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AHP leads at the Trust, Tanya Davis and Suzie Willis (photographed above), reflect on the contributions that our AHPs make across the Trust. 

The theme of this year's national AHP Day 'Celebrating AHPs Deliver' offers an opportunity to recognise the contribution Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) make across NLFT. Launched in 2022, the national AHPs Deliver strategy set out how AHPs can help address health inequalities, prevention, workforce sustainability, digital transformation and integrated care. Across NLFT, these ambitions are increasingly reflected in how we develop our workforce, improve services and support the communities we serve.

The foundations: anti-racism and co-production
AHPs Deliver is underpinned by anti-racism and co-production. People who use our services, alongside families, carers and communities, must be genuine partners in service design and improvement, while tackling inequality remains everyone’s responsibility. The strategy focuses on five areas: People First, Optimising Care, Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability and the AHP Community.

Putting People First
Despite financial pressures, service reconfiguration and limited opportunities, AHPs continue to demonstrate creativity, resilience and resourcefulness. We remain committed to supporting and investing in our workforce because staff who feel valued, empowered and able to develop provide better care.

We have increased AHP student placements, strengthened preceptorship for newly qualified staff and promoted supervision, learning and professional development as part of everyday practice. Leadership, education and career development opportunities are helping AHPs grow throughout their careers. Professional leadership forums also connect colleagues across the Trust, enabling shared learning, collective problem-solving and influence over the future of each profession.

Optimising care through prevention and transformation
We cannot simply treat our way out of the challenges facing health and care. Sustainable services require prevention, earlier intervention and support that enables people to remain well and independent. AHPs bring expertise in rehabilitation, recovery, physical health, communication, nutrition, independence and wellbeing. They can help people avoid crisis, recover sooner, maintain independence and navigate services effectively.

As the NHS responds to rising demand, workforce pressures and the shift towards neighbourhood health, AHPs should not only be included in transformation but actively involved in shaping and delivering it. Across every service, we should ask: where could an AHP make a difference?

Making social justice everyone’s business
Health inequalities require active identification of barriers and action to close gaps in access and outcomes. AHPs advocate for people using NLFT services to receive the full range of AHP expertise when needed, regardless of where they receive care or their diagnosis.

This includes making the case for physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and dietetics to address physical health needs, as well as art therapy, dramatherapy and music therapy to support recovery and emotional wellbeing. People living with severe mental illness can face poorer physical health and reduced access to mainstream rehabilitation and specialist services. Improving equitable access to AHP provision must therefore be central to reducing inequality across North London.

Environmental sustainability
This is an area where we still have more to do. AHPs already contribute through prevention, rehabilitation and community-based care, but we need to understand, measure and reduce our environmental impact and turn the Net Zero NHS ambition into everyday practice.

Priorities include digital working, reducing paper and waste, reusing resources and avoiding unnecessary interventions. Our Assistive Equipment Asset Register supports staff to identify and redeploy equipment before purchasing new items, reducing expenditure, duplication and waste. Working with community equipment providers so equipment follows the person, while holding only essential inpatient stock, can further improve efficiency and sustainability.

Building a stronger AHP community
As NLFT has grown, we have worked to build a more connected AHP community across boroughs, care groups and professions. Professional networks strengthen identity, shared learning, innovation, peer support and Trust-wide collaboration.

The introduction of Head of AHP roles in each Care Group has provided visible professional leadership, stronger advocacy and clearer links between operational priorities and professional development. These roles bring professions together and support a coordinated approach to workforce planning, quality improvement, education, governance and service transformation.

Looking ahead
AHPs across NLFT are already leading improvement, influencing strategy, developing pathways and championing the people we serve. As demand grows, our expertise in prevention, rehabilitation, recovery and tackling inequality will become even more important.

National AHP Day is a moment to celebrate what AHPs deliver every day and to recognise the greater impact we can achieve when AHPs are valued, connected and actively involved in shaping the future of care — happy AHP day to our AHPs and thank you for everything you do!

Watch a very special thank you video made by our team at the Children and Young People Mental Health Services: