Working as an Allied Health Professional

A Dietitian is responsible for educating and advising patients, with additional dietic and nutritional needs, on the practical ways in which they can improve their health by supporting them to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.

Typical responsibilities:

• Assessing, diagnosing, and treating dietary and nutritional problems
• Planning, monitoring, reviewing, and improving nutritional care plans
• Deliver group sessions to other healthcare professionals or patient groups.

What you need to apply:

At least 10 months of paid experience as a qualified Dietitian
Dietetics Degree (BSc), or an equivalent qualification
Evidence of English language for Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
It is preferable, but not essential, to have an HCPC registration

Accidents, illness, disability, mental health issues and ageing affect millions of people, making it harder for them to do everyday things, along with activities they enjoy. As an occupational therapist, you’ll help all kinds of people overcome all kinds of challenges, so they can live as fully and independently as possible. This might involve learning new ways to do things or making changes to their environment to make things easier.

In the role, you could help:

• someone adapt to life after major surgery.
• people with mental illnesses or learning disabilities with everyday activities such as work or volunteering.
• elderly people stay in their own homes by providing adaptations such as level access showers or stair lifts.

You'll find solutions to everyday problems, such as:

• advising on how to approach a task differently.
• using equipment or assistive technology.
• adapting the living or working environment.
• finding strategies to meet your patient’s

As well as working with individual patients and their families, you could also work with groups, or as part of a multidisciplinary team in hospitals, clinics, charities, prisons and social services departments.

What you need to apply

• Degree in Occupational Therapy
• 6-12 months Occupational Therapy experience in your own country
• HCPC registration before coming to the UK

Operating department practitioners (ODPs), also known overseas as an Anaesthetic Nurse, play a major role in each phase of a person’s operation. As an ODP, you’ll provide high standards of skilled care and support during each phase of a patient’s perioperative care - anaesthetic, surgery and recovery.

You’ll work in the surgery team and manage the preparation of the operating theatres. You'll also be the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital.

During the three of the phases of perioperative care:

Anaesthetic

• Provide help and support to patients before surgery
• Prepare a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs, including anaesthetic machines, intravenous equipment and devices that safely secure the patient's airway during anaesthesia

Surgery

• preparing all the necessary instruments and equipment for surgery, including microscopes, lasers and endoscopes
• providing the correct surgical instruments and materials to the surgeon
• being responsible for all surgical instruments, equipment and swabs during the operation
• acting as a link between the surgical team and other parts of the theatre and hospital
• anticipating the requirements of the surgical team and responding effectively

Recovery

• support and monitor the patient on their arrival into the recovery unit
• provide appropriate treatment until they have recovered from the effects of the anaesthesia and/or surgery
• assess the patient so they can be discharged back to a ward

What you need to apply

• Degree in Operating Department Practice
• 6-12 months ODP experience in your own country
• HCPC registration before coming to the UK

A Paramedic is responsible for the assessment, care, treatment, and transportation of patients. You will work in a variety of locations such as ambulances, response vehicles, patients’ homes, primary care settings, minor injury units, and accident and emergency departments.

Typical responsibilities:

• Carry out the full range of Paramedic duties as part of an operational crew, on a rapid response vehicle, or in other appropriate areas/vehicles
• Produce accurate and complete clinical records for all incidents and patients attended
• Appropriate use of equipment which will include various types of vehicles, diagnostic, invasive, and therapeutic equipment and support the integration of the electronic patient care record

What you need to apply:

• Paramedic Science degree
• A full valid manual driving license
• Experience of lifting and moving patients
• Experience of treating patients in an ambulance
• Experience of driving an ambulance
• It is preferable, but not essential, to have an HCPC registration

As a physiotherapist, you’ll focus on identifying and maximising movement to improve the health and wellbeing of your patients.

Your role is vital in treating a variety of conditions such as:

• neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's).
• neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis).
• cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack).
• respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis).

You’ll work with people on a daily basis, recommending exercise, carrying out massage, and using high-tech ultrasound equipment or even hydrotherapy pools, depending on your patient’s needs.

Once a patient’s movement problem has been diagnosed, you'll work with them to determine a treatment plan. You'll also promote good health and advise people on how to avoid injury.

