Head of Allied Health Professions: Older Adult, Rehab & LD Care Group

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our Senior Management Leadership team for the newly formed Older Adults , Rehabilitation and Learning Disabilities Care group in NLFT.  Working with the managing Director and our Associate Directors of nursing and psychology you will be responsible for both strategic leadership and operational management of our Allied health Professionals in these clinical areas, contributing to the modernisation and transformation of services.

You will be part of our dynamic and supportive AHP and Head Occupational Therapy leadership group, who strive to provide the best, evidence clinical care to our diverse population across  five boroughs. Evidence of significant post registration development,  professional and strategic leadership and management experience is essential.

This senior leadership role provides strategic, professional and clinical leadership for Occupational Therapy and wider Allied Health Professional (AHP) services across the Care Group.

The postholder is responsible for ensuring high‑quality, evidence‑based and outcome‑focused care through strong clinical governance, performance management and continuous service improvement.

Working collaboratively with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams, the role drives innovation, workforce development and sustainable service models, while promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

The postholder provides professional strategic leadership for AHPs, provides professional accountability for staff and resources, ensures service users and Experts by Experience are actively involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of services.

To provide strategic, professional, and clinical leadership across the Care Group to Occupational Therapists and other AHP professions including Art Therapists, Music Therapists, Drama Therapists, Dieticians, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists.

To work as an integral member of the senior leadership team, contributing to quality, safety, and governance across the care group. Having a key role in the development of the governance agenda by ensuring AHP contribution to the provision of quality clinical care and performance standards.

To undertake recruitment, operational management of occupational therapy and other AHP staff across the Care Group; hold and manage a budget

• To assume responsibility for ensuring that all Therapies staff working in the Care Group provide effective assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care that meets professional and organisational quality standards. To set and monitor standards and policies ensuring a high standard of care is delivered in accordance with agreed protocols and evidence-based practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical, professional and strategic leadership for Occupational Therapy and Allied Health Professional (AHP) services across the Care Group, ensuring high‑quality, evidence‑based and outcome‑focused care.
• Lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of innovative AHP services, embedding NICE guidance, national policy, quality improvement and clinical governance standards.
• Ensure robust clinical oversight and governance, contributing to PSIRF processes, MDT working, reviews and Trust quality and safety forums, and providing expert AHP clinical advice.
• Set, monitor and assure performance against agreed standards and KPIs, developing improvement and contingency plans in collaboration with the senior leadership team.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring services and employment practices are equitable, culturally responsive and meet the needs of people with protected characteristics.
• Act as a professional role model and ambassador for AHPs, communicating complex and sensitive information effectively and representing AHPs at Trust, regional and external forums.
• Hold overall accountability for the professional leadership, management and development of AHP staff, including recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal, CPD, professional registration and mandatory training.
• Lead workforce planning for AHP services, ensuring sustainable staffing models, appropriate skill mix, career pathways, succession planning and effective use of e‑job planning.
• Support education and training through supporting student placements and development of staff capability, ensuring compliance with professional and Trust requirements.
• Contribute to strategic service development, articulating the value and impact of AHPs, designing new models of care and supporting integrated pathways across the Trust and with external partners.
• Ensure service users and Experts by Experience are actively involved in service design, delivery, evaluation and improvement, embedding feedback into practice.
• Provide professional accountability for the planning and delivery of AHP services, responding effectively to operational pressures, workforce challenges and competing priorities.
• Manage delegated AHP budgets and resources, supporting cost improvement programmes, productivity initiatives and effective use of equipment and physical resources while maintaining quality and safety.
• Lead and contribute to research, audit, evaluation and quality improvement activity, identifying priorities for AHP research and disseminating learning across services.