ALLIED HEALTH CAREERS

Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) play a vital role in the NHS, using their specialist skills to improve patient care and quality of life.

Shape lives. Build your future.

Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are the third largest workforce in the NHS, playing a vital role in keeping people healthy, supporting recovery, and helping individuals live life to the fullest. From diagnosing illness to restoring mobility, from improving nutrition to supporting communication, AHPs make a difference every single day.

Here in South West London, you’ll find some of the most exciting opportunities for AHPs in the country. With four acute hospital trusts, community services, and mental health teams across six boroughs, this is a fantastic place to grow your career while serving one of the most vibrant and diverse populations in the UK.

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AHPs

What are Allied Health Professionals?

AHPs cover 14 different professions that bring together science, care, and compassion. Working in hospitals, communities, schools, and emergency settings, they support people of all ages to live healthier, more independent lives.

The 14 Allied Health Professions are:

Art Therapists
Dietitians
Drama Therapists
Music Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Operating Department Practitioners
Orthoptists
Paramedics
Physiotherapists
Podiatrists
Prosthetists and Orthotists
Radiographers (Diagnostic and Therapeutic)
Speech and Language Therapists

Meet the professions

Each AHP role is unique — here’s a snapshot of just some of the ways you can suporrt patient care:

Physiotherapists

help people restore movement, recover from injury, and manage pain.

Occupational Therapists

enable independence by supporting people with daily activities at home, work, or school.

Speech and Language Therapists

support communication, speech, and swallowing difficulties in children and adults.

Radiographers

use imaging to diagnose illness and provide life-saving treatment.

Dietitians

use the science of nutrition to improve health and wellbeing.

Paramedics

deliver urgent and emergency care, often at critical moments.

Your career journey

There are many routes into becoming an AHP:

Once you join, the NHS in South West London will support your development with supervision, mentorship, and continuing professional development. You can progress into advanced clinical practice, management, education, or research.

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University degree courses

AHP careers often start with a professional degree, combining academic study with practical clinical experience. In South West London, several universities work closely with local NHS trusts to provide high-quality, hands-on training.

Degree apprenticeships

Degree apprenticeships allow you to earn while you learn. You’ll be employed by an NHS organisation in South West London while studying for your professional qualification at university.

Support worker roles

If you’re not ready to go straight into training, you can start your journey as an AHP support worker. In these roles, you’ll work directly with patients and qualified AHPs — helping with rehabilitation exercises, supporting therapy sessions, or preparing equipment.

Return-to-practice

If you’re already a qualified AHP but have taken a career break, you can re-join the NHS through a return-to-practice programme. These programmes are fully supported by the NHS, covering placement experience, supervision, and financial support for things like course fees and childcare.

A Day in the Life of an AHP in South West London

Meet Rosemary Alexandrou, a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist based at Croydon Hospital in South West London.

In this video, Rosemary brings her role to life - showcasing how collaboration, compassion, and clinical skill intersect in the real-world setting of NHS care. As she says, it’s “everyone working together to have really outstanding care for patients.”

Take the next step

Whether you’re inspired by science, motivated by care, or driven by making a difference, there’s an AHP career for you here in South West London. Explore our roles and discover how you can shape lives - including your own.

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