Optimising the contribution of the AHPs support workforce – 2025

Who this statement is for?

This statement applies to all allied health professionals (AHPs) and AHP support workers, including assistant practitioners, workforce planners, workforce leads, managers and people working with AHP support and assistant workers.

Purpose of this statement 

2025 

Our goal, as professional bodies and trade union partners for the AHPs, is to make sure that our professions meet the needs of the people who use them. We also strive to ensure that our members, the individuals who deliver these services, are treated fairly and guided by robust professional standards and guidelines. This applies to the AHP support workers, assistant practitioners and our registered workforce.

In 2021, we issued a call to action for NHS employers, policymakers and workforce planners across the UK to make a firm commitment to expanding and developing the AHP support workforce as one element of workforce transformation.

Our vision continues to be to actively contribute to the ongoing development and enhancement of the support workforce, enabling them to make a meaningful impact on delivering high-quality, efficient and safe services.

RCOT is proud to support this joint statement recognising the vital role of the AHP support workforce.

The support workforce is essential to the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care, and their contribution must continue to be visible, valued, and invested in. We’ve made great strides since our 2021 call to action, but there’s more to do. We need to build stronger, more meaningful connections with support workers, ensuring they are empowered, heard, and supported to thrive in their roles. This statement marks an important step forward in that journey.

Joe Brunwin, Head of Policy and Practice (RCOT)

What we have achieved

2021-2025

Members of the AHP Professional Body and Trade Union Partners group jointly, and individually, influenced, contributed to or supported the development of:

• AHP support worker competency, education and career development framework
• occupation-specific apprenticeships for AHP support workers in all four nations
• NHS England's – Delegation, accountability and support workers in the allied health professions: guidance for employers (publication date TBC)
• The NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) development and education framework
• The Cavendish review – 10 years on
• NHS England workforce training and education – Developing the role of AHP support workers.

A number of the AHP Professional Body and trade union organisations developed:  

• dedicated support workforce web resources
• support workforce education and career development frameworks
• CPD opportunities, networks and dedicated officers/workers to provide support
• supporting information for appropriate supervision and delegation
• mapping of levels of practice to the scope of job roles at distinct levels
• pathways to support progression into the regulated allied health professions.

We need you to help us make a difference

Support workers

We need your help, you can:

• engage with and support future projects and workstreams that aim to support and develop your roles
• access, promote and use the resources provided, such as:
  • profession-specific role and responsibility guides
  • governance, supervision and delegation guidance
  • support workforce education and career frameworks
  • signposting to membership of professional bodies/trade unions where appropriate.

Managers or leaders

Please help us:

• promote and use the resources to recruit, retain, develop and support our valuable AHP support workers by engaging with future projects and workstreams
• support a diverse AHP support worker workforce through inclusive practices
• support access to improved career pathways by:
  • providing high-quality personal development plans (PDPs)
  • ensuring annual appraisals take place
  • developing career conversations, which may include apprenticeships where relevant.
• ensure all members of the support workforce have access to the required education and training so they can:
  • work to the maximum of their capability within their individual agreed scope of practice
  • use the full ability of the professionally defined scope of practice
  • have robust career development opportunities
  • have fulfilling job roles
  • work efficiently and safely.
• support, develop and encourage access to regular CPD activities for all support workers by:
  • providing dedicated practice educator support
  • supporting focused activities for the support workforce.
• build support worker numbers by:
  • developing business plans/workforce plans that include their roles
  • ensuring that AHP career promotion includes the support workforce.
• recognise the support workforce contribution to service delivery by:
  • engaging in initiatives that promote their value
  • ensuring equity in the support, resources and opportunities available
  • ensuring they have a voice and are listened to, especially regarding developments and changes that affect them.