Allied Health Professionals
Key players in the healthcare team
If you are looking for a career that combines challenge, an excellent employment package and the rewards of doing something really worthwhile, the allied health professions (AHPs) offer a wide range of opportunities. As key members of today’s healthcare team, AHPs provide treatment that helps transform people’s lives.
Here you can find out about the many different roles within the allied health professions. These range from treating a broken toe to assessing what’s going on in someone’s mind. Whether you are interested in science or the arts, sport or psychology, you’ll find something here that suits you.
Acquiring the knowledge and skills to become a professional involves training and study at degree or diploma level but there is a range of vital support roles that require no set academic qualifications.
AHPs carry their own caseloads and work as autonomous professionals, for example they may work directly with a patient to develop some interactive therapies to aid recovery. However, health and social care today is about teamwork so AHPs will also be part of a team and may even lead one. This might mean working with other AHPs or other professionals such GPs, hospital doctors, teachers, or social workers for example. AHPs often see patients and clients in different surroundings. You will find AHPs working in hospitals, clinics, housing services, people's homes, schools and colleges to name but few. Not surprisingly, the academic requirements and training demands are high, but then so are the rewards, both in terms of job satisfaction and career prospects.
On this page:
- Arts therapies
- Chiropody or Podiatry
- Dietetics
- Operating department practice
- Orthoptics
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Radiography
- Speech and Language Therapy
Arts therapies
Arts Therapists use music, art or drama as a therapeutic intervention to help people with physical, mental, social and emotional difficulties.
Staff roles: Art Therapist, Drama Therapist, Music Therapist
Chiropody or Podiatry
Chiropodists, or Podiatrists, specialise in keeping feet in a healthy condition. They play a particularly important role in helping older people to stay mobile and, therefore, independent.
Staff roles: Chiropodists or Podiatrists, Footcare Assistant
Dietetics
Dietitians translate the science of nutrition into practical information about food. They work with people to promote nutritional wellbeing, prevent food-related problems and treat disease.
Staff roles: Dietitian, Dietetic Assistant
Operating department practice
Operating department practitioners (ODPs) are an important part of the operating department team working with surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses to help ensure every operation is as safe and effective as possible).
Staff roles: Operating department practitioner
Orthoptics
Orthoptists assess and manage a range of eye problems, mainly those affecting the way the eyes move, such as squint (strabismus) and lazy eye (amblyopia).
Staff roles: Orthoptist,
Occupational therapy
Occupational Therapists help people to overcome physical, psychological or social problems arising from illness or disability, by concentrating on what they are able to achieve, rather than on their disabilities.
Staff roles: Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Assistant, Technical Instructor
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists treat the physical problems caused by accidents, illness and ageing, particularly those that affect the muscles, bones, heart, circulation and lungs.
Staff roles: Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy Assistant
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Prosthetists design and fit artificial replacements - or prostheses - for upper and lower limbs. Prosthetists design and fit the best possible artificial replacements for patients who have lost or were born without a limb. Orthotists provide braces, splints and special footwear to help patients' with movement difficulties and to relieve discomfort.
Staff roles: Prosthetist, Orthotist, Limited Orthotic Practitioners
Psychology
Psychologists bring psychological theory and practice to bear on solving problems or bringing about improvements for individuals, groups and organisations. The NHS employs Psychologists in four main specialisms: clinical work, counselling, forensic work and health psychology.
Staff roles: Clinical Psychologist, Health Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist,
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapists use a psychological approach to treat adults and children for a wide range of mental and physical difficulties. There are a number of different approaches, including psychoanalysis. The NHS has designated posts for Child Psychotherapists only.
Staff roles: Psychotherapist
Radiography
Radiographers are involved in the planning and delivery of ionising radiation treatment and in the examination of patients by means of x-rays, which are interpreted to aid the identification of illness and disease.
Staff roles: Diagnostic Radiographer, Therapeutic Radiographer, Radiographer Assistant, Imaging Support Worker,
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and Language Therapists work with people who have problems with communication, including speech defects, or with chewing or swallowing.
Staff roles: Speech and Language Therapist, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant,
