AHP Education & Workforce Lead The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for an AHP Education & Workforce Lead to join Hillingdon Hospital. You will be working with our AHP services including Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Operating Department Practitioners, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Speech and Language Therapy. This is a diverse and challenging role suitable for a confident, skilled, and dedicated AHP committed to making a difference. This role involves leading the delivery of our Education and Workforce strategy and objectives.

The post holder will review workforce requirements, assess learning and development needs for registered & non-registered AHP staff across the Trust, and support departmental managers in initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, preceptorship, apprenticeships, and advanced roles.

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital in the London Borough of Hillingdon, offering a wide range of services including accident and emergency, inpatient care, day surgery, outpatient clinics, and maternity services. Services at Mount Vernon Hospital include routine day surgery, a minor injuries unit, and outpatient clinics. We prioritize the safety and well-being of our patients and staff, addressing urgent improvements in infection prevention and control. We work in partnership with GPs, charities, community services, academic partners, local authorities, neighboring hospitals, and the wider North West London Integrated Care System to ensure high-quality, safe, and compassionate care, supporting the development of the new Hillingdon Hospital. With over 3,500 staff caring for nearly half a million people, our vision is to be an outstanding healthcare provider through leading health and academic partnerships, transforming services to deliver the best care where needed.

Leadership and Management

• Support AHP leads with efficiency reviews and assurance meetings, analyzing data to identify trends and focus areas.
• Assist in preparing data for safer staffing reports to assure safe and effective staffing levels.
• Coordinate AHP establishment reviews using evidence-based tools and robust acuity data, presenting recommendations aligned with NHS standards.
• Operate as an effective change manager, engaging stakeholders continuously.
• Develop and oversee implementation plans for workforce transformation projects, ensuring sustained improvements.
• Collaborate with senior management to foster a positive safety and quality culture regarding staffing.
• Provide leadership supporting collaborative working within the Trust and AHP services.
• Influence and lead on nursing workforce matters and participate actively in the AHP Faculty to shape strategic decisions.
• Support the preparation for and attendance at Board and stakeholder meetings regarding workforce declarations.
• Stay informed about future AHP workforce strategies, representing the Trust at relevant meetings and conferences.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with internal and external stakeholders, including senior managers.
• Manage the AHP workforce and education team, including practice educators, preceptorship, and apprentice leads.

Education

• Lead the delivery of the Trust’s AHP education strategy and workforce plan, including professional development and education structure development.
• Manage relationships between AHP teams across the Trust.
• Develop an education strategy addressing inequalities, learning needs assessments, and current provision mapping, providing recommendations to stakeholders.
• Advise on commissioning education/training to improve patient outcomes and experience, linking with wider programs and embedding education into primary and community healthcare.
• Identify funding opportunities and monitor project progress, reporting to key governance groups.
• Interpret complex data sources to inform education projects, developing KPIs and ensuring quality outcomes.

Workforce

• Support effective AHP workforce planning through accurate data analysis and strategic input.
• Collaborate with finance and planning colleagues to gather and interpret workforce data.
• Develop relationships with AHP managers to understand service needs and promote workforce supply and demand strategies regionally.
• Map current workforce provision and support regional and national objectives to address workforce shortages and build sustainability.
• Advise on new workforce models and systems supporting recruitment and retention goals.
• Review and implement strategies to improve workforce areas such as preceptorship, student placements, return-to-practice, international recruitment, and learning opportunities.
• Ensure updates, reports, and progress tracking are provided for AHP managers and leads, supporting continuous improvement.

Resource Management

• Oversee relevant budgets, including managing the AHP Clinical Education and Training Tariff budget alongside senior colleagues.
• Ensure compliance with financial policies and identify efficiencies within a quality framework.
• Work with partners to explore innovative working models that enhance patient care, experience, and cost-efficiency.