Associate Director of AHPs: Sponsorship Available

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Associate Director of AHPs

The Associate Director for Allied Health Professions is a pivotal role in the leadership, identity and development of allied health professionals (AHPs) within Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They will provide strategic leadership to all AHP disciplines which include acute services, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics, speech and language, podiatry, imaging, optometry, operating department practitioners and paramedics.

The post holder will work strategically to raise the profile of AHPs and will lead the development and implementation of a Trust wide strategy plan for allied health professional services and associated activities. Working proactively and collaboratively with Divisional Triumvirates, medical and nursing leaders they will provide professional leadership to identify and execute opportunities for allied health professional transformation, driving clinical innovation and new ways of working to meet current and future patient needs. Identifying workforce opportunities to liberate the potential and demonstrate the value of Allied Health Professionals is a key component of this role.

Main duties of the job

The Associate Director Allied Health Professionals will collaborate with professional leads across non-AHP disciplines and will be actively engaged with the BSW Hospital Group, playing an important role in shaping the strategic landscape for Allied Health Professionals at system level and in building a sustainable Allied Health Professional community.

You will provide strong credible AHP leadership and working with the Heads of Service deliver a leadership structure that delivers strategically, professionally, operationally and clinically with clear lines of authority, delegation and accountability

You will provide senior, professional leadership to AHPs across GWH demonstrating advanced analytical and judgement skills to interpret highly complex facts and information to enable the development of an AHP vision and strategic plan.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered AHP with masters level or equivalent
  • Postgraduate management qualification or equivalent high-quality training/experience
  • Evidence of further personal development

Desirable

  • Experience in health care including relevant clinical qualifications
  • NHS Improving Quality tools and techniques
  • Formal project management qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant operational healthcare experience
  • Extensive senior management experience
  • Track record of achieving financial and service targets
  • Leading change through empowering people and holding them to account
  • Good understanding of NHS policy
  • Good understanding of the framework for clinical governance
  • Understanding of clinical pathways and treatments relevant to the Service
  • Experience of managing and utilising budgets effectively
  • Evidence of creative and inspirational approach to problem solving

Desirable

  • Significant operational experience in acute/integrated healthcare.
  • Previous involvement in NHS service development and reconfiguration
  • Experience in participation in NHS on call service as a senior manager.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Closing Date: 20 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.