AHPs in Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Settings Toolkit

Recently, HEE published a comprehensive toolkit for employer organisations, to demonstrate how Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) can contribute to the care and treatment of autistic people, people with mental health needs and people with a learning disability. 

The NHS Long Term Plan describes AHPs as playing a central role in person-centred care to help meet the changing demands of the NHS. Across the NHS in England, an estimated 27,000 (WTE) new mental health posts will be needed to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions, this includes AHP posts.

The toolkit is for commissioning organisations, mental health, learning disability and autism service leads, Integrated Care Systems (ICS) workforce planners and any senior leaders involved in workforce development. It aims to inspire workforce planners to create innovative solutions to the workforce challenges they face by expanding and developing their AHP workforce.

Suzanne Rastrick, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for England, said:

“Resources like this toolkit are much needed to highlight the interventions of our AHPs who contribute towards the wellbeing of people with mental health needs, learning disability and autistic people. Our potential for improving care is yet to be realised.”

The toolkit provides an introduction to AHPs, information on the role AHPs can play in the care and treatment across mental health, learning disability and autism settings. It also shares information on career development pathways for AHPs as well as valuable films describing the many different roles they play.  

To find out more, visit the AHPs webpage.