Allied Health Professionals

Allied Health Professionals (AHP)

AHPs play a key role within Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Find out more about the different AHP career pathways, including the different roles, qualifications, apprenticeships and more below.

There are 14 allied health professions, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, podiatry and dietetics to name a few. These professions all have one thing in common: they play a vital part in treating, diagnosing, rehabilitating, promoting health and preventing ill health of patients and the population we serve.

As an allied health professional, you are able to help patients in ways that few other healthcare professionals can. You’ll work alongside multidisciplinary teams including doctors, psychologists, nurses and social workers, in a range of settings, as you help patients overcome obstacles, both mentally and physically.

Being an allied health professional (support worker or HCPC registered) isn’t just emotionally rewarding with ongoing training, you’ll be able to quickly progress, moving to more senior positions with a higher pay grade.

If you are due to graduate as a HCPC registered allied health professional or new to the NHS and looking to work within an allied health professions role you can access this free ‘Step to Work’ e-learning programme. This can help you build your confidence and knowledge prior to your application and or interview.

To find out more about the different AHP career pathways, including the different roles, qualifications, apprenticeships and more, please use the sections below.

Art Therapy is a different form of communication, play as well as art. It is the creative process to explore emotions, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem. Art Therapy is provided in groups, or individually, dependant on the client's needs.

MPFT Art Therapists are embedded within Child & Adolescent Mental Health Teams including the Eating Disorders Service. Art Psychotherapy in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) can provide a means of communication and can reduce feelings of isolation by coming to clinic. Art Therapists across the Trust provide support to clients of all ages with a wide range of difficulties, disabilities, and diagnoses, in a safe and supportive space. We also have an Art Therapist within one of our Adult inpatient Mental Health services.

Art Therapists within MPFT are part of a wider Allied Health Profession workforce who are supported through Clinical, Operational and Professional Leadership, and led by a Director of AHPs.

Depending on your role and level of responsibility you may:

Offer individual Art Psychotherapy assessments and treatment sessions to Children and Young people
Offer group Art Psychotherapy sessions
hospital and regional duty work for CAMHS
urgent and 7-day follow up appointments (for CYP discharged from hospital)
work within the Multi-Disciplinary Team and external agencies to meet the needs of the client
be involved in service development
explore and create other opportunities for supporting children and young people

An MA in Art Therapy and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, usually but not exclusively following on from a BA in Art.

The Skills For Health website has an example of a career pathway to qualification as an Art Therapist.

Experience working or volunteering in health or social care, particularly mental health or related areas.

Art Psychotherapists are Post Graduates only, as the qualification required is a Masters degree.

Yes, work experience or shadowing is not just for external students. Staff can enquire with other teams to experience work in a different area from your own. Further information is available on our work experience page.

You may also be interested in the Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship in Healthcare degree which aims to develop Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare with an Allied Health Professional focus, the MSc Art Psychotherapy Apprenticeship at Teesside University, or the Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship.

Art Therapists and Art Psychotherapists are typically employed at NHS Pay Bands 6 or 7.

All health professionals registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and practising in the UK are required to go through the HCPC registration renewal every two years. This process now includes the requirement to supply a profile on request to demonstrate fulfilment of the standards for CPD set by the HCPC and tested through a sample audit.

HCPC has defined CPD as: “a range of learning activities through which health professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain the capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice.”

All HCPC registrants were required to engage in CPD activities from 1 July 2006. Some Art Therapists will be audited by HCPC each 2 years of registration. Registrants need to record and evidence their CPD activities and, if selected for audit, complete their CPD profile, which will be audited by CPD assessors.

Art Therapists have to provide evidence of CPD relating to their previous two years of practice. The evidence will show how the CPD that has been undertaken by the individual has contributed to the quality of their practice and should demonstrate its benefit to the service user. The standards apply to clinical practice, research, management and education.

HPC Standards of CPD

A registrant must:

maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities
demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice
seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery
seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user
present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request

CPD Tools

The Interactive Learning Opportunities Database (ILOD) provides a range of CPD tools that will help to produce and to organise evidence of learning. iLOD also has a career planning section based on the post qualifying framework which is an Art Therapist specific career planning resource.

A reflective tool called “Recording CPD: transforming practice through reflection” is based around the HCPC's requirements for CPD. It can be used to structure ideas, and gather evidence of learning for either portfolios or an Art Therapists profile, if their CPD is audited by the HCPC.

