Job summary
Providing professional leadership, overseeing leadership development, maintaining professional standards, and ensuring the effective clinical service delivery for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) across the Trust. The post holder will be accountable for embedding a strong governance framework to support the consistent delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective AHP services that align with professional, national, and local requirements.
Leading on the strategic development and transformation of the AHP workforce across Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, aligned with the Organisational Strategy. The Director will be responsible for shaping and delivering the AHP workforce programme, with a focus on strengthening leadership, ensuring long-term sustainability, and enabling innovative service redesign that aligns with Trust strategic priorities.
Leading on workforce transformation, professional education, research, and the development of clinical leadership across the AHP professions. Leading opportunities for innovation and learning, ensuring that the AHP workforce is equipped to meet current and future challenges while fostering a culture of professional growth and development.
Main duties of the job
The Director of Allied Health Professions (AHP) holds strategic and operational authority for shaping, leading, and delivering the vision, development, and sustainability of the AHP workforce across the Trust. This includes responsibility for the development and implementation of the Trust's AHP Plan, supporting workforce recruitment, retention, and leadership growth.
With direct responsibility for the appointment, professional leadership, and management of AHP Professional Leads, the post holder will ensure consistent high standards of governance, supervision, and clinical practice. They will oversee performance appraisal and provide leadership development for senior AHPs across the Trust, embedding strong leadership capability within all services and care groups.
The post holder will lead the delivery of high-quality pre-registration placement provision and post-registration development opportunities across all professional services, ensuring an excellent learning experience and continuous professional development for AHPs. They will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a comprehensive training and CPD prospectus aligned with workforce priorities and service needs.
About us
The Director will work collaboratively with Divisions to identify and pursue new business opportunities that generate clinical, financial, and strategic benefits for the Trust and those who use its services. This includes the identification and pursuit of income-generating initiatives and bids for new services and programmes that enhance AHP delivery and innovation.
The Director will lead the development of long-term workforce strategies based on the interpretation of national health policy, particularly in mental health, and aligned with the Trust's objectives and evolving service user needs. They will be responsible for leading transformational change and workforce redesign to ensure the delivery of high-quality care within available financial resources.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role includes a key focus on advancing research, continuous quality improvement, and innovation. The post holder will lead programmes that translate evidence into practice, contribute to the Trusts research plan, and secure funding linked to AHP-led research and quality initiatives. They will actively support and promote a culture of continuous improvement through education, practice development, and academic partnerships.
The Director will represent the Trust and the AHP workforce in key system-level forums, including the AHP Council and relevant ICS clinical networks. They will lead the design and implementation of strategic education and development frameworks and ensure services are held accountable for delivering against agreed objectives.
The post holder will also ensure the appropriateness and robustness of clinical information and digital systems supporting AHP interventions across the Trust. They will play a lead role in ensuring service delivery aligns with Trust policies on equality, diversity, inclusion, and recovery-oriented practice.
The post holder will be responsible for the Food and Nutrition Trust wide plan working closely with the estates and facilities directorate to ensure adherence to CQC standards on food and nutrition and PLACE standards.
The post holder will have shared responsibility for the Falls Prevention Plan, working closely with the Deputy Chief Nurse and their physical health team to ensure adherence to best practice multi-professional clinical standards in falls prevention.
Please see the attached Job Description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role includes a key focus on advancing research, continuous quality improvement, and innovation. The post holder will lead programmes that translate evidence into practice, contribute to the Trusts research plan, and secure funding linked to AHP-led research and quality initiatives. They will actively support and promote a culture of continuous improvement through education, practice development, and academic partnerships.
The Director will represent the Trust and the AHP workforce in key system-level forums, including the AHP Council and relevant ICS clinical networks. They will lead the design and implementation of strategic education and development frameworks and ensure services are held accountable for delivering against agreed objectives.
The post holder will also ensure the appropriateness and robustness of clinical information and digital systems supporting AHP interventions across the Trust. They will play a lead role in ensuring service delivery aligns with Trust policies on equality, diversity, inclusion, and recovery-oriented practice.
The post holder will be responsible for the Food and Nutrition Trust wide plan working closely with the estates and facilities directorate to ensure adherence to CQC standards on food and nutrition and PLACE standards.
The post holder will have shared responsibility for the Falls Prevention Plan, working closely with the Deputy Chief Nurse and their physical health team to ensure adherence to best practice multi-professional clinical standards in falls prevention.
Please see the attached Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree / Relevant AHP Professional Qualification
- Evidence of post-qualification study at Doctoral/Masters level or equivalent plus additional specialist clinical training
- Demonstrable evidence of robust and extended continuous professional development
- Registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Management qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience
- Leadership qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience
- Relevant experience of system leadership working effectively across organisational boundaries
- Proven track record of delivering complex, transformational change
- Good understanding of efficiency savings, financial management and financial recovery plans
- High level knowledge of national policy frameworks and AHP initiatives and the mental health and education economy
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Minimum of (3) years' experience of and demonstrable achievement in a Professional Lead/Consultant role
- Extensive experience of providing successful clinical and managerial leadership within multi service, multidisciplinary mental health provider context
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision at postgraduate/professional registrant and post - registration level
- Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance
- Experience of successfully representing the profession and/or services in local, regional and national policy forums, across services or at equivalent level
- Knowledge and understanding of key priorities and policy direction for Allied Health Professions
- Knowledge and understanding of local demographics, population trends, workforce supply and demand issues impacting on AHP service delivery. Skills used to analyse highly complex facts or situations, interpretation, comparison of a range of options
- Understanding of local and national governance and scrutiny requirements
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Proven written and general communication skills within a multi -disciplinary setting
- Experience of successful financial management, including management of costs and business development in large, complex organisations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree / Relevant AHP Professional Qualification
- Evidence of post-qualification study at Doctoral/Masters level or equivalent plus additional specialist clinical training
- Demonstrable evidence of robust and extended continuous professional development
- Registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Management qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience
- Leadership qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience
- Relevant experience of system leadership working effectively across organisational boundaries
- Proven track record of delivering complex, transformational change
- Good understanding of efficiency savings, financial management and financial recovery plans
- High level knowledge of national policy frameworks and AHP initiatives and the mental health and education economy
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Minimum of (3) years' experience of and demonstrable achievement in a Professional Lead/Consultant role
- Extensive experience of providing successful clinical and managerial leadership within multi service, multidisciplinary mental health provider context
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision at postgraduate/professional registrant and post - registration level
- Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance
- Experience of successfully representing the profession and/or services in local, regional and national policy forums, across services or at equivalent level
- Knowledge and understanding of key priorities and policy direction for Allied Health Professions
- Knowledge and understanding of local demographics, population trends, workforce supply and demand issues impacting on AHP service delivery. Skills used to analyse highly complex facts or situations, interpretation, comparison of a range of options
- Understanding of local and national governance and scrutiny requirements
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Proven written and general communication skills within a multi -disciplinary setting
- Experience of successful financial management, including management of costs and business development in large, complex organisations.
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.
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.
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).
