Moving on up: The barriers and opportunities faced by allied health professionals (AHPs) moving on to middle leadership positions in organisations, and how organisations can facilitate AHP leadership and career development.

The session explores results from a research study focused on the 14 professions classed as allied health professions (AHPs), in England. This study followed the results of a leadership project, presented to the Microsystem Festival 2020. 27 participants from 8 AHP professions, across 10 focus groups, were interviewed. They were from English National Health Service- and council-run organisations. Thematic analysis highlighted that many participants noted a lack of strong AHP leaders at a strategic level, and a lack of leadership development and career structure. This was in comparison to other professions and contributed to a perceived lack of AHP voice. The participants identified 19 barriers to development at an organisational and managerial level. They also identified 17 actions to help develop AHPs. The session will outline these. Liberating structures will follow to explore how individuals can support colleagues with their leadership and career development.

Presenter/s: Laura Mizzi (Health Education, United Kingdom) , Patrick Marshall (Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom)