Detailed job description and main responsibilities

      Champion therapy and AHP priorities, supporting performance monitoring and reporting arrangements to demonstrate progress within the Division.

·       Provide professional leadership to senior staff groups, setting objectives for the Head of Therapies and other senior colleagues as required.

·       Develop / refresh the 3–5-year AHP strategy that identifies key service development and transformation priorities across all clinical specialties, ensuring integration with other CHFT divisions and external partners.

·       Advise the Trust Executive and Divisional Board on strategic developments affecting AHP and therapy services.

·       Ensure the role, development, and contribution of therapists/AHPs are aligned with the delivery of divisional and Trust-wide objectives.

·       Lead and contribute to the development of business cases and contract negotiations that support and sustain services in line with the Trust’s strategic direction.

·       Lead workforce planning and modelling for therapy services to ensure an optimal workforce that delivers high-quality care and value for money.

·       Promote efficient workforce development, particularly in addressing skill shortages and optimising skill mix.

·       Coordinate the Trust’s involvement in national and regional AHP initiatives and ensure CHFT are consistent with their strategy and benchmarking.

·       Represent the Trust as the senior AHP professional in internal and external multi-professional and managerial forums.

·       Ensure that AHPs have a single point of visibility and act as the accountable professional lead across the Trust, serving as a role model, mentor, and coach.

·       Provide assurance to the Director of Operations that therapy service performance is regularly monitored through agreed KPIs, with remedial actions taken where required.

·       Support the Head of Therapies to ensure that all staff have a designated professional lead and access to appropriate training, professional reviews, appraisals, and wellbeing support.

·       Ensure that all local and national targets related to therapy services are delivered within a safe and high-quality framework.

·       Lead therapy contributions to major Trust-wide initiatives.

·       Develop, ratify, implement, and evaluate therapy-related strategies, policies, and guidance to ensure service delivery is aligned with national best practice.

·       Participate in on-call commitments as required by the Trust, providing emergency cover outside of normal working hours when necessary.

·       Support the division in preparing for assessments and inspections from external bodies such as the CQC, OFSTED, and the NHS Litigation Authority.

·       Oversee the clinical governance and quality agenda for therapies, working closely with the Head of Therapies to support its development.

·       Lead the AHP education and training strategy to ensure the workforce is prepared for future service needs.

·       Drive the development of funding bids to support the strategic advancement of services and therapy roles.

·       Lead and enhance the research profile of AHPs, supporting research activity across therapy specialisms through presentations, publications, study days, and national conferences.