Health and social care professionals from across the Black Country attended an event hosted by the Black Country Allied Health Professions (AHP) Council last week to share examples of AHP best practice and the importance of collaborative working.
More than 150 AHPs from across the 14 distinct professions attended the Black Country AHP Summit, which took place at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich.
Attendees heard from a range of key speakers, including Jenny Glynn, Chair of the Black Country AHP and Nursing Faculty who highlighted key programmes of work and Amy Howells, AHP Workforce Development and Clinical Education Lead at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, highlighting the Black Country preceptorship programme and how colleagues can get involved.
A team working on a research project funded by an NIHR West Midlands Clinical Research Network improvement and innovation strategic grant also gave an update on work being carried out to help resource and support ongoing AHP research. Led by Dr Ali Aries, AHP Research Lead at RWT, the Research ABC Project aims to provide insight into the AHP workforce in the Black Country, and attendees were encouraged to have their say and take part in a survey.
To close the event, an award ceremony was hosted by Sir David Nicholson, Chair of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (DGFT), The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), Walsall Healthcare Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, highlighting the incredible work being carried out by AHPs across the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS).
Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), opened the event along with Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the ICB. Dr Ananta Dave said: “AHPs play a vital role in the NHS, providing system-wide care to assess, treat, diagnose, and discharge patients across social care, housing, education, and independent and voluntary sectors. Through adopting a holistic approach to healthcare, AHPs can help manage patients’ care throughout the life course from birth, right through to palliative care.
“It was great to see so many of our AHP colleagues from across the Black Country come together for the summit, highlighting local achievements and the impact this has had on patient care, sharing best practice and laying down the foundations for a thriving AHP community across the system.”
Dr Rosalind Leslie, Chief AHP at RWT, and Karen Lewis, Chief AHP at DGFT and Chair of the Black Country AHP Council, co-hosted the event and have recently been jointly appointed as interim Chief AHP for the Black Country ICB.
Dr Rosalind Leslie said: “The whole day was a huge success, and we are already planning next year’s event. It was a fantastic day of networking and recognising our Black Country AHP community by showcasing our research, learning and workforce workstreams led by our AHP & Nursing Faculty. The event ended with a wonderful celebration in recognition of the contributions of our individual AHPs and teams through our Black Country AHP Awards, presented by Sir David Nicholson.
“I am also thrilled to have been appointed in my new role as joint Chief AHP for the Black Country. This is an exciting opportunity to continue to drive the strategic leadership and delivery of the AHP workforce programme across the Black Country ICS in the context of national policies such as the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS People Plan and ICS People Strategy, and the Allied Health Professions strategy for England.
“Karen and I will continue to provide professional expertise and strategic advice to the ICS, ensuring AHP contributions are understood in order to develop and grow our contribution.”
Karen Lewis said: “The chief AHP role is an important and exciting step for the Black Country and we’re both absolutely delighted to be appointed. We will be working with colleagues from across the system to ensure the AHP voice and their contribution is part of the ongoing discussion, and that the impact will be felt by our patients, our population, our communities, and importantly our workforce.
“Our second Black Country AHP Summit was such a positive event, and it was fantastic to see so many colleagues come together and celebrate what it means to be an AHP in the Black Country. The event brought AHPs from both health and social care providers together in one room to share the good practice that is going on across the system and to encourage people to take part and be involved in these brilliant programmes of work.”
There are 14 Allied Health Professions including art therapists, dietitians, drama therapists, music therapists, music therapists, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, osteopaths, paramedics, physiotherapists, podiatrists, prosthetists and orthotists, radiographers and speech and language therapists. You find more information about each role on the NHS website here.
