Job overview

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:

• Provide visible, credible leadership to AHPs across NELFT.

• Champion evidence-based, innovative practice that improves outcomes.

• Lead the development of professional structures, supervision, and career pathways.

• Offer expert advice on complex professional and clinical issues.

• Represent NELFT at local, regional and national AHP networks.

• 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:

• Provide visible leadership to AHPs, embedding professional standards and development.

• Lead professional governance and AHP strategy across physical health pathways.

• Contribute to service performance, workforce planning and quality improvement.

• Offer expert advice to ensure safe, person-centred, effective care.

• Drive innovation using evidence, data and quality improvement methods.

• Support AHP recruitment, retention, and career development.

• Represent NELFT at local, regional and national forums.

• 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.

Working for our organisation

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).