Trust. The Chief AHP will have the following overarching key responsibilities: Responsible for direct patient care by ensuring the appropriateness and safety of the delivery of services by the Trusts AHP professional groupings. This will include application of the numerous professional bodies standards, adherence to Health and Care Professions Council standards, ensuring the delivery of evidenced based care by AHPs, measuring great outcomes for service users, the provision of clinical care, research standards advising on interventions and ensuring adherence to professional competencies and appropriate advancement of clinical practice Reduce clinical variation and access to AHP services by people who use HPFT services, therefore improving patient safety, experience and outcomes Implement strategies to maximise efficiency and productivity of AHPs Improve retention and recruitment and workforce development of AHP staff Reduce bank and agency usage in AHP posts across all services Develop an AHP specific element to the Trust workforce plan Develop AHP workforce metrics to support transformation and improved performance Complete an annual AHP specific Training Needs Analysis Develop Quality Improvement skills in the AHP workforce and coordination of AHP led QI projects in the areas of quality and workforce. Represent HPFT AHPs on ICS level development forums and transformational system planning. Have responsibility for managing the Trusts University Partnership and leading its further development. Ensure students/trainees experience safe, high quality placements Develop innovative ways to further increase placement opportunities Oversee compliance with CQC nutrition regulation Clinical Responsibility The post holder will be an expert in their AHP field and will utilise these skills as appropriate, this may include clinical contact or direct visible leadership Responsible for assuring the clinical models used by all AHPs across the Trust Contribute to the development of the HPFT research vision and delivery plan Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility Advise the Trust Executive and the Board on matters of strategic development that have an impact on AHP services Provide, senior professional leadership to AHPs across HPFT Educate the Board to have a shared understanding of the range of professions referred to as AHPs and the role they can play in delivering the Trust strategy Develop a structured approach to talent management and succession planning Working with the Learning and Development department to ensure that AHPs across HPFT have equitable opportunities for career support, education and development. Provide effective staff management and leadership to the Practice Education and Spiritual Care Teams. Ensure supervision and appraisals are undertaken on a regular basis with the Practice Education and Spiritual Care Teams to support their continued professional development. Financial Responsibility Responsible for committing substantial financial expenditures from a budget held elsewhere, the external NHSE budget, to AHPs across the whole organisation Delegated authority for pay and non-pay budgets for the Practice Education and Spiritual Care services. Works closely with finance to ensure accountability and responsibility for standing financial instructions and control of the budget. Service Development and Improvement Support staff in delivering / developing and leading research and audit programmes Support staff to utilise evidence from research to inform AHP clinical practice Have oversight of research activity amongst AHPs To provide expert advice to the Trust Executive and Board on quality and safety matters relating to AHPs Develop improvement capacity within AHP services and professionals to facilitate continuous improvement in clinical outcomes and the experience of the service users who use HPFT services Work with leadership teams to transform operational management and business intelligence through the use of data Supervise, teach and coach quality improvement leaders Develop co-production strategies to ensure AHPs utilise co-production in all quality and safety developments Ensure successful change is sustained and scaled up Build a critical mass of improvement capability at every level of AHP staff Lead collaborations with other healthcare, high reliability and commercial organisations and safety networks Work with the Heads of Service to design and implement a leadership structure that delivers strategically, professionally, operationally and clinically Be a catalyst for change and transformation, encouraging innovation and new ways of working Ensure a visible presence at operational meetings and increase the profile and awareness of AHPS and the positive contribution they can make Enable and deliver the local AHP strategy and delivery plan Strengthen multi professional behaviours to deliver integrated care Communications Establish and maintain effective communication processes across the Trust and amongst all AHP professional groups Ensure the entire AHP voice is heard and contributes effectively to the Trust decision making process Attend directorate / Trust / ICS wide meetings as required; contribute and participate with impact Seek and encourage service user and family feedback on AHP roles, both proposed and existing, ensuring good practice is spread. The above is an ongoing aspect of the role and may involve distressing or emotional circumstances. Communicate highly complex multi-professional information in challenging environments or settings in terms of promoting advanced roles for the contribution of AHPs in all service areas across the Trust Effectively engage, communicate and provide information of a highly technical, complex and sensitive nature in an understandable format to all stakeholders as appropriate, including professional and lay networks, executive committees, Trust Board meetings and sub board meetings. Communicate in verbal, written or presentation formats on a variety of subjects including professional / clinical issues and operational issues and producing high-quality written reports including for Trust Board, on behalf of the Executive Directors. Job description Job responsibilities Job Summary The Chief AHP will report to the Chief Nursing Officer and has delegated responsibility from the Chief Nursing Officer for the professional leadership, leadership development, professional standards and clinical service delivery across all Allied Health Professionals within the Trust. The Chief AHP will deputise for the Chief Nursing Officer as required and will be a pivotal member of the Quality and Safety Directorate. The Chief AHP will work collaboratively within services and across service boundaries to assist the Chief Nursing Officer to develop a whole system approach that is dedicated to the health improvement of the population that the Trust serves. As an experienced AHP, the post holder will work strategically to raise the profile of AHPs to support the development and delivery of the AHP strategic plan aligned to the Trusts priorities. They will play a key role in identifying the AHP workforces transformative potential, supporting innovation and new ways of working to meet current and future needs of the local population. A key priority will be liberating the potential and demonstrating the value of AHPs. The Chief AHP will also work with system partners across the ICS (Integrated Care System). This will include developing and supporting AHP developments to meet population health requirements and maximising the impact of AHPs. They will maintain an external focus to ensure that HPFT contribute to the national development of AHP services, whilst ensuring the internal strategy is achieved and that it continues to align with broader drivers. They will work closely with professional leaders and operational services within mental health, Learning Disabilities, community health and specialist services to ensure Trust decisions are inclusive of AHPs views. The Chief AHP is the senior professional leader for the relationship with system, regional and national AHP leaders. The post holder will have responsibility for managing the Trusts University Partnership and leading its further development. The post holder is responsible for the strategic leadership and day to day management of placements for non medical students/trainees. They are responsible for ensuring that placements are of high quality and that innovation is at the heart of clinical placement expansion and experience The post holder is responsible for the strategic leadership and day to day management of spiritual care services supporting the needs of service users, carers and staff. The Chief AHP is also responsible for the CQC Standard for Nutrition. The Chief AHP holds management and budgetary responsibility for the Practice Education and Spiritual Care Teams. All staff should comply with the Trusts Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity. Key Relationships The post holder will be required to establish effective relationship with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders for example; Executive team Divisional Directors and clinical leaders Deputy Director Nursing, Quality and Safety/DIPC, Deputy Director Nursing, Quality and Safety/DIPC, Allied Health Professionals leads Staff representatives and trade unions. Key partner organisations across the ICS, service users and carers NHS England Integrated Care System Duties and Responsibilities The post holder will work closely with the Chief Nurse to deliver a coordinated approach to the clinical service delivery across all Allied Health Professionals within the Trust. The Chief AHP will have the following overarching key responsibilities: Responsible for direct patient care by ensuring the appropriateness and safety of the delivery of services by the Trusts AHP professional groupings. This will include application of the numerous professional bodies standards, adherence to Health and Care Professions Council standards, ensuring the delivery of evidenced based care by AHPs, measuring great outcomes for service users, the provision of clinical care, research standards advising on interventions and ensuring adherence to professional competencies and appropriate advancement of clinical practice Reduce clinical variation and access to AHP services by people who use HPFT services, therefore improving patient safety, experience and outcomes Implement strategies to maximise efficiency and productivity of AHPs Improve retention and recruitment and workforce development of AHP staff Reduce bank and agency usage in AHP posts across all services Develop an AHP specific element to the Trust workforce plan Develop AHP workforce metrics to support transformation and improved performance Complete an annual AHP specific Training Needs Analysis Develop Quality Improvement skills in the AHP workforce and coordination of AHP led QI projects in the areas of quality and workforce. Represent HPFT AHPs on ICS level development forums and transformational system planning. Have responsibility for managing the Trusts University Partnership and leading its further development. Ensure students/trainees experience safe, high quality placements Develop innovative ways to further increase placement opportunities Oversee compliance with CQC nutrition regulation Clinical Responsibility The post holder will be an expert in their AHP field and will utilise these skills as appropriate, this may include clinical contact or direct visible leadership Responsible for assuring the clinical models used by all AHPs across the Trust Contribute to the development of the HPFT research vision and delivery plan Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility Advise the Trust Executive and the Board on matters of strategic development that have an impact on AHP services Provide, senior professional leadership to AHPs across HPFT Educate the Board to have a shared understanding of the range of professions referred to as AHPs and the role they can play in delivering the Trust strategy Develop a structured approach to talent management and succession