Allied Health Professionals leadership in academia

Background

Our health and social care system is facing increasing challenges for capacity, leading to an increased demand for trained staff. As the third largest workforce within the NHS, it’s recognised that thousands of additional AHPs will be required over the next few years to meet this increasing workload.

To deliver on the supply agenda, the AHPs need to attract more students, many of which qualify through pre-registration education courses. The growing numbers of students needed on AHP training courses need to be matched by increased numbers of educators to train these future professionals. These AHP educators also need to be represented in academic leadership, to ensure AHPs have a proportionate voice in governance, policy and strategic direction.

As part of the Integrated Care Academy at UWE Bristol, funding was secured from NHS England to explore Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Leadership in Academia through a three part project.

A healthcare professional giving a talk to university students.

Objectives

The objectives of the project were to:

  • gain a deeper understanding of the perceptions of key stakeholders in relation to the current position of AHP leadership within academia
  • explore the potential barriers, challenges and opportunities that exist for AHPs in undertaking leadership roles within higher education
  • understand more about the skills and attributes required to become a successful leader in academia
  • explore the potential support mechanisms that can be provided for aspiring AHP leaders within academia and higher education
  • use the findings to maximise developmental opportunities for individuals to reach senior academic positions to realise their full potential
  • develop an online roadmap tool incorporating recommendations to ensure AHPs gain  the support, skills and opportunities required to move into senior academic leadership roles in the future.

About the project

The aim of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of key stakeholders’ perceptions of the current extent of AHPs in academic leadership roles. The research was divided into three phases:

  • The first phase of this research explored the potential barriers, challenges and opportunities that exist for AHPs to undertake leadership roles within higher education.
  • The second phase explored the ‘lived experiences’ of senior academic leaders to identify the skills and attributes which have enabled them to achieve their positions.
  • The third phase used the findings from the first two project reports to produce an online roadmap tool. This tool was designed to guide and inspire AHPs, supporting them to move into senior academic leadership roles in the future.

Conversations with senior AHP academic leaders provided opportunities to obtain valuable insights from those who had already become successful academic leaders. Several themes emerged from the study identifying AHP academic leaders as having: 

  • key inherent leadership characteristics attributable to their success. 
  • developed the soft skills required to be an authentic and transformational leader. 
  • developed resilience from exposure to challenging opportunities that promoted growth and development. 
  • significant experience and advice to offer aspiring leaders.

The online roadmap tool incorporates recommendations to ensure that AHPs gain the support, skills and opportunities required for them to move into senior academic leadership roles in the future. The roadmap was designed to encourage both practicing and student AHPs and to think strategically about career planning, and consider the breadth of potential career directions in academia.

View the roadmap

Impact

Several themes emerged from this study. The primary themes related to a lack of confidence preventing AHPs to aspire to leadership roles, and fewer opportunities for AHPs in academia to progress into senior leadership roles outside of their AHP. It was noted that AHPs probably have much to learn about how to move into strategic leadership roles within academia.

Many recommendations have been made to ensure AHPs attain the ambition, confidence, skills and opportunities required for them to successfully achieve senior leadership roles in the future.

The original two project reports led to the production of a tool designed as a roadmap to support AHPs interested in academia at every level. It clarifies the pathways into academia, demonstrates opportunities in AHP education, and encourages AHPs to think strategically about career planning towards leadership roles in academia.

The roadmap provides insight and resources across every level of the academic career pathway. Consequently, it will be useful to anyone currently training as an AHP, qualified AHPs working in health and social care, and AHPs currently working in educator roles. It may also be of interest to anyone considering a career in healthcare who is exploring academia as a strategic career goal.

"The roadmap provides a valuable tool for those considering training as an AHP, as well as for qualified AHPs. It contains insights and resources across a number of academic career pathways. It is anticipated that this will encourage more people into AHP roles and inspire them to progress into senior academic leadership careers."

Professor Vivien Gibbs, Visiting Professor and Consultant, UWE Bristol

Professor Vivien Gibbs Visiting Professor and Consultant, UWE Bristol

Lessons learned

Several themes emerged from the study, the primary ones relating to lack of confidence and a lack of motivation amongst AHPs to aspire to senior leadership roles. Instead, there was a preference to focus on gaining clinical and research expertise rather than leadership skills.

In addition, fewer opportunities appear to exist for AHPs to progress into senior leadership roles outside of the AHP sphere. The key issue was an inability to break through existing structures within academia. It was noted that AHPs probably have much to learn from nursing colleagues in how to move into strategic leadership roles within academia.

Meet the project team