AHP Federation NI

1
AHP Federation NI

• Elizabeth McKnight
• Chair AHPF NI
• 30th April 2009

2
Where did the AHP Federation NI originate?

• Successor to NI AHP Forum
• - established by participants in 1st AHP
  Leadership course
• Recognition that RPA was having profound effect
  on all the AHPs across healthcare in NI
• - common concerns re structures, influencing
  capability, governance arrangements
• Re-establish AHP group to enable joint working
  and lobbying of key players
• - size matters when lobbying

3
How do we fit into the bigger picture?

• Constituted to AHP Federation at UK level
• Membership of AHPF at UK level consists of
  Chairman and CEO of each of the subscribing
  Professional bodies
• Part of each members annual subscription to
  Professional Body is used to fund work of AHPF
• AHPF Scotland established post devolution
• Recognition that Healthcare and Government
  decisions / systems are different in NI

4

• Budget allocated to AHPFNI from AHPF
• - based on annual business case submission re
  planned activity , secretarial support
• Support of AHP Professional Bodies at UK and
  local level
• - members nominated by local Professional
  Body structures
• - past or current chair/secretary of local PB
  groups where these exist
• - succession planning

5
Supported by NI Policy Officers and Secretariat
Professional education
NI AHP Research Forum
6
Who represents me ?

• Arts Therapists Karen Diamond, Nuala Murray/Dr
  Julie Sutton
• Dietitians - Eliz McKnight, Karen Robinson
• Occupational Therapists Tracey Gibbs, Lucia
  Ramsay
• Orthotists and Prosthetists TBC
• Orthopists Alison Kennedy, Maura Macklin
• Physiotherapists Cathie McIlroy, Danny Kerr
• Podiatrists Denise Killough, Kerry Clarke
• Speech and Language Therapists - Heather
  Crawford, Rosalind Rogers
• Radiotherapists/Radiographers Christine
  Robinson, Gaile Biggart

7
AHPF NI Committee

• Chair - Eliz McKnight (Dietitian)
• Vice Chair - Karen Diamond (Music Therapist)
• Secretary Denise Killough (Podiatrist)
• Treasurer Tracey Gibbs (OT)

8
Decision making powers

• Each Professional body has a single vote
• Policy officers can advise but cannot vote
  employees of Professional bodies
• Consensus must be reached if action to be taken
  re common issue of concern
• Action can be taken on issues which only impact
  on some of Professional bodies provided others
  agreeable
• All members are ultimately accountable to their
  national Professional bodies and cannot act
  outside strategy of UK organisation

9
Meetings with Stakeholders

• Minister for Health
• Chief Nursing Officer
• Lead Health Professions Officer
• Health Committee
• Informal lunch meeting
• Formal evidence sessions
• Political Parties
• Sinn Fein

10
Collaborations to date

• Joint responses re RPA and Health and Social Care
  Reform impact on AHP management and governance
  structures
• Department HPSS
• Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well
  being
• Regional Board
• Local Commissioning groups and processes
• HSC Trusts

11
Networks

• AHP Commissioners
• Advisory Committee AHPs at DHSSPS
• Professional bodies - local and national level
• AHP Federation
• Need to promote same agenda at which ever
  level of influence have access to