Preparing for Professional Practice in Health and Social Care

The new edition of Preparing for Professional Practice in Health and Social Care is a welcome resource for students and newly registered Allied Health professionals, emphasising client-centered practice while clarifying expectations from regulatory bodies such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The book presents a range of topics—such as law, ethics, interprofessional working, leadership, equality and diversity, team building, communication skills, and reflective practice—ensuring readers are fully prepared for the demands of their profession.

Readers will also find:

• Practical guidance on getting, and keeping, the job – from writing a CV, applying for jobs, interview techniques, as well as career-planning and continuing professional development
• Each chapter begins with an overview of the content and concludes with key take-home messages and further reading suggestions
• A set of self-assessment exercises
• Case studies and examples from clinical practice

Preparing for Professional Practice in Health and Social Care is a useful reference for all Allied Health professionals.

Anita Atwal, PhD, is currently an associate professor at London South Bank University, focusing on interprofessional working. She has been a lecturer in occupational therapy for over twenty years.

Contributors List xi

Introduction xiii

1 Reflection 1
Keith Walker & Alison Warren

Chapter Overview 1

Professionalism 2

Knowledge 3

Conceptions of Practice 4

Evidence-Based Practice 5

Clinical Reasoning 7

Reflection in Practice 8

Critical Thinking Is Not Possible without Reflection 9

Reflection and Reflexivity 9

Case Study 1 – Interprofessional Collaboration: Differing Assumptions Informing Ideas 10

Reflection Is Not Only an Individual Act 11

Reflective Models, Settings, and Tools 12

Models of Reflection 14

Case Study 2 – Individual Reflection (Model of Reflection): Realisation that Not as Evidence Based in Practice as First Thought 14

Case Study 3 – Individual Method of Reflection (Post-Graduate Study): Didn’t Find What Was Expected but Found More 15

Service User Perspective and Reflection – Shani Shamah 16

2 Care and Self-Care 21
SH Cedar

Chapter Overview 21

What Is Care? 22

The Science of Care 23

Why Self-care Is Important 24

Stress and Burnout 25

Methods of Self-Care 26

Boundaries 27

Resilience 27

Reflective Practice and Schwartz Rounds 29

Chaplaincy Services 30

Organisational Culture 31

Service User Perspective: Shani Shamah 32

Summary 33

3 Ethics and Professional Practice 37
Daniel Rodger

Chapter Overview 37

Personal and Professional Values 38

Unethical Behaviour 39

Fitness to Practice 39

Standards of Conduct, Performance, and Ethics 40

Standards of Proficiency for Physiotherapists 40

Questions to Consider 41

Ethical Theories 41

Utilitarianism 42

Scope of Practice 43

Deontology 43

Whistleblowing 44

Virtue Ethics 45

The Virtue of Trustworthiness 47

The Principle-Based Approach 48

Respect for Autonomy 49

Autonomy Reflection 49

Non-maleficence 50

Non-Maleficence Reflection 50

Beneficence 51

Justice 52

Justice Reflection 52

Social Justice 52

Reflecting on the Four Principles 54

Moral Dilemma: Case Study 54

Autonomy 55

Non-Maleficence 56

Beneficence 56

Justice 57

Summary 57

Ethical Disagreement 57

The Second Victim Phenomenon 58

Moral Distress 60

Disruptive and Uncivil Behaviour 62

Summary 64

4 Culture and Allied Health Professions Service Delivery 71
Musharrat J. Ahmed-Landeryou

Chapter Overview 71

Background 72

Culture and Professional Practice 72

Sociocultural Perspective of the AHPs 73

Belonging in AHPs 73

Power Dynamics and Equalising Space 76

Why Do You Need to Know about Culture as AHPs? 77

Race, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion-Relevant Legislation for Service Delivery 81

How do AHPs improve their ability to attend to cultural aspects of person-centred care? A checklist to take action to change 82

Checklist for Action – What to Do 83

5 