The British Association of Art Therapists website is a source of information and resources for anyone interesting in, or practising, Art Therapy in the UK.
The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.

The Dietetic service employs registered Dietitians, Nutritionists, Dietetic Assistant Practitioners, registered exercise professionals, Dietetic Assistants, and administrators.

Dietitians are qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level. Our Dietetic team translate the science of nutrition into practical information about food. They work with people to promote nutritional wellbeing, prevent food-related problems, and treat disease. The team are committed to enhancing public health and providing nutritional advice for the population we serve regarding all aspects of their nutritional needs in the treatment and management of their clinical conditions.

The team also provides support the training of dietetic students and offers training and education to promote evidence-based nutrition within our Trust and community.

Our services are offered in community health centres, community venues, patients' homes, and care homes. Nutrition support is provided within our community Hospitals. The dietetic team works within multi-disciplinary teams across the Trust and our wider health, social care, and voluntary sector partners, to provide personalised high-quality care.

Depending on your role and level of responsibility you may work in the following areas:

Nutrition Support / Faltering Growth and Home Enteral Feeding
Diabetes
Gastroenterology
Food allergies and intolerances
Obesity Management
Cardiovascular disease
Pain Management
Child Mental Health Services

To qualify as a dietitian you are required to undertake an approved programme at a university. All dietetic programmes are approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and successful completion of the course provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC. It is a legal requirement that anyone who wishes to practise using the title 'Dietitian' is on the HCPC register.

You can also work within the team as an Administrator, Assistant, Assistant Practitioner, or Physical Activity Practitioner, which all require various levels of administrative or health related diploma, degree, NVQ, or Care Certificate.

The Skills For Health website has an example of a career pathway to qualification as a Dietician.

There are lots of exciting development opportunities in dietetics, whether developing into or across different specialisms, undertaking apprenticeships, or development into leadership roles (administrative, clinical, operational).

Our staff have progressed to higher banded roles within their team, moved on to professional and operational development and leadership roles both within dietetics and in other MPFT teams, moved into Primary Care Network based roles, and worked across different teams. Please see the PDF below about how to train as a Dietitian via our apprenticeship programme.

You may also be interested in the Assistant Practitioner in Healthcare Higher degree which aims to develop Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare with an Allied Health Professional focus or the Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship.

Band	Job title
Band 2	Administrator, Admin Apprentice
Band 3	Administrator, Dietician Assistant
Band 4	Office Co-ordinator, Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, Physical Activity Practitioner
Band 5	Dietician (various specialisms)
Band 6	Specialist Dietician (various specialisms)
Band 7	Operational Lead, Team Lead, Clinical Lead, Advanced Dietician (various specialisms)
Band 8	Advanced Clinical Practitioner (This title must only be used where the staff member has completed the ACP programme or portfolio)

Within Dietetics there is an ongoing requirement for CPD across the dietetic profession.

Dietetic Assistant

Care Certificate
BDA Dietetic Support Worker Award
Clinical supervision

Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Care Certificate
BDA Dietetic Assistant Practitioner Award
Clinical Supervision

Dietitian

Preceptorship 12month post graduate support:
CPD in post graduate areas:
- Coeliac Disease Update: An Overview of Management
- Management of Chronic Kidney Disease stages 1-3
- Management of Cow’s Milk Allergy in Infants and Children
- Consolidating Dietetic Practice in Diabetes
- Building a Working Knowledge of Parenteral Nutrition
- Introduction to The Principles of Behaviour Change
- Advancing Dietetic Practice in Diabetes
- Building on the Skills and Knowledge of Enteral Nutrition
- Introduction to the Clinical Management of Childhood Obesity
- Introduction to Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Eating Disorders
- Clinical trainer and Supervision
- The BDA support a Professional Development Tool Kit which can support CPD.

Specialised Dietitian and Advanced Dietitian

Further CPD and qualifications in chosen area of specialism for example:

Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group Clinical Update Course
Masters level Allergy courses ran in Imperial College London and Southampton University
Modular Course for Paediatric Dietitians at MSc level
FODMAP Training
Leadership course are also needed in Leadership Roles and are supported by MPFT Training team.

The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.
Watch our Dietetics Virtual Careers Event to find out more.

Dramatherapy is a unique form of psychotherapy: a creative and imaginative way of working therapeutically with people.

It is a method of working and playing that uses action methods to facilitate creativity, imagination, learning, insight, and growth. The creative process of Dramatherapy aims to explore emotions, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem. Dramatherapy is provided in groups, or individually, dependant on the client's needs.

