Director of Allied Health Professionals

We provide health and wellbeing services for around 1.8 million people in Lancashire and South Cumbria. The Trust specialises in secure, inpatient and community mental health and learning disability and autism services. We also provide community physical health nursing and a range of therapy services including physiotherapy, podiatry and speech and language therapy. Wellbeing services provided by the Trust also include healthy lifestyle services. To deliver these services the Trust employs approximately 8,000 colleagues across more than 150 sites, working with a wide range of partners out of 25 registered Care Quality Care (CQC) locations.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in an innovative Trust and be at the forefront of mental health and community innovation. The post holder will be accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer and will be responsible for leading on the development and implementation of Trust-wide professional and quality work programmes, ensuring that the Allied Health Professional contribution is recognised, rewarded and optimised.

Main duties of the job

This is a senior leadership role in which the post holder will be responsible for the strategic direction and professional leadership of all Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) across the Trust, ensuring the delivery of consistently high standard of care/ treatment, patient experience and satisfaction.The post holder is a senior member of the Trusts leadership team and is the most senior AHP within the organisation, reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer.The Director of AHPs has responsibility for supporting the Network Directors of Nursing & Quality and AHP Leads across the Trust in the delivery of the Trust objectives.

The Director of AHPs deputises on a regular basis for the full range of AHP related responsibilities and provides cover as requested by the Chief Nurse & Quality Officer.

The Director of AHPs provides strategic and professional leadership for all AHPs across the Trust including but not limited to chiropodists/podiatrists; dietitians; occupational therapists; physiotherapists and speech and language therapists.

The Director of AHPs takes the lead on all Trust AHP issues working collaboratively with Network Directors of Nursing and AHP Leads on AHP related quality and patient safety issues.

About us

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Details

Date posted

12 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

351-CS2961-SRP

Job locations

Sceptre Point

Preston

PR5 6AW

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Allied Health Professional (AHP) - current and relevant registration on HCPC register.
• Masters level qualification in related subject / working towards or portfolio of evidence working at that level.
• Evidence of CPD in line with professional regulatory guidance.

Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of professional and NHS policy and issues.
• Extensive knowledge of all aspects of patient safety and quality.
• Demonstrable evidence of robust financial and other resource management, together with business planning acumen.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial clinical and managerial experience, relevant to this post, at minimum of network level with a track record of achievement of objectives
• Recent experience of managing complex professional matters/issues.
• Experience of implementing AHP quality assurance metrics.
• Experience of embedding robust clinical and corporate systems at local level, specifically relevant to AHP evidence of leading and implementing successful change.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Allied Health Professional (AHP) - current and relevant registration on HCPC register.
• Masters level qualification in related subject / working towards or portfolio of evidence working at that level.
• Evidence of CPD in line with professional regulatory guidance.

Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of professional and NHS policy and issues.
• Extensive knowledge of all aspects of patient safety and quality.
• Demonstrable evidence of robust financial and other resource management, together with business planning acumen.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial clinical and managerial experience, relevant to this post, at minimum of network level with a track record of achievement of objectives
• Recent experience of managing complex professional matters/issues.
• Experience of implementing AHP quality assurance metrics.
• Experience of embedding robust clinical and corporate systems at local level, specifically relevant to AHP evidence of leading and implementing successful change.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sceptre Point

Preston

PR5 6AW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sceptre Point

Preston

PR5 6AW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Allied Health Professional (AHP) - current and relevant registration on HCPC register.
• Masters level qualification in related subject / working towards or portfolio of evidence working at that level.
• Evidence of CPD in line with professional regulatory guidance.

Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of professional and NHS policy and issues.
• Extensive knowledge of all aspects of patient safety and quality.
• Demonstrable evidence of robust financial and other resource management, together with business planning acumen.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial clinical and managerial experience, relevant to this post, at minimum of network level with a track record of achievement of objectives
• Recent experience of managing complex professional matters/issues.
• Experience of implementing AHP quality assurance metrics.
• Experience of embedding robust clinical and corporate systems at local level, specifically relevant to AHP evidence of leading and implementing successful change.