Careers in the allied health professions Caring, compassionate, committed Make a difference with a career in health Welcome Contents What is an allied health professional? .................................. 4 A career for you NHS values and the 6Cs of compassionate care Frequently asked questions (FAQs) ....................................... 5 There are more than 350 roles in health, and many of them are part of a wider To apply for any job in the NHS or in an Which role is right for you? ................................................... 6 team which works alongside other health organisation that provides NHS services, or professionals for the benefit of patients for a course with clinical placements in the The allied health professions at a glance ............................. 8 and the public. As well as the NHS itself, a NHS, you’ll need to show how you think the great many large and smaller organisations values of the NHS Constitution would apply i Art therapist ......................................................................... 8 provide healthcare and work to prevent ill in your everyday work. ii Dietitian ............................................................................... 8 health in the UK. These include public and iii Dramatherapist ..................................................................... 9 private sector organisations, community The NHS Constitution values are: iv Music therapist ..................................................................... 9 interest companies, social enterprises and v Occupational therapist .......................................................... 10 charities, and you could work for the NHS Working together for patients vi Orthoptist ............................................................................. 10 or any one of these other organisations in Respect and dignity vii Paramedic ............................................................................. 11 a health role. Commitment to quality of care viii Physiotherapist ..................................................................... 11 Compassion ix Podiatrist/chiropodist ............................................................ 12 Some roles give you direct contact with Improving lives x Prosthetist/orthotist .............................................................. 12 patients, while in others you are part of a Everyone counts xi Radiographer (diagnostic and therapeutic) ............................ 13 vast support network vital to delivering xii Speech and language therapist ............................................. 13 healthcare and preventing ill health, and These values may also be promoted as good team-working is essential. Some jobs the 6Cs of compassionate care, which are: Real-life stories ....................................................................... 14 are in hospitals, others are based in the community: increasingly, health and social Care Getting started as an allied health professional .................. 22 care services are integrated or co-ordinated Compassion in order to provide a seamless service for Competence Next steps and progressing your career ............................... 25 people with a range of needs. Communication Courage Benefits of working in the NHS ............................................. 28 We actively recruit people of all ages, Commitment backgrounds and levels of experience, Health career framework ....................................................... 30 including people who have worked in other sectors or who bring life experience from outside the world of work. This helps us to understand the different needs of patients, families and carers, and to provide the best Find out more about the NHS Constitution possible service every day. and the 6Cs at: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ nhsconstitution www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/6Cs What is an allied FAQs health professional? What are the allied health professions? If you are looking for a career that combines a The allied health professions (AHPs) are art therapist, challenge, an excellent employment package dramatherapist, chiropodist/podiatrist, dietitian, music and the reward of doing something really therapist, occupational therapist, orthoptist, paramedic, worthwhile, the allied health professions physiotherapist, prosthetist, orthotist, diagnostic offer a wide range of opportunities. radiographer, therapeutic radiographer, and speech and language therapist. How do I train to be an allied Allied health professionals (AHPs) provide treatment and help rehabilitate adults and health professional? children who are ill, have disabilities or special needs, to live life as fully as possible. They The training for each of these professions involves going to work across a wide range of care pathways, university to do an approved programme. For some careers, including A&E, paediatrics and end-of-life only full-time courses are available, but for others there care, and in different settings including the may be part-time routes too. community, people’s homes and schools, as well as hospitals. They also often work in the Is there financial help to support independent sector or for charities. me while I’m training? Although they frequently work alongside The NHS has traditionally provided financial support to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, AHPs are making independent eligible students taking approved courses in a number of assessments and decisions about treatment. the allied health professions, but it is important to note that As an AHP, it will be important that you this support is changing from September 2017. can work well as part of a team and be For the latest information, visit able to make your own decisions based on www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/financialsupport the training and specialist expertise you have acquired. Can I work as an AHP assistant and train later? In the frontline of healthcare, all the allied health professions involve working directly Yes, there are opportunities to work in a variety of clinical with patients, usually one-to-one, but sometimes with groups of people who support roles, such as a dietetic assistant, physiotherapy share similar health problems or issues. assistant, podiatry assistant, occupational therapy assistant, technical instructor, radiography assistant, orthotic technician, prosthetic technician and speech and language therapy assistant. Depending on your role, your employer may then support you to train as a fully qualified AHP. 4 Careers in the allied health professions Careers in the allied health professions 5 Which role is right for you? This booklet focuses on the professional AHP roles. Whether you are interested in science, the arts, sport or psychology, you’re For information about staff sure to find something here that suits you. working in assistant or clinical support roles, visit What all the roles share is a commitment to the individual patient or client. www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ clinicalsupportstaff These are jobs you’ll enjoy if you feel comfortable interacting with people, including families and other carers, as treatment progresses. On the frontline of healthcare, all the allied judgements on which the health and health professions involve working directly Each of the allied health professions wellbeing of your patients may depend. with patients, usually one-to-one, but brings specialist knowledge and skills This means you will need good grades at sometimes with groups of people who share that are unique to their job. A-level or equivalent level 3 qualifications similar health problems or issues. However, For example: to gain a place on a university course, or the kind of work varies according to the relevant work experience combined with profession you choose. • Therapeutic radiographers play a key evidence of academic ability. part in treating people who have Some roles, such as a radiographer, life-threatening cancers. involve using complex high-tech equipment. For more information about the • Orthoptists may be asked to assess A range of other jobs such as prosthetist will training needed to work in the the vision and eye movements appeal to you if you have an interest allied health professions, visit of young babies with the aim of in design and technology and how they www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ detecting and correcting problems can be used to improve people’s lives. AHPtraining related to eye or brain development. Speech and language therapists and dietitians take complex scientific information and • Occupational therapists can help use it to create individual treatment plans people regain independence after Working as an assistant for people with eating or communication a serious illness or injury, working problems, respectively. in hospitals but also in the clients’ Across most of the allied health professions own home. there are a range of assistant roles that play Other roles are more hands-on. As a • Arts therapists help people come to an important part in providing treatment physiotherapist or podiatrist, your specialist terms with, and recover from, severe to patients. There are no set academic knowledge of muscle and bone structure mental health conditions such as requirements but these roles can act as a are needed for treatments that often depression or addiction. springboard for further career development involve manipulation and guiding people and eventual professional qualification. through exercises. How far you want to take your career will depend on you but the culture of personal