Job Description

Are you passionate about shaping the future AHP workforce and leading high-quality student education across mental health services?
We have an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic Education team as a Band 8a AHP Professional Lead for Education, on a 3-month Fixed Term Contract.
This pivotal role offers the chance to lead the strategic development and coordination of Allied Health Professional (AHP) student placements and apprenticeships, working closely with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Integrated Care Systems (ICS), and internal professional leaders.
Main duties of the job
Provide professional leadership and operational management of the AHP Practice Education Facilitator (PEF) team, ensuring effective supervision, coordination, and delivery of high-quality placement support services in line with national, professional, and local standards.
Lead the development and maintenance of governance structures that support high-quality student placements, ensuring robust AHP contribution to the wider education and training agenda across the organisation and system.
Implement and support professional and directorate-level strategies relating to AHP student placements and apprenticeships, acting as a senior member of the AHP professional leadership team.
Develop and lead strategic initiatives to expand, improve and diversify student placement capacity, providing expert advice and guidance to support innovative placement models and increased workforce pipeline readiness.
Lead on the development of AHP apprenticeship opportunities, offering expert input into the design and delivery of apprenticeship models to ensure alignment with workforce needs and service priorities.
Communicate and collaborate effectively across professions, systems, and external partners, including Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Integrated Care Systems (ICS), and internal stakeholders, to influence service development and address issues related to AHP placements and apprenticeships.
About us
Join Sussex Partnership and you'll be part of an NHS trust that allows you to thrive and, in turn, thrives because of you. We believe in the vibrancy of our fantastic people. And how that leads to even better support for the people who use our services.
When you join us, you'll be able to take advantage of our wide range of rewards and benefits. Here are some of the perks that make working at Sussex Partnership a great choice.
Flexible workingGenerous pension and holiday entitlementTraining and developmentDiscounts and savingsStaff networksStaff wellbeingFree parking
At Sussex Partnership we put people first - whether you are someone who uses our services, works with us or works here.
Details
Date posted
18 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
55,690 to 62,682 a year pro rata
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
3 months
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number
354-CO-21712
Job locations
Portland House
Worthing
BN11 1HS
Job description
Job responsibilities
To lead and manage the PEF team to increase the numbers and quality of AHP placements towards achieving systematic and Trust placement capacity targets
To be responsible for linking with our partner universities and practice areas to develop practice standards. This will entail acting as a liaison between link lecturers, HEIs, team mangers, educators and students on placement
To work with managers, educators, HEIs and, where required, Director of AHP to enable the resolution of student practice issues; which will involve finding resolutions to highly complex and sensitive situations.
To be responsible for the development of robust practice placement evaluation mechanisms with our partner universities as well as supporting the roll out of evaluation and feeding back the data to the AHP leadership and AHP workforce boards.
To work with the trust apprenticeship lead and AHP Training lead to increase knowledge of pathways to and uptake of apprenticeships.
To work with the AHP professional lead for training and the trust preceptorship leads to ensure effective preceptorship arrangements and pre-preceptorship arrangements are available, monitored and reviewed. Job description
Job responsibilities
To lead and manage the PEF team to increase the numbers and quality of AHP placements towards achieving systematic and Trust placement capacity targets
To be responsible for linking with our partner universities and practice areas to develop practice standards. This will entail acting as a liaison between link lecturers, HEIs, team mangers, educators and students on placement
To work with managers, educators, HEIs and, where required, Director of AHP to enable the resolution of student practice issues; which will involve finding resolutions to highly complex and sensitive situations.
To be responsible for the development of robust practice placement evaluation mechanisms with our partner universities as well as supporting the roll out of evaluation and feeding back the data to the AHP leadership and AHP workforce boards.
To work with the trust apprenticeship lead and AHP Training lead to increase knowledge of pathways to and uptake of apprenticeships.
To work with the AHP professional lead for training and the trust preceptorship leads to ensure effective preceptorship arrangements and pre-preceptorship arrangements are available, monitored and reviewed.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
• Evidence of master level post qualification study
• Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
• Practice Education Training
• Management/Leadership Training
• Extensive experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of both group and individual work
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience as a Care Coordinator
• Experience in a clinical area related to the post
• Experience of multi-agency work
• Leadership experience
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
• Research experience
• Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Expert knowledge of Occupational Therapy interventions
• Able to communication complex condition related information to service users, carers and colleagues
• Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies
• Develops, sustains and evaluates partnership working with individuals, groups, communities and agencies.
• Delegate work to others
• Ability to act as lead specialist occupational therapist for the clinical area, provide a high level of specialist advice in complex situations
• Ability to coordinate occupational therapy activity across the area in collaboration with operational managers
• Demonstrate track record of writing and delivering key strategies
• Ability to set up and maintain clinical and professional supervision system for junior staff, including appraisal, allocation of work, and appointment.
• Management of delegated budget when appropriate
• Ability to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
• Ability to participate in training in de-escalation techniques and breakaway Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands
• Ability to be able to concentrate on complex client assessment and intervention
• Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands
• Ability to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances due to complex nature of work with service users
• Ability to carry out investigations into untoward incidents.
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Flexible approach - willing to work as part of a team and assist colleagues
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Commitment to providing a quality service within a team
• Ability to travel across sites
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of

Person Specification
Essential
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in occupational therapy
• Evidence of master level post qualification study
• Registration with the HPC as an occupational therapist
• Practice Education Training
• Management/Leadership Training
• Extensive experience as a qualified occupational therapist in mental health
• Broad experience of working with clients with a range of mental health problems
• Experience of both group and individual work
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of supervising staff and students
• Experience as a Care Coordinator
• Experience in a clinical area related to the post
• Experience of multi-agency work
• Leadership experience
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical approaches used in mental health
• Research experience
• Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists
• Expert knowledge of Occupational Therapy interventions
• Able to communication complex condition related information to service users, carers and colleagues
• Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practices including policies and strategies
• Develops, sustains and evaluates partnership working with individuals, groups, communities and agencies.
• Delegate work to others
• Ability to act as lead specialist occupational therapist for the clinical area, provide a high level of specialist advice in complex situations
• Ability to coordinate occupational therapy activity across the area in collaboration with operational managers
• Demonstrate track record of writing and delivering key strategies
• Ability to set up and maintain clinical and professional supervision system for junior staff, including appraisal, allocation of work, and appointment.
• Management of delegated budget when appropriate
• Ability to use Trust IT systems including e-mail and electronic clinical records
• Ability to participate in training in de-escalation techniques and breakaway Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands
• Ability to be able to concentrate on complex client assessment and intervention
• Ability to be able to deal with conflicting demands
• Ability to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances due to complex nature of work with service users
• Ability to carry out investigations into untoward incidents.
• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Flexible approach - willing to work as part of a team and assist colleagues
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Commitment to providing a quality service within a team
• Ability to travel across sites
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Experience in applying a range of assessment tools and a comprehensive knowledge of

Skills Required