Allied heath professions

Last updated: Monday 17 March 2025

Apprenticeship standards in allied health professions

Allied health professions (AHPs) make up the third largest occupational group in the healthcare workforce and there a 14 regulated professions, each with apprenticeship standards.

Individuals wishing to develop a career in one of the allied health professions can join us as a therapy assistant and later apply for a level 3 or 5 assistant practitioner apprenticeship before applying to a level 6 (degree level) apprenticeship when vacancies arise.

For more information visit the Skills for Health website.

Are you a qualified (AHP) looking to return to practice?

We employ staff across the allied health professions including dietitians, diagnostic radiographers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthotists, orthoptists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists.

What is Return to Practice?

It is a period of updating skills and knowledge which includes a combination of formal study, private study and supervised practice. There are a minimum number of hours a person will need to complete to update their skills/knowledge, depending on the time they have been off the HCPC register:

  • 0-2 years out of your profession - no requirements
  • 2-5 years out of your profession - 30 days of updating
  • > 5 years out of your profession - 60 days of updating

Who is it for?

We support AHPs with a professional healthcare qualification but who have been off the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register for more than two years to return to practice.

Healthcare qualifications can be from the UK or from overseas if  recognised by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

For more details of the requirements visit the Health and Care Professions Council website.

We welcome AHP professionals from any background or previous employer to complete their Return to Practice with us.

What do we offer?

We will discuss your needs and, if appropriate, arrange a suitable placement within your profession, supervised and supported by a clinician who is employed at WHH.

  • We offer supervised placements which are a great way to build your confidence in the workplace after a gap from the working environment.
  • We value your past working experience and life experience and take these into account when arranging your supervised practice placement.
  • Returning to practice in a voluntary route provides you flexibility to balance your home and work commitments.

WHH employs qualified AHPs and clinical support workers and there are opportunities for employment in both staff groups.

Is there funding support available?

We will employ you as a volunteer. You are encouraged to register with Health Education England, who will pay up to £800 to support any appropriate HCPC registrant returning to practice.

Visit the NHS England website for more information.

How to apply

Before applying, you need to consider which areas interest you, your career aspirations and where you feel you may be most suited based on your previous skills and experience.

To express your interest or find out more information please email the Practice Educator Facilitator team on whh.pef@nhs.net.

You can also follow our AHP X account: @WHHAHPS

Preceptorship

The allied health professionals (AHPs) at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WHH) are committed to supporting all our staff, but especially those who are at key moments of career transition. For example: those entering the workforce for the first time, returning to work after a long period away, working in the UK for the first time, taking up a new role, or moving to a new organisation. 

Preceptorship is a period of structured support for the above-mentioned groups of staff to give them confidence to act as an autonomous practitioner.

Preceptorship for AHPs lasts for 12 months and includes: 

  • an initial supernumerary period which provides time to shadow experienced practitioners and get inducted into the team
  • an allocated preceptor who is an experienced practitioner and provides one to one support
  • protected time to attend Trust preceptorship training with a variety of development days offered throughout the year to help understand and deal with the demands of the workplace
  • profession specific preceptorship and competency training for development of clinical and non-technical skills, so you feel confident and competent in your day-to-day role
  • regular one to one preceptorship meetings in addition to clinical supervision
  • access to a digital portfolio management system to build a Continuing Professional Development (CDP) portfolio 

AHP preceptorship at WHH is aligned to both Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidelines and the NHS England Preceptorship Standards and Framework.

Please visit the NHS England website for more information.