Resource: AHP quick guide to work experience

Purpose & Context

• Designed to help Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) create and offer NHS work experience.
• Responds to the post-COVID shift and supports NHS goals to grow the AHP workforce (2020–2025), as outlined in the Long Term Plan and People Plan.
• Emphasises AHPs as NHS ambassadors, encouraging engagement with schools and use of tools

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Benefits – For learners, AHP services, and future recruitment
3. Implementation Guide:
   • Roles and responsibilities
   • Compliance: health & safety, confidentiality, DBS checks
   • Templates & processes: induction, planning, evaluation systems
4. Success Stories
5. CQC Standards – Evidence to meet inspection standards
6. References & Resources

Key Messages

• Why it matters: Enables experiential insight, supports educational pathways, addresses NHS staff supply gaps
• Promotes career awareness and helps attract students into AHP degrees
• Encourages collaboration with schools via NHS ambassador schemes and national outreach
• Supports consistency & quality through standards, adherence to CQC, and best-practice templates

Practical Tools & Support

• Templates and checklists for:
  • Induction processes
  • Risk assessment, insurance, safeguarding, DBS
  • Placement planning and placement evaluations
• Case Studies: highlight flexibility and effectiveness in design
• Related resources:
  • NHS Work Experience Resource Toolkits for secondary care, GP, dental settings
  • Quality Standard framework awarding Bronze/Silver/Gold quality status
  • Health Careers tools and KMPT on-demand AHP programmes

Summary

The guide empowers AHP teams to design, manage, and sustain high-quality work placements, enhancing career attraction, workforce planning, and consistent delivery aligned with regulatory and NHS-wide standards.