A guide to Allied Health professions
There are two types of Allied Health professions. The first are those who work primarily in hospitals, as members of healthcare teams. The second group of health professionals are those who are employed by Allied Healthcare, a home care provider covering the whole of the UK, enabling residents to live independently in their own home.
Allied Health professions (hospitals)
There are many different professions within the Allied Health teams which are hospital based. They consist of:
- Arts therapists who work with clients to offer therapeutic treatment for physical, emotional, mental, emotional or social difficulties.
- Chiropodist/podiatrist whose job is to treat problems with the feet and offer preventive advice and care.
- Dieticians and nutritionists provide information to people who have to follow a special diet because of a food intolerance, or can provide advice and information about healthy foods and lifestyle choices.
- An occupational therapist's primary role is to assess and treat physical and psychiatric conditions using customised activities to prevent disability and promote independence.
- Operating department practitioners work with medical and nursing professionals during peri-operative care.
- Physiotherapists help people with physical problems which may have been caused by an accident, illness or aging.
- Prosthetist and orthotists provide care for people who require an artificial limb or a device to support or control part of the body.
- Psychologists study people, including how they think, act and behave. A psychologist generally does not deal with patients.
- Psychotherapists help people who are experiencing problems with stress, emotional problems or troublesome habits. Psychotherapy can be provided in a wide range of settings to help the individual recover.
- Radiographers either work in diagnostics or therapy, and both of these sectors require in-depth knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathology as well as technology in order to be able to carry out their work.
- Speech and language therapists work to help overcome speech, language and communication problems. They also help people who may have eating and swallowing problems.
Allied Professionals (home care)
The Allied home care services are community-based, providing help and support to residents to enable them to lead a full and independent life whilst remaining in their own home. The home care jobs include: Household cleaning service which provides domestic cleaning services to clients in their own homes Laundry services Personal care Bathing service Meal preparation Assisting residents with shopping Collecting pensions Support in the community Day or night sitting Live-in service Hospital discharge service.
Allied Healthcare professions (branch office jobs)
Within Allied branches, there are also opportunities in the following areas: Administration Management Coordinators of care Continuing care team Customer care Finance Marketing Information technology Sales Training