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Your chance to shape our mandate for change

NHS England’s Chief Allied Health Professions Officer explains how all 12 AHPs can work together to transform care of the future:  

There is a mandate in England, right now, for the Allied Health Professions to co-create a vision of how, with collective action, our nation will be different if all AHPs were used effectively in the health, social and wider care system.

On 18 April, all AHPs in England will be invited to take part in an online workshop to share views on how they can deliver future care in England – and this is for wherever they practice, not just the NHS. This is not just about the health service. It’s about local authorities, housing, private practices and the voluntary sectors too.

This online workshop will use crowdsourcing methodology to capture the voice of AHPs and, specifically, to form a national mandate for change that will support and drive AHPs transformative role in England’s health and care system.

This will be our chance to have a voice and co-create a mandate for change working towards common goals and challenges together.

Look out for my blog and tweets on the day for the details of how to register to take part.

We have collective agreement from the professional bodies of a need to engage AHPs to co-create and shape the vision for the future and an ‘ask’ from the wider system.

Myself, and Joanne Fillingham, CAHPO Clinical Fellow, have been working with Clever Together to source views, evidence and key issues to inform the development, form, function and viability of such a mandate.

On 17 February an event was hosted for the Chief Executives and Chief Officers of the 12 AHP Professional Bodies designed to explore subjects such as:

  • the common goals and challenges of the AHP professional bodies,
  • the value that a national AHP strategy could generate and the pitfalls to avoid,
  • methods of involving AHPs, patients, service users and other stakeholders nationally within a strategy design process.

Ultimately the question was: is there collective action that AHPs could take to support the delivery of what will be required in the future care landscape of England?

The result of the workshop with the 12 professional bodies was a collective agreement that gains can be made for all AHPs – and the care system more broadly – by working towards common goals and challenges together.  Moreover, there was a consensus that this focus ought to be derived and defined further through a wide ranging engagement with AHPs nationally. The conclusion being that a collective engagement was needed to ensure AHPs have the opportunity to have their voice heard to shape such a mandate.

Peter Thomond, Managing Director of Clever Together, told me his organisation is “proud to be supporting the work to realise the transformative potential of England’s AHPs”.

He explained: “Our methods will enable AHPs and their stakeholders to share their views on the future of the professions anonymously and securely.

“Participants can be assured that ideas will be judged on their merit, not their author. This means a new national mandate for AHPs can be delivered through genuine, open, collective engagement. Our methods will enable transparent analyses to reveal a shared voice and vision that will take the professions forward.”

So why do we need a mandate for change?

Well, the five year forward view sets out a vision for future care in which these gaps can be addressed by new models of care, ‘Vanguards’, all of which represent differing forms of integration. However, it is not unique in its conclusion that integrated approaches to care will help solve many of our nation’s challenges.  Indeed, integration, new public heath approaches and the smarter use of community-based assets are not novel ideas for many of England’s AHPs.

I have been visiting the vanguard sites that are pioneering, exploring and delivering new care models as part of my work to support the New Care Models team within NHS England.

During these activities, both the vanguard provider organisations and AHPs from across the nation have asked me for a clear national strategy for AHPs – one that collectively gives direction and support to commissioners, provider organisations and AHP practitioners who are seeking to work differently.

I urge all AHPs, both those within and out with NHS provider organisations to take part. This is an exciting opportunity for AHPs across England to co-create and co-own the vision of how AHPs can and will deliver future care in England.

Suzanne Rastrick

Suzanne qualified as an Occupational Therapist from Oxford. Suzanne was the first Allied Health Professional (AHP) to hold a substantive Director of Nursing post in both provider and commissioning organisations. She became the Chief Executive of a Primary Care Trust, where a particular highlight was having leadership responsibility for delivering health resilience and health ‘blue light’ services during the Olympic sailing events held in Dorset in 2012. She subsequently gained authorisation for a large Clinical Commissioning Group, before moving to her current post with NHS England. She was appointed as Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for England in September 2014.

In 2017 Suzanne launched the first AHP strategy for England which has been recognised as ground-breaking in policy development from its use of crowdsourcing. Building on this, Suzanne published the second AHP strategy – ‘AHPs Deliver’ in June 2022. This iteration had a greater emphasis on patient, public voice and specifically the inclusion of those who may be digitally excluded along with communities who may find it difficult to connect with traditional consultation methods. The result is a national strategy crowdsourced from diverse populations for people and communities AHPs serve.

For over three decades, Suzanne has held non-executive portfolios outside of the NHS, including audit committee chair roles, predominantly in the housing and charitable sector. Suzanne was recognised as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s birthday honours list 2019. In 2023 Suzanne was awarded a Visiting Professor role at St George’s, University of London and at Oxford Brookes University.

Follow Suzanne on Twitter/X @SuzanneRastrick or Instagram @chief_ahp_officer_england

18 comments

  1. Sandra says:

    Hi
    Can anyone tell me if the ODP profession is included in the ’12’ professions identified as AHP please? As a registered ODP, I cannot see evidence of our profession being listed in the literature other than with the HCPC? Or have I just not looked in the right documentation?
    Many thanks

  2. John Chaffey says:

    Hi Joanne

    Disappointed that UK Osteopaths are not included. Any way this can be extended to them Via the General Osteopathic Council.

    John

  3. Graham Duerden says:

    Hi Joanne

    This sounds great and I look forward to the 18th to join the discussion. Although an Occupational Therapist working in mMential Health and based “off-shore” in Guernsey, Channel Islands it will be good to be part of something bigger that may influence the health care service in England. I would hope that being part of this can positivly influence the service development here as well as England.

    Can you tell me where I need to look (which web site) to sign up for the forum please?

