Allied Health Professionals - Adult Outpatient Services
Clinical and Scientific Services
The Allied Health Professional (AHP) Outpatient Clinical Service is one of the core clinical services within Clinical & Scientific Services (CSS) at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). The service provides specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, education and long-term condition management for patients across multiple hospital and community sites within MFT. The service is led by the Head of AHP Outpatients and delivers care through a multidisciplinary workforce including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Orthotists, Prosthetists and specialist rehabilitation teams.
The AHP Outpatient portfolio includes a broad range of specialist services, including:
Physiotherapy
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
- Rheumatology Physiotherapy
- Haematology Physiotherapy
- Pain Management
- Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
- Hand Therapy including Burns and Plastics
- Amputee Rehabilitation
- Major Trauma Rehabilitation
- Respiratory Physiotherapy
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Workwell/ RTW /Social determinants of health
Occupational Therapy (OT)
- Hand Therapy (including Burns and Plastics) and Upper Limb Rehabilitation
- Functional Rehabilitation
- Rheumatology OT
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Support
- Activities of Daily Living Assessment and Intervention
Wheelchair, Orthotic and Prosthetic Services
- Regional Wheelchair Service
- Orthotics Assessment and Provision
- Prosthetic Rehabilitation
- Specialist Seating and Postural Management
The service also supports advanced practice roles including Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs), First Contact Practitioners (FCPs) and Non-Medical Prescribers, helping to improve access to care and reduce pressure on medical pathways.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
Awards and recognition
- HSJ Partnership Award (2025): The Manchester Institute of Health and Performance Trauma Programme was recognised for its contribution to integrated health and care through collaboration between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Nuffield Health.
Research and publications
- Comparison of treatment pathways for isolated mesh-associated pain syndrome (I-MAPS) secondary to pelvic mesh devices for stress urinary incontinence. Published in the International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics in August 2026.
- Systematic review examining the benefits of prehabilitation for patients undergoing joint-preservation treatment.
- Service evaluation assessing the impact of prehabilitation within joint-preservation pathways.
Professional dissemination
- Poster submissions accepted for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy annual conference in 2025 and 2026.
Rare and complex cases
- Complex limb loss patients e.g. multiple limb loss
- Complex Special seating – wheelchair service
- Hand trauma management
- Assessment of chronic pain patients with multiple co-morbidities in an MDT
- Diagnosis and onward management of cauda equina syndrome
- Haemophilia management
- Pelvic Health management
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observerships
AHP - Adult Outpatient Services
Learning outcomes
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional will be able to:
- Describe the organisation, governance and delivery of a large, multidisciplinary AHP outpatient service operating across primary, community and secondary care settings.
- Observe specialist assessment, clinical reasoning, treatment, rehabilitation and patient education across relevant AHP pathways.
- Understand the roles of multidisciplinary team members, advanced practitioners and non-medical prescribers, including how teams collaborate and escalate clinical concerns.
- Explore approaches to referral management, triage, waiting-list management, elective recovery and improving access to the right care at the right time.
- Identify how evidence-based practice, quality improvement, research, digital systems and patient feedback are used to improve safety, outcomes, experience and productivity.
- Compare local pathways, professional standards and models of care with those in their own organisation or country, identifying learning that may be transferable to their practice.
- Develop professional networks and complete a reflective learning summary with agreed actions for continuing professional development and service improvement.
Eligibility
- Language proficiency: Applicants should have English language proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 level or above (for example, IELTS 5.5-6.5, OET, TOEFL, PTE Academic, CET-6 or an equivalent qualification), in order to engage meaningfully with the observership.
- Must be aged 18 years or over at the start of the placement.
- Must be hold a postgraduate Allied Health Professional qualification or be a qualified AHP.
- Must demonstrate that the placement is relevant to their current study, professional role or continuing professional development objectives.
- Must understand that this is an observational placement and does not permit independent clinical practice, direct patient care or access beyond the activities agreed with the supervising service.