Dramatherapy is embedded within the Integrated Mental Health and Substance Misuse Team for Inclusion working within the prison sector. Dramatherapists provide support to offenders with a wide range of difficulties, disabilities, and diagnoses, in a safe and supportive space. Dramatherapists may also work across other settings within MPFT such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Adult services, Learning Disability services, Eating Disorders and more.

Dramatherapists within MPFT are employed at NHS Bands 6 and 7 and are part of a wider Allied Health Profession workforce who are supported through Clinical, Operational, and Professional leadership, and led by a Director of AHPs.

Depending on your role and level of responsibility you may:

offer individual Dramatherapy assessments and treatment sessions to individuals
group Dramatherapy sessions
generic duty roles for your team
work within the Multi-Disciplinary Team and external agencies to meet the needs of the client
be involved in service development and explore and create other opportunities for supporting your clients

MA Dramatherapy and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, usually but not exclusively following on from an BA in Drama.
Experience working or volunteering in health or social care, particularly mental health or related areas.
Dramatherapists are Post Graduates only as the qualification required is a Masters degree.

The Skills for Health website outlines apprenticeship standards for aspiring Dramatherapists.

Yes, work experience or shadowing is not just for external students. Staff can enquire with other teams to experience work in a different area from your own.

The British Association of Dramatherapists website has information about pre-qualification training courses.

The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated organisation that provides services to people of all ages and across physical and mental health, learning disabilities and adult social care.

MPFT employs Occupational Therapists and non-registered staff who work alongside them, in hospitals, clinics, and the community, across a range of service areas including:

physical health
mental health
learning disabilities
forensic
social care

Robust networks across the organisation enables shared learning and the opportunity to work in a more collaborative and integrated way to better meet the holistic needs of those they serve.

To find out more about our Occupational Therapy service at MPFT you can watch our Occupational Therapy Virtual Information and Recruitment Event on YouTube.

Occupational Therapy services enable individuals to be as independent as possible in their everyday lives, whilst recovering from illness or adapting to disability. They also contribute to the enhancement of quality of life for those patients with a palliative or terminal illness.

Occupational Therapy provides practical support to empower people all ages to facilitate recovery and overcome barriers preventing them from doing the activities (or occupations) that matter to them.

The term 'Occupation' refers to practical and purposeful activities that allow people to live independently and have a sense of identity. This could be essential day-to-day tasks such as self-care, work or leisure.

An Occupational Therapist will consider all of a person's needs: physical, psychological, social and environmental. This support can make a real difference giving people a renewed sense of purpose, opening up new horizons, and changing the way they feel about the future.

Occupational Therapists carry out assessments and plan agreed person-centred programmes of intervention to:

increase or maintain the functional ability of the individual
enhance quality of life
facilitate safe and effective discharges from hospitals
reduce dependence on other agencies
avoid admission to hospital or care environments
promote a balanced lifestyle.

Intervention may include:

rehabilitation
splinting
adaptation of a client's tasks or environment
provision of equipment.

Watch our Occupational Therapy virtual information and recruitment event below.

To become an occupational therapist, you'll need a degree in Occupational Therapy, which usually takes three years full-time or up to six years part-time. In postgraduate studies, it's possible to gain a Masters degree in one to two years.

Once you've successfully completed your degree, you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you can start practising. The other option is to apply for an apprenticeship degree.

The NHS Health Careers website has information about studying to become an Occupational Therapist.

The Skills For Health website has an example of a career pathway to qualification as an Occupational Therapist.

Entry requirements for an undergraduate course are typically:

Two or three A levels
Five GCSEs (grades 9-4 / A-C), including science
Or equivalent qualifications:
A BTEC, HND or HNC, including biological science
A relevant NVQ
A science-based access course
Equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications.

When applying for a occupational therapy degree, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work.

Therapy Support Worker through to Assistant Practitioner:

The Assistant Practitioner in Healthcare Higher degree aims to develop Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare with an Allied Health Professional focus. Please see the factsheet at the bottom of this section.

Qualifications and Credit Framework QCF / NVQ / apprenticeship level 2 in related subject:

Care Certificate is completed in all 15 areas within 12weeks (pro rata) of commencement of contract
NVQ 3 or equivalent in related subject
NVQ 4 or Foundation Degree in related subject
BSc or MSc Apprenticeships

Existing MPFT staff may be eligible to apply for Occupational Therapy training via our apprenticeship scheme. Please see the factsheets at the bottom of this section for further information.

