Job summary
We're seeking an experienced and inspiring Allied Health Professional to join NELFT as Associate Director of AHPs and Clinical Lead for Physical Health (Band 8C).
This senior leadership role provides professional and clinical leadership across adult and community physical health services. You'll work closely with the Director of AHPs, Integrated Care Directors and senior leaders to strengthen professional governance, shape strategy, and ensure AHPs are central to delivering safe, effective, person-centred care.
You will:
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Provide visible, credible leadership to AHPs across NELFT.
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Champion evidence-based, innovative practice that improves outcomes.
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Lead the development of professional structures, supervision, and career pathways.
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Offer expert advice on complex professional and clinical issues.
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Represent NELFT at local, regional and national AHP networks.
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Contribute to workforce planning, research, and quality improvement.
You'll be an HCPC-registered AHP with significant senior leadership experience in physical health, ideally across community or integrated care settings. You'll bring strategic insight, operational understanding, and the confidence to lead across professional and organisational boundaries.
In return, you'll join a progressive organisation that values professional leadership, inclusion and innovation - and play a key role in shaping how AHPs drive high-quality, sustainable care across North East London, Essex and Kent.
Main duties of the job
As Associate Director of AHPs and Clinical Lead for Physical Health, you'll provide senior professional and clinical leadership across NELFT services and be a key member of the Havering and Redbridge Directorate Leadership Teams. This dual remit means influencing both local delivery and the wider AHP strategic direction across the Trust.
You will:
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Provide visible leadership to AHPs, embedding professional standards and development.
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Lead professional governance and AHP strategy across physical health pathways.
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Contribute to service performance, workforce planning and quality improvement.
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Offer expert advice to ensure safe, person-centred, effective care.
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Drive innovation using evidence, data and quality improvement methods.
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Support AHP recruitment, retention, and career development.
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Represent NELFT at local, regional and national forums.
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Model inclusive, compassionate leadership and a culture of professional pride.
We're seeking an HCPC-registered AHP with senior leadership experience in community health, strategic insight, influence, and a passion for developing people, improving care and leading collaboratively.
About us
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have coproduced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
We are kind.
We are respectful.
We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 per annum (pro rata for part time).
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Associate Director of AHPs and Clinical Lead for Physical Health, youll provide senior professional and clinical leadership across NELFTs adult and community physical health services, while also being an active member of the Havering and Redbridge Directorate Leadership Teams.
You will:
-
Lead AHP professional governance, quality, and workforce development across physical health services.
-
Provide expert clinical and professional advice to ensure safe, effective, and evidence-based care.
-
Shape and deliver strategic priorities alongside Integrated Care Directors and the Director of AHPs.
-
Drive innovation, research, and service transformation that improves outcomes and supports integrated care.
-
Champion AHP leadership, supervision, and education across all professions and pathways.
-
Represent NELFT and the AHP workforce at local, regional, and national forums.
-
Deputise for the Director of AHPs as required.
Youll work collaboratively with senior leaders, operational teams, and system partners to make sure AHPs play a central role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
Key relationships include:
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Director of Allied Health Professions and AHP Leadership Team
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Integrated Care Directors and Directorate Leadership Teams (Havering and Redbridge)
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Senior operational and clinical leaders
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NHS and local authority partners, ICB and system forums
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Higher education, research, and professional networks
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Associate Director of AHPs and Clinical Lead for Physical Health, youll provide senior professional and clinical leadership across NELFTs adult and community physical health services, while also being an active member of the Havering and Redbridge Directorate Leadership Teams.
You will:
-
Lead AHP professional governance, quality, and workforce development across physical health services.
-
Provide expert clinical and professional advice to ensure safe, effective, and evidence-based care.
-
Shape and deliver strategic priorities alongside Integrated Care Directors and the Director of AHPs.
-
Drive innovation, research, and service transformation that improves outcomes and supports integrated care.
-
Champion AHP leadership, supervision, and education across all professions and pathways.
-
Represent NELFT and the AHP workforce at local, regional, and national forums.
-
Deputise for the Director of AHPs as required.
Youll work collaboratively with senior leaders, operational teams, and system partners to make sure AHPs play a central role in delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
Key relationships include:
-
Director of Allied Health Professions and AHP Leadership Team
-
Integrated Care Directors and Directorate Leadership Teams (Havering and Redbridge)
-
Senior operational and clinical leaders
-
NHS and local authority partners, ICB and system forums
-
Higher education, research, and professional networks
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified and HCPC registered Allied Health professional
- Educated to masters level or equivalent experience at a senior level of AHP leadership.
Experience
Essential
- Significant and relevant experience of working clinically with people with complex, chronic, health needs
- Experience of investigation and disciplinary procedures.
- Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information.
- Experience of leading professional development within a large/ complex organisation.
- Proven record of establishing constructive multi-professional and interagency partnerships.
- NHS leadership and management experience, ideally in a senior trust wide focused AHP role
- Ability to maintain a high level of performance when dealing with challenging circumstances or faced with opposition from others
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of NHS priorities
- Advanced knowledge of a range of clinical and therapeutic interventions and their practical application in a range of health settings.
- Be able to evidence clinical expertise relevant to specialty being applied for (CYP, MH or PH).
- An awareness of local and national issues and priorities within AHPs and the NHS
- Political awareness
- Knowledge of relevant policy, guidance research and legislation in the NHS
Skills
Essential
- Good awareness of IT and IT skills, including use of social media
- Ability to analyse complex issues, to think and plan to achieve both tactical and strategic objectives and to exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including presentation skills, report writing and an ability to present complex information to a mixed audience.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified and HCPC registered Allied Health professional
- Educated to masters level or equivalent experience at a senior level of AHP leadership.
Experience
Essential
- Significant and relevant experience of working clinically with people with complex, chronic, health needs
- Experience of investigation and disciplinary procedures.
- Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information.
- Experience of leading professional development within a large/ complex organisation.
- Proven record of establishing constructive multi-professional and interagency partnerships.
- NHS leadership and management experience, ideally in a senior trust wide focused AHP role
- Ability to maintain a high level of performance when dealing with challenging circumstances or faced with opposition from others
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of NHS priorities
- Advanced knowledge of a range of clinical and therapeutic interventions and their practical application in a range of health settings.
- Be able to evidence clinical expertise relevant to specialty being applied for (CYP, MH or PH).
- An awareness of local and national issues and priorities within AHPs and the NHS
- Political awareness
- Knowledge of relevant policy, guidance research and legislation in the NHS
Skills
Essential
- Good awareness of IT and IT skills, including use of social media
- Ability to analyse complex issues, to think and plan to achieve both tactical and strategic objectives and to exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including presentation skills, report writing and an ability to present complex information to a mixed audience.
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).