    Many thas

    Graham

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      Hello Graham,

      Thank you for your enthusiasm to want to take part in the online workshop to co create and co own how AHPs will transform care in England. I have had equal interest from AHPs in Scotland who are interested to see what the outcome will be and how this will help to shape future care.

      On Monday 18 April Suzanne will post another blog with the details of the website. When you log on the registration process is very simple.

      What I will do is post a reply to each of the comments here with the website address on Monday.

      I would be interested to discuss this further, the transferability of the outcome to support AHPs in Guernsey, if you want to send me an email?

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  4. Deanna Middleton says:

    This is an exciting opportunity to see how the future of therapy professionals can shape health, well being, and quality of life for people. Scary to try this new communication method but will to attempt a new activity!

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      Hello Deanna,

      Thank you for your interest, enthusiasm and recognition of this great opportunity. I do hope you will have time to take part over the next two weeks?

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  5. Carolyn Johnson says:

    This sounds lie a really good opportunity to share ideas and contribute towards better systems of working collaboratively.
    The information was sent to me from our Principal OT through an email sent by Weare, Jayne (Head Of Therapy Services) [mailto:Jayne.Weare@UHBristol.nhs.uk].
    Could you please let me know how we can sign up to the online workshop, and times of the workshop?
    Many thanks,
    Carolyn

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      Hello Carolyn,

      Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm.

      The online workshop is a website that will be open on 18 April and will stay open for 2 weeks. The web address will be announced on Monday by Suzanne in another blog. We are using a multitude of channels to communicate the message so I am sure that you will get that information via the same channels that you received information about this blog. Or you can always look out for Suzanne’s blog being posted on NHE England webpages on Monday.

      After a simple log in process, you can access anytime during the day (or night!), over those two weeks from a computer or other connected device e.g. tablet or smartphone. This means diary constraints, people being spread across large geographies and the limited capacity of event spaces isn’t a blocker to ensuring everyone gets the chance to have their voice heard. And, you will also be able to come back to the conversation at any time during the two weeks the workshop is live.

      If you have any difficulties at all then please do not hesitate to contact me.

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  6. Kieron Corrigan says:

    Sounds like an interesting idea – but just how? Agree wit hearlier poster – I can’t just randomly take time out of a scheduled day with a moment’s notice.

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      Hello Kieron,

      Thank you for your interest in this opportunity to co create and co own a mandate for change for AHPs.

      The online workshop is a website that will be open on 18 April and will stay open for 2 weeks. The web address will be announced on Monday by Suzanne in another blog. After a simple log in process, you can access anytime during the day (or night!), over those two weeks from a computer or other connected device e.g. tablet or smartphone. This means diary constraints, people being spread across large geographies and the limited capacity of event spaces isn’t a blocker to ensuring everyone gets the chance to have their voice heard. And, you will also be able to come back to the conversation at any time during the two weeks the workshop is live.

      I do hope that you can join.

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  7. Suzanne Simpson says:

    This is a great idea, but it has been poorly advertised. Unfortunately working in an acute setting their are a number of barriers. Organising access to a computer during a normal working day that enables engagement with an online workshop takes a lot of planning. Would sharing a survey be an alternative option for those who can not, but would like to contribute?

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      Hi Suzanne,

      This blog is the start of a wider communications campaign which involves engaging with many AHP networks across each of the regions, with each of the twelve professional bodies and many other key stakeholders, running over the next month in the first instance.

      The platform is basically a website where you register and then receive a username and password to log on and take part in a discussion. Unlike a physical workshop, crowdsourcing provides you with a virtual room (the website), in which any number of people can join. The workshop will be open on 18 April and will stay open for 2 weeks. This means diary constraints, people being spread across large geographies and the limited capacity of event spaces isn’t a blocker to ensuring everyone gets the chance to have their voice heard. So you can access, anytime during the day (or night!), over those two weeks from a computer or other connected device e.g. tablet or smartphone.

      Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  8. Emma Salt says:

    I am very interested in this development and am keen to be part of the online discussion on Monday!

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      That’s great news Emma. Thank you for your enthusiasm. We are keen to listen to what AHPs have to say.

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  9. Deb Troops says:

    We have tweeted and emailed several times but get no response from Suzanne Rastrick.
    We are experts by experience and actually more knowledgeable than many of the ‘professionals’ we have to engage with.
    When are our views, concerns and questions going to be addressed? Where do we fit in to this brave new world because so far all we see is redressed rhetoric and NHS speak. Means nothing to us the people you’re supposed to be doing all this for.

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      I am sorry to hear that Deb. We are very keen to hear from service users. I can tell you about how the programme of work is going to progress over the next 6 months and the point at which we want to hear your views. Would you like to email me?

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net

  10. Melanie Taylor says:

    What facilities will we need to participate in this? My desk is in an open plan office and I don’t have a webcam?

    Many thanks

    • Joanne Fillingham says:

      Hi Melanie,

      The platform is basically a website where you register and then receive a username and password to log on and take part in a discussion. Unlike a physical workshop, crowdsourcing provides you with a virtual room (the website), in which any number of people can join. The workshop will be open on 18 April and will stay open for 2 weeks. This means diary constraints, people being spread across large geographies and the limited capacity of event spaces isn’t a blocker to ensuring everyone gets the chance to have their voice heard. So you can access, anytime during the day (or night!), over those two weeks from a computer or other connected device e.g. tablet or smartphone. No webcam needed.
      AHPs will be able to share views in written format, look at the views of others and offer feedback by voting and commenting on contributions. They will also be able to come back to the conversation at any time during the two weeks the workshop is live, to check what others think of their ideas, and respond to queries or questions they may have.

      I do hope you can join?

      Joanne Fillingham
      Clinical Fellow to the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer
      Jo.fillingham@nhs.net