Yes, we very much welcome requests for work experience or shadowing; not just from external students but from staff who would like to experience working with other teams.

Within MPFT we offer a range of Continuous Professional Development and career opportunities to progress in Occupational Therapy through our career framework.

MPFT offer a range of apprenticeships for Occupational Therapy. See our apprenticeship and career development pages for more information. You can also listen to Alex talking about being an Occupational Therapy apprentice. Examples of such apprenticeships can be found on the Skills for Health website.

We currently work with Coventry University who offer a Level 7 apprenticeship pre-registration course which starts in January and lasts 2 years and a Level 6 apprenticeship course which starts in September and lasts 4 years. Wolverhampton offer a Level 6 course that starts in May and lasts 3 years and we are working with other providers who may be able to offer something in the near future. Do get in touch with us on AHPCPD@mpft.nhs.uk if you would like support to choose the right course for you.

In addition to this, MPFT supports our Occupational Therapists to develop into Advanced Clinical Practitioners and develop their careers in research and Consultant Occupational Therapists.

Band	Job title
Band 2	Occupational Therapy Support Therapy Worker
Band 3	Occupational Therapy Assistant
Band 4	Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Band 5	Occupational Therapist
Band 6	Specialist Occupational Therapist
Band 7	Advanced Occupational Therapist
Band 8	Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Consultant Occupational Therapist (This title must only be used where the staff member has completed the ACP programme/portfolio.

All HCPC registrants were required to engage in CPD activities from 1 July 2006. Some Occupational Therapists will be audited by HCPC each 2 years of registration. Registrants need to record and evidence their CPD activities and, if selected for audit, complete their CPD profile, which will be audited by CPD assessors. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has worked closely with HCPC to provide CPD exemplars for practice, education, and management, which are available on the Royal College's website.

Occupational Therapists have to provide evidence of CPD relating to their previous two years of practice. The evidence will show how the CPD that has been undertaken by the individual has contributed to the quality of their practice and should demonstrate its benefit to the service user. The standards apply to clinical practice, research, management and education.

HPC Standards of CPD

A registrant must:

maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities
demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice
seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery
seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user
present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request

CPD Tools

The Interactive Learning Opportunities Database (ILOD) provides a range of CPD tools that will help to produce and to organise evidence of learning. ILOD also has a career planning section based on the post qualifying framework which is an OT specific career planning resource.

A reflective tool called “Recording CPD: transforming practice through reflection” is based around the HCPC's requirements for CPD. It can be used to structure ideas, gather evidence of learning for portfolio's or for an OT profile if their CPD is audited by the HCPC.

Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6	Level 7
Healthcare Support Worker	Senior Healthcare Support Worker Team Leader / Supervisor		Assistant Practitioner Operations / Department Manager (Leadership)	Occupational Therapy Degree	Advanced Clinical Practitioner Senior Leaders (Master Degree)

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

Healthcare Support Worker

Senior Healthcare Support Worker

Team Leader / Supervisor

Assistant Practitioner

Operations / Department Manager (Leadership)

Occupational Therapy Degree

Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Senior Leaders (Master Degree)

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists represents the profession at national and international levels.
The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.
Watch our MPFT Occupational Therapy Virtual Careers Event to find out more.

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) is an integrated organisation that provides services to people of all ages and across physical and mental health, learning disabilities and adult social care.

The majority of our services are delivered in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

We believe there a number of benefits to being integrated:

Improved access to services
A joined-up service around the service user and their family reducing confusion, duplication and enabling better co-ordination of care
Improved information sharing between professionals
Greater opportunities to support staff recruitment and retention
Successful delivery of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent; Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

We are very proud to be a Keele University Teaching Trust and value research and innovation. We offer service users, carers and staff the opportunity to take part in a range of research projects as well as the evaluation of services through our Involvement for Impact Framework.

Our approach to Quality Improvement includes the Virginia Mason methodology and we share its focus on pursuing the perfect patient experience.

Physiotherapists work with people to identify and maximise their ability to move and function. Functional movement is a key part of what it means to be healthy. This means that physiotherapy plays an important role in enabling people to improve their health, wellbeing, and quality of life.

The Trust's Physiotherapy services provide comprehensive assessment and treatment of all musculoskeletal conditions as well as treatments of multi-pathology from simple decreased mobility to head injuries, respiratory distress and neurological conditions.

