Working in Health and Social Care : An Introduction for Allied Health Professionals

This work discusses a range of topics relevant to contemporary practice and how this sits within health and social care systems. The style of writing is to engage the reader in thoughtful application of information to their own practice and knowledge base. Information is introduced and developed from the perspectives of the individual practitioner, the professional dimensions and finally organisational implications. Topics are grouped into 4 broad sections that examine the context of practice, professionalism, the modernisation and legal agenda and finally practical steps into professional practice. Contributors have been mindful of the current political changes and devolution in the UK and have written in the context of an ever changing dynamic agenda in these influential areas for allied health professionals.

• Focus on 3 dimensions that impact on AHP practice enabling the reader to think through the issues that affect their role - as a professional practitioner within an allied health profession and the wider organisation and societal environment in which practice occurs.
• Collection of topics within one publication for all Allied Health Professionals: The establishment of life long learning, self regulation via the Health Professions Council and the interprofessional learning agenda require allied health professionals to look beyond their single profession's boundaries into a shared arena of collaborative practice with a shared visions of influences and political drivers.
• The sections of the book group topics in areas of commonality, complimenting current professional agendas and making the work easily understandable for the reader.
• Figures are used within chapters and to consolidate section summaries to enable readers to understand and synthesise concepts more easily and appeal to those with a preferred learning style for visual concept.

Teena Clouston, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; and Lyn Westcott, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK