Allied Health Professionals

About Us

Now is the perfect time to advance your career by joining East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. As one of the largest hospital trusts in England, we offer a variety of rewarding roles across our five main hospitals and community clinics, serving a population of approximately 800,000 in the South East of England. With locations in Ashford, Margate, Canterbury, Dover, and Folkestone, you’ll be part of a team dedicated to delivering exceptional care to diverse communities.

Our vision is simple yet powerful: great healthcare from great people. Guided by our core values—ensuring people feel cared for, safe, respected, and confident—we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. For more insight into what our values mean to members of our staff, you can watch the following video: https://youtu.be/40-zJBdXjn4

At East Kent Hospitals, we embrace a culture of empowerment through our We Care programme, which enables frontline staff to lead day-to-day improvements. Compassionate individuals who share our dedication to continuous improvement are integral to our journey of enhancing care for patients, families, and carers.

Research and innovation are at the heart of our mission to improve community health. Our Trust participates in numerous clinical research studies, with Kent and Medway’s Clinical Trials Unit at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate. As a teaching Trust, we are proud to collaborate with local universities and King’s College London to educate and train the next generation of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals.

Join East Kent Hospitals, and you’ll find a supportive environment where every individual’s contribution is valued. Together, we strive to provide outstanding care while fostering personal and professional growth in an organisation that takes pride in its people.

Forces Friendly Employer

At East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT), we are proud to be recognised as a Forces-friendly employer. We warmly welcome applications from ex-military personnel, their families, and individuals involved in the Reserve Forces and Cadet Schemes.

Being part of the armed forces community means you possess a wealth of transferrable skills, knowledge, and invaluable life experience. These qualities make you an excellent fit for our organisation, where your expertise and dedication are highly valued. If you are a reservist, you will receive paid leave each year to support you in completing your reservist activities and duties.

We greatly appreciate the unique contributions you bring, including exceptional skills as a qualified Allied Health Professional, alongside a strong commitment to upholding values aligned with ours: People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference. Join us, and you’ll find a supportive environment where your strengths are celebrated, and you can continue to make a difference.

The Opportunity

At East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, we provide exceptional career opportunities for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) across a diverse range of specialties. Whether you’re an Orthoptist, Physiotherapist, Operating Department Practitioner, Therapeutic Radiographer, Diagnostic Radiographer, Orthotist, Speech and Language Therapist, Dietitian, or Occupational Therapist, your role is essential to our success. As part of our team, you’ll contribute to services that deliver life-changing diagnoses, treatments, and support, making a tangible difference in the lives of our patients every day.

Wherever you choose to join us, you’ll have access to outstanding training and development opportunities within a supportive and inclusive environment. Within a selection of our AHP roles, newly qualified staff are offered comprehensive induction and preceptorship programmes, including rotations across multiple specialties, to provide a strong foundation for your career. Throughout your journey, you’ll be encouraged to participate in research and innovation, supported by experienced clinicians dedicated to your growth and success.

Being an AHP isn’t just a job—it’s a deeply rewarding career that enables you to make a profound impact on people’s lives. Whether you’re helping someone learn to walk again or assisting a child in overcoming a developmental challenge, your work will have a lasting impact. Alongside emotional fulfilment, you’ll benefit from competitive pay, one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK, and access to a range of discounts at shops, restaurants, and more.

Diversity Matters

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where equality of opportunity is prioritised and diversity is celebrated. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

As an organisation, we are dedicated to being an employer of choice, recruiting and developing staff fairly so that talented individuals choose to join, stay, and grow within EKHUFT. We believe that a workforce whose diversity reflects the communities we serve is key to delivering the best possible healthcare services.

Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is central to everything we do. The Trust has an EDI Steering Group, chaired by our Chief People Officer, to drive forward the EDI agenda. By fostering an environment of teamwork, trust, and respect, we empower every employee to achieve their full potential. Equal opportunities are fundamental to our recruitment practices, ensuring equal access and creating a personal, fair, and inclusive culture.

As part of our commitment to fair and inclusive recruitment, we have recently introduced Recruitment Inclusion Ambassadors. Recruitment Inclusion Ambassadors provide a neutral and unbiased perspective during interviews, helping panels to make recruitment decisions free from bias.

Our Benefits

We work hard to ensure that our people are supported, recognised and rewarded; through personal development and career progression opportunities, dedicated staff well-being and support programmes, flexible working opportunities to help your work-life balance, as well as staff discounts and benefits. Our package of benefits includes removal expenses; a car lease scheme; on-site childcare; generous annual leave in line with NHS terms and conditions; high street and public transport discounts; 24/7 365 Telephone Support for Well-being - including access to independent financial advice; ‘rest before you drive rooms’ for night staff – and the little things that make life easier, like onsite Amazon lockers and fresh fruit and veg stalls.

At East Kent, we will do all we can to help you build a career that is centred around you, your family, your location and your interests.

Join us today and play a key role in delivering a consistent, high-quality service while becoming a valued member of one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country. We look forward to welcoming you to the team! To explore our current vacancies, click here: https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/careers/vacancies/