The Trust employs physiotherapists who work across a variety of teams including:

community teams
MSK teams
community hospitals
Integrated teams
mental health teams for adults and children
forensics
falls teams
stroke services
adults with developmental disabilities
offender health
children's services
Rheumatology
respiratory teams
hydrotherapy
neurological rehab services
pain management
women's health
occupational physiotherapy and manual handling.

The physiotherapy teams work with other clinical disciplines to provide rehabilitation services to patients, in the most appropriate environment to meet their individual needs.

To practise as a physiotherapist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To register with the HCPC, you first need to successfully complete an approved degree level qualification in physiotherapy. This may be a full or part-time course, or a degree apprenticeship in physiotherapy. Full time degrees take three years. Part time degrees vary from four to six years.

The NHS Health Careers website has information about training requirements for becoming a physiotherapist.

Yes, work experience or shadowing is not just for external students. Staff can enquire with other teams to experience work in a different area from your own.

MPFT offers a range of apprenticeships for physiotherapy. In addition to this, MPFT supports our Physiotherapists to develop into First Contact Practitioners, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, and develop their careers in research and consultant physiotherapists.

Research

The service has close links with Accelerated Research Centre (ARC) at Keele University, with the aim of promoting and contributing to evidence-based practice.

The Trust leads implementation of research findings in clinical practice e.g. the implementation of the stratified model of care in the treatment of patients suffering from lower back pain.

Clinicians also work closely with academics and researchers to review clinical evidence with a view of updating and producing clinical guidelines. Part of this work is the Critical Appraisal Topic group; clinicians have reviewed numerous clinical questions and appraised the available evidence around the identified clinical topics. The work of the group has been presented in national and international conferences.

Apprenticeships

Existing MPFT staff may be eligible to apply for Physiotherapy training via our apprenticeship scheme. We currently work with Coventry University who offer a Level 7 apprenticeship pre-registration course which starts in September and lasts 2 years and a Level 6 apprenticeship course which lasts 4 years. We are also working with other providers who may be able to offer something in the near future so do get in touch with us on AHPCPD@mpft.nhs.uk if you would like support to choose the right course for you. Please see the factsheets below for further information. You may also be interested in the Assistant Practitioner in Healthcare Higher degree which aims to develop Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare with an Allied Health Professional focus or the Enhanced Clinical Practitioner Apprenticeship. Please see the factsheets below for further information.

Watch our Physiotherapy virtual information and recruitment event below.

Band	Job titles
Band 2	Physiotherapy Support Worker
Band 3	Physiotherapy Assistant, Engagement Co-ordinator
Band 4	Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner
Band 5	Physiotherapist
Band 6	Specialist Physiotherapist
Band 7	Advanced Physiotherapist, First Contact Practitioner
Band 8	Expert Practitioner, First Contract Practitioner, Advanced Clinical Practitioner (The title ACP must only be used where the staff member has completed the ACP programme/portfolio)

The HCPC has defined CPD as "A range of learning activities through which health professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain the capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice."

All HCPC registrants were required to engage in CPD activities from 1 July 2006. Some Physiotherapists will be audited by HCPC each 2 years of registration. Registrants need to record and evidence their CPD activities and, if selected for audit, complete their CPD profile, which will be audited by CPD assessors.

Physiotherapists have to provide evidence of CPD relating to their previous two years of practice. The evidence will show how the CPD that has been undertaken by the individual has contributed to the quality of their practice and should demonstrate its benefit to the service user. The standards apply to clinical practice, research, management and education.

Standards of CPD

A registrant must:

Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities
Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice
Seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery
Seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user
Present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request

CPD Tools

A reflective tool called "Recording CPD: transforming practice through reflection" is based around the HCPC's requirements for CPD. It can be used to structure ideas, gather evidence of learning for portfolio's and for a profile if CPD is audited by the HCPC.

Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6	Level 7
Healthcare Support Worker	Senior Healthcare Support Worker Team Leader / Supervisor		Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Operations / Department Manager	Physiotherapist Integrated Degree	Advanced Clinical Practitioner Senior Leaders (Masters Degree)

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

Healthcare Support Worker

Senior Healthcare Support Worker

Team Leader / Supervisor

Healthcare Assistant Practitioner

Operations / Department Manager

Physiotherapist Integrated Degree

Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Senior Leaders (Masters Degree)

HASO - Physiotherapy Apprenticeship Pathway

The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.
Watch our Physiotherapy Virtual Career Event to find out more.

