Transforming Roles paper 9: allied health professions advanced practice

National definition of AHP advanced practice

In October 2024, the UK’s four Chief AHP Officers (CAHPOs) produced a statement (‘the CAHPO statement’)^[22] to clarify how advanced practice for AHPs is defined, regulated and governed. It includes this definition:

Advanced Practice in allied health professions involves complex decision-making, underpinned by a post-registration master’s level award or equivalent undertaken by an experienced practitioner that encompasses all four pillars of practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research. It is delivered by skilled and experienced registered health and care professionals who exercise significant autonomy, judgement and responsibility in their roles.

Advanced practitioners manage complex care in partnership with individuals, families and carers, analysing and synthesising complex problems, often as part of multi-professional teams. They handle clinical risk and uncertainty across significant areas of work, in various settings, developing innovative solutions to expedite access to care, optimise peoples’ experiences, drive population health and prevention and improve outcomes.

Each AHP profession is unique and so advanced practice will look different across different specialities and sectors. Roles have developed over time in response to population health and service needs, ranging from highly specialised expertise to broader scopes of practice. Many remain within the primary scope of their profession, but others cut across pathways and professional boundaries. Further detail is included in the section on Scope of Practice. While the specific requirements and job content of advanced practice roles will vary, this national definition provides the foundation for consistency. Crucially, AHP advanced practice is not defined by tasks, such as prescribing, but by level of practice and professional impact.

To ensure a consistent and shared understanding across Scotland, this national definition should be formally embedded into workforce planning (Annex 3). All AHP advanced practice roles should be mapped against it, with demonstrable alignment with the expectations outlined by the CAHPOs.