planning Working with the Learning and Development department to ensure that AHPs across HPFT have equitable opportunities for career support, education and development. Provide effective staff management and leadership to the Practice Education and Spiritual Care Teams. Ensure supervision and appraisals are undertaken on a regular basis with the Practice Education and Spiritual Care Teams to support their continued professional development. Financial Responsibility Responsible for committing substantial financial expenditures from a budget held elsewhere, the external NHSE budget, to AHPs across the whole organisation Delegated authority for pay and non-pay budgets for the Practice Education and Spiritual Care services. Works closely with finance to ensure accountability and responsibility for standing financial instructions and control of the budget. Service Development and Improvement Support staff in delivering / developing and leading research and audit programmes Support staff to utilise evidence from research to inform AHP clinical practice Have oversight of research activity amongst AHPs To provide expert advice to the Trust Executive and Board on quality and safety matters relating to AHPs Develop improvement capacity within AHP services and professionals to facilitate continuous improvement in clinical outcomes and the experience of the service users who use HPFT services Work with leadership teams to transform operational management and business intelligence through the use of data Supervise, teach and coach quality improvement leaders Develop co-production strategies to ensure AHPs utilise co-production in all quality and safety developments Ensure successful change is sustained and scaled up Build a critical mass of improvement capability at every level of AHP staff Lead collaborations with other healthcare, high reliability and commercial organisations and safety networks Work with the Heads of Service to design and implement a leadership structure that delivers strategically, professionally, operationally and clinically Be a catalyst for change and transformation, encouraging innovation and new ways of working Ensure a visible presence at operational meetings and increase the profile and awareness of AHPS and the positive contribution they can make Enable and deliver the local AHP strategy and delivery plan Strengthen multi professional behaviours to deliver integrated care Communications Establish and maintain effective communication processes across the Trust and amongst all AHP professional groups Ensure the entire AHP voice is heard and contributes effectively to the Trust decision making process Attend directorate / Trust / ICS wide meetings as required; contribute and participate with impact Seek and encourage service user and family feedback on AHP roles, both proposed and existing, ensuring good practice is spread. The above is an ongoing aspect of the role and may involve distressing or emotional circumstances. Communicate highly complex multi-professional information in challenging environments or settings in terms of promoting advanced roles for the contribution of AHPs in all service areas across the Trust Effectively engage, communicate and provide information of a highly technical, complex and sensitive nature in an understandable format to all stakeholders as appropriate, including professional and lay networks, executive committees, Trust Board meetings and sub board meetings. Communicate in verbal, written or presentation formats on a variety of subjects including professional / clinical issues and operational issues and producing high-quality written reports including for Trust Board, on behalf of the Executive Directors. Person Specification QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING Essential Doctorate or equivalent level of experience within AHP field Degree / relevant AHP professional qualification (e.g. Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy, Dramatherapy etc) Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Demonstrable evidence of robust and extended continuous professional development Management qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience Leadership qualification or equivalent experience PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Essential Very highly developed knowledge of AHP professional groups and national drivers supporting AHP services Extensive experience at a senior clinical or strategic level within mental health or learning disabilities services SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY Essential Highly developed AHP clinical skills in relevant clinical area Experience of working with partnership agencies to bring about effective change Excellent authentic values based leadership skills Person Specification QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING Essential Doctorate or equivalent level of experience within AHP field Degree / relevant AHP professional qualification (e.g. Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy, Dramatherapy etc) Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Demonstrable evidence of robust and extended continuous professional development Management qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience Leadership qualification or equivalent experience PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Essential Very highly developed knowledge of AHP professional groups and national drivers supporting AHP services Extensive experience at a senior clinical or strategic level within mental health or learning disabilities services SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY Essential Highly developed AHP clinical skills in relevant clinical area Experience of working with partnership agencies to bring about effective change Excellent authentic values based leadership skills 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). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Address The Colonnades Beaconsfield Road Hatfield AL10 8YE Employer's website https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)