As a member of the podiatry team, you would carry out a comprehensive foot examination and a full medical history of your patient. The treatment offered will be assessed against a patient's foot condition (podiatric need). Following triage, those falling within the following criteria shall be considered eligible for assessment and treatment.

Foot ulceration and necrosis
Ingrowing toenail, sepsis or granulation tissue
Acute foot infection
Biomechanical problems or Gait Dysfunction
Child with gait disfunction or parental or professional concern related to foot and lower limb
Significant painful callus or corn that cannot be managed via files or creams etc.
Acute foot or lower limb pain
Acute or chronic painful lesions of the foot
Structural foot pathologies

Though patients with diabetes have increased risk, the service does not provide an assessment on first diagnosis nor a routine annual diabetic foot review for those patients who have no podiatric need.

Depending on your role and level of responsibility you may assess, diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases affecting the feet and lower limbs. Following assessment and diagnosis, treatment is focused on relieving symptoms and maintaining functional independence.

Key delivery of the service focuses on benefits of:

Foot health promotion
Reducing secondary care intervention
Maintaining independence of vulnerable groups through good foot health
Preventing mobility difficulties through earlier intervention allowing patients to remain in their own homes / maintain their activities of daily living

To enter into Podiatry as a podiatrist you need a BSc in Podiatry.
Podiatry assistant or technician you need a NVQ Health and Social care level 4 or 5, Foundation degree in Health and Social care, College of Podiatry Assistant practitioner course.
Podiatry Assistant you need a NVQ Health and Social care level 3 or 4, College of Podiatry Assistant practitioner course

The NHS Health Careers website has information about training requirements for becoming a Podiatrist.

Yes, work experience or shadowing is not just for external students; staff can enquire with other teams to experience work in a different area from your own.

The Skills for Health Online website details the apprenticeship standards for podiatry.

MPFT supports our Podiatrists to develop into Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Consultant Podiatrists, and develop their carers in research. Please see the factsheet below for further information on the Podiatry Degree Apprenticeship with the University of Salford.

Watch our Podiatry virtual information and recruitment event below.

Band	Job titles
Band 2	Podiatry Support Worker
Band 3	Podiatry Assistant
Band 4	Podiatry Assistant Practitioner / Technician
Band 5	Podiatrist
Band 6	Specialist Podiatrist
Band 7	Advanced Podiatrist
Band 8	Advanced Clinical Practitioner (This title must only be used where the staff member has completed the ACP programme / portfolio), Consultant Podiatrist

All HCPC registrants were required to engage in (CPD) activities from 1 July 2006. Some Podiatrists will be audited by HCPC every 2 years of registration. Registrants need to record and evidence their CPD activities and, if selected for audit, complete their CPD profile, which will be audited by CPD assessors.

Podiatrists have to provide evidence of CPD relating to their previous two years of practice. The evidence will show how the CPD that has been undertaken by the individual has contributed to the quality of their practice and should demonstrate its benefit to the service user. The standards apply to clinical practice, research, management and education.

HCPC Standards of CPD

A registrant must:

Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities
Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice
Deek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery
Seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user
Present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request

CPD Tools

Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6	Level 7
Healthcare Support Worker	Senior Healthcare Support Worker Team Leader / Supervisor		Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Operational / Department Manager	Podiatry Degree	Advanced Clinical Practitioner Senior Leaders (Masters Degree)

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

Healthcare Support Worker

Senior Healthcare Support Worker

Team Leader / Supervisor

Healthcare Assistant Practitioner

Operational / Department Manager

Podiatry Degree

Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Senior Leaders (Masters Degree)

Skills for Health Online - Podiatry Apprenticeship Pathway

The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.
Watch our MPFT Podiatry Virtual Careers Event to find out more.

Speech and language therapists work with babies, children, young people, and adults who have speech, language, communication, or eating and drinking difficulties.

Therapists work in the community in a wide range of settings. These include:

family homes
community clinics
hospitals
schools
nurseries
children's centres

We work in partnership with a range of other agencies including Education, Early Years Services, Social Services, and the Voluntary Sector.

We provide comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, intervention and management of service users of all age groups with communication difficulties or dysphagia (difficulties with eating and drinking) to achieve and maintain people's maximum potential. Managing dysphagia well in the community helps reduce secondary complications and hospital admissions.

We also support other colleagues to manage service users safely and effectively by offering training, supervision and support on a planned and ad hoc basis. Speech and Language Therapy in MPFT offers a varied and interesting role, with much opportunity to develop and grow.

Speech and Language Therapy provides services to children and adults who have communication or eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. These difficulties can be associated with the following:

Delayed or disordered speech or language
Cleft palate
Hearing impairment
Learning disabilities
Degenerative conditions:
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's
- Motor Neurone Disease
Stroke
Head injury
Head and neck cancer
Voice disorders
Dysfluency
Mental Health

The basis of these communication or eating and swallowing problems may be congenital, structural, functional, developmental, or acquired.

This varies depending on your role.

Yes, work experience or shadowing is not just for external students. MPFT staff can also enquire with other teams to experience work in a different area from their own.

Pay band	Job Title
Band 2	Speech and Language Support Therapy Worker
Band 3	Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
Band 4	Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Band 5	Speech and Language Therapist
Band 6	Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Band 7	Advanced Speech and Language Therapist
Band 8	Advanced Clinical Practitioner (This title must only be used where the staff member has completed the ACP programme/portfolio), Consultant Speech and Language Therapist

Within MPFT we offer a range of CPD and career opportunities to progress in speech and language therapy through our career framework.

The HCPC define CPD as "a range of learning activities through which health and care professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain their capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice".

CPD is the way professionals continue to learn and develop throughout their careers so they keep their skills and knowledge up to date and are able to work safely, legally and effectively.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists CPD Standards

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists website has guidance on CPD standards.

Broadly, this is a list of different CPD activities put into categories designed to help inform your CPD choices as part of planning your career development. These activities are relevant across the range of SLT workforce settings and are mapped to the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework.

MPFT will be looking to offer a range of apprenticeships for speech and language therapy all of which can be found on the Skills for Health website.

In addition to this, MPFT supports our speech and language therapists to develop into Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Consultant Speech and Language Therapists, and develop their carers in research.

Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5	Level 6	Level 7
Healthcare Support Worker	Senior Healthcare Support Worker Team Leader / Supervisor		Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Operational / Department Manager	Speech and Language Therapy Degree	Advanced Clinical Practitioner Leadership (Masters Degree)

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

Healthcare Support Worker

Senior Healthcare Support Worker

Team Leader / Supervisor

Healthcare Assistant Practitioner

Operational / Department Manager

Speech and Language Therapy Degree

Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Leadership (Masters Degree)

Speech and Language Therapy Apprenticeship Pathway

Watch our Speech and Language Therapy virtual information and recruitment event below.

The NHS Health Careers website has lots of useful information about what it's like to work in a health role, whether in the NHS, a local authority, national Government, voluntary or community sectors.
The Institute of Apprenticeships works with employers and Government to provide apprenticeships across England.
Healthcare Apprenticeship Standards Online facilitates the development of apprenticeship standards for use in the healthcare sector.
The WOW Show is an online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures.
Watch our MPFT Speech and Language Therapy Virtual Careers Event to find out more.

If you have previously been an AHP registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), or completed a AHP degree but did not proceed onto HCPC register, and wish to return to your AHP profession, then we, in partnership with HEE, can support you.

We provide a range of support to help AHPs return to their clinical practice. We work with Health Education England, who may be able to offer financial and academic support to you to undertake a return to practice scheme.

The return to practice programme supports the commitments made in the NHS Long Term Plan to recruit more people into the workforce and ensure staff have rewarding jobs and work in a positive culture. There are vacancies waiting for returnees in both health and social care roles in MPFT and with our partners.

At MPFT we understand that life and your personal circumstances change. If you choose a career to be an AHP you will have done so because you want to make a difference to people's lives through your chosen profession. If now is the right time for you to restart your career, then we would like to help you to do this in Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Art, Music, Drama Therapy, Dietetics, Podiatry and Physiotherapy.

MPFT offers a very wide range of physical, mental health and social care services across adults and children. We would like to welcome and support you back to your profession to help us deliver great care and therapy to our local population.

If you want to find out more about this opportunity, please view our job adverts on the NHS Jobs website or e-mail ahpcpd@mpft.nhs.uk

Coventry University offers a fully flexible course to support you to return to practice. For further information please e-mail ahpreturntopractice@coventry.ac.uk or visit Coventry University's website.

MPFT Allied Health Professions (AHP) Professional Leadership Team have partnered with Oxleas NHS Trust for our AHP Preceptorship Programme. This programme enables our AHPs new in role to meet the HCPC Preceptorship Principles (2023). The programme fully supports NHS England's (NHSE) AHP Preceptorship Standards and Framework. As a Trust we are fully committed to ensuring all our AHPs are empowered to thrive in new roles, build their confidence and are supported across their transitions into new roles or workplaces.