What you need to apply

• Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy
• HCPC registration before coming to the UK
• For Band 5, a broad range of undergraduate placement in different areas
• For Band 6, you need 18 months experience working as Physiotherapist in a broad range of areas
• Possess knowledge and skills for the assessment and treatment of clients within a wide range of clinical settings

As a podiatrist, you’ll specialise in the foot, ankle and lower leg with a focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. You will help people deal with a range of mobility issues, relieve pain and treat infections.

Your duties will include examining patients through touch, laboratory tests and X-Rays to diagnose a wide range of conditions such as bunions, heel spurs, arthritis, fungal, fractures and deformities.

You’ll also be helping patients with a variety of different issues such as:

• children with lower limb pain or problems walking.
• diabetes sufferers with circulation problems who may be at risk of amputation.
• people with sports injuries and dancers whose long hours of rehearsing and performing put stress on their feet causing injury.

You’ll work with other healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, dietitians, general practitioners (GPs) and nurses and in a range of settings from hospitals and community clinics to the homes of patients.

What you need to apply

• Degree or Diploma in Podiatry and registered within your country
• HCPC registration before coming to the UK
• 6-12 months experience in Podiatry in another country

There are two main types of Radiographers in the UK, known as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers.

Diagnostic Radiographer

As a diagnostic radiographer, you’ll use cutting-edge technology to take images of the insides of patients to help understand and diagnose conditions. Based in a hospital, you’ll work with patients and colleagues to design treatment programmes and support patients until their treatment ends.

From using a CT scanner to make a 3D image for a surgeon to preparing a patient for an MRI scan – you’ll be using some of the most complex and advanced technology. Diagnostic radiographers are also central to a wider multidisciplinary team, working and consulting with colleagues across various departments.

Therapeutic Radiographers

Therapeutic radiographers are responsible for the planning and delivery of accurate radiotherapy treatments using a wide range of technical equipment. As a therapeutic radiographer, you’ll be part of a team helping people who are dealing with cancer.

Based in a hospital, you’ll work with patients and colleagues to design treatment programmes and support patients until their treatment ends. From taking an initial X-ray, to using a CT scanner or a linear accelerator, you’ll use some of the most complex and advanced technology to treat tumours. Therapeutic radiographers are also central to a wider multidisciplinary team, working and consulting with colleagues across various departments.

What you need to apply

• Degree in Radiography
• HCPC registration before coming to the UK
• 6-12 months experience in Radiography in another country

A Sonographer, also known as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (DMS) or Ultrasound Technician, uses imaging equipment and soundwaves (known as ultrasounds) to form images of many parts of the body to help with diagnosis. Whilst ultrasounds are widely known for pregnancy scans, they can also be used to create images of all types of areas such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints through-out the body.

Since ultrasound is a non-invasive way to visualise internal organs, it is often the first imaging test performed when disease is detected. Sonographers, therefore, have an important role in conducting and interpreting initial imaging tests that may help narrow down a patient’s diagnosis and quickly get them the care they need.

As a sonographer, you’ll work with a variety of healthcare professionals including Doctors, Nurses and Midwives.

Typical responsibilities

• Operating imaging equipment, and reviewing images to be sure they are of good quality and helpful for diagnosis
• Dealing sensitively with patients, before, during and after their scan
• Preparing patients for procedures and educating patients throughout the ultrasound exam
• Identifying normal and abnormal imaging results, communicating a summary of the results and writing reports to physicians or other healthcare professionals, and alerting physicians to urgent problems
• Training healthcare staff to use specialist equipment
• Making referrals to other healthcare professionals

What you need to apply

• A minimum of 12 months experience as a sonographer, preferably in a hospital setting, with no work history gaps more than 18 months
• No HCPC registration is required for this role

A Speech and Language Therapist provides life-changing treatment, support, and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing. They help people who, for physical or psychological reasons, have problems speaking and communicating.

Typical responsibilities:

• To discuss patients’ abilities to contribute appropriately to care plans
• To plan, administer, and/or supervise specific goal-orientated treatment programmes
• To monitor, evaluate and review treatment programmes and modify them as appropriate
• To apply knowledge, and understanding of the effects of disability or dysfunction on a patient’s physical, psychological, and social well-being
• To contribute to the wider holistic assessment of the patient’s care pathway

What you need to apply:

• Speech and Language Therapist Degree (BSc)/Equivalent Qualification
• 12 months of experience in Speech and Language Therapy
• It is preferable, but not essential, to have an HCPC registration