This programme is open to all our newly qualified, new to role, return to practice AHPs to support the transition from being a student to an autonomous practitioner. This programme enables you to network with other newly qualified AHPs in our Trust, our local system, and from other Trusts partnering with Oxleas.

This programme runs alongside, and complements, your profession-specific preceptorship programme.

We are now two years into offering this programme for our valued newly qualified AHPs and have received positive feedback.

Hear Leo's experience of completing the programme below:

This short video explains how the programme started with one of our fantastic graduate preceptee Speech and Language Therapists sharing their experience of the programme.

In addition, we are delighted to be offering Beyond Preceptorship, again partnering with Oxleas NHS Trust. This is to support our AHPs moving from a Band 5 role to a specialist Band 6 role.

For more information on this programme please email ahpcpd@mpft.nhs.uk or visit the Beyond Preceptorship website.

Gillian Levey, Advanced Rheumatology Specialist Podiatrist

"I was interested in a career in healthcare but I didn’t want to be a nurse. It was my Nan who gave me a newspaper article about podiatry and I thought I would like to have a look at doing that because it was something different. My Dad inspired me to become a Rheumatology Specialist because he is a Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferer and so I know what a patient with this condition goes through and how it affects the whole family."

Jamie Ferguson, Physiotherapist, Community Falls Service (South Staffordshire)

“I had an early interest in working with football clubs as a Physiotherapist as it would have combined two of my greatest passions, but I think my university placements influenced my field of interest, like working in the community at present."

Allied Health Professionals

Allied Health Professionals (AHP)

HPC Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

Dietetic Assistant

Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Dietitian

Specialised Dietitian and Advanced Dietitian

HPC Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

Research

Apprenticeships

Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

HCPC Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists CPD Standards

Gillian Levey, Advanced Rheumatology Specialist Podiatrist

Jamie Ferguson, Physiotherapist, Community Falls Service (South Staffordshire)

More in this section

All vacancies

Administrative

Nursing

Health and Justice Services

Healthcare Support Workers

Health Science Services

Medical and Dental

Social Work / Social Care

Support Services

Working with Children and Young People

Useful links

Allied Health Professionals

Allied Health Professionals (AHP)

Art Therapist

What sort of work can you do in Art Therapy?

What qualifications do I need in Art Therapy?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in Art Therapy at MPFT?

Pay band and progression

Continual Professional Development (CPD)

HPC Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

Useful links

Dietitian

What sort of work can you do in Dietetics?

What qualifications do I need?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in Dietetics?

What other ways can I further develop my career in Dietetics?

Role progression and pay band

Dietetics virtual career information and recruitment events

Meet our dietetic team

Continual Professional Development (CPD)

Dietetic Assistant

Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Dietitian

Specialised Dietitian and Advanced Dietitian

Useful links

Dramatherapist

What sort of work can you do in Dramatherapy?

What qualifications do I need?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in Dramatherapy?

What other ways can I further develop my career?

Useful links

Occupational Therapist

What sort of work can you do in Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy virtual information and recruitment events

What qualifications do I need?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in Occupational Therapy?

What other ways can I further develop my career in Occupational Therapy?

Pay bands and progression

Continual Professional Development (CPD)

HPC Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

Examples of Apprenticeship Standards

Useful links

Physiotherapist

What sort of work can you do in Physiotherapy?

What qualifications do I need?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in physiotherapy?

What other ways can I further develop my career in physiotherapy?

Research

Apprenticeships

Physiotherapy virtual information and recruitment events

Meet some of our Physiotherapists

Pay bands and progression

Continual Professional Development (CPD)

Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

Examples of Apprenticeship Standards

Useful links

Podiatry

What sort of work can you do in Podiatry?

What qualifications do I need?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in Podiatry?

What other ways can I further develop my career in Podiatry?

Podiatry virtual information and recruitment events

Pay bands and progression

Continual Professional Development (CPD)

HCPC Standards of CPD

CPD Tools

Examples of Apprenticeship Standards

Useful links

Speech and Language Therapy

What sort of work can you do in Speech and Language Therapy?

What qualifications do I need?

Can I get work experience or shadowing in Speech and Language Therapy?

Pay bands and progression

Continual Professional Development (CPD)

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists CPD Standards

Examples of Apprenticeship Standards

Speech and Language Therapy virtual information and recruitment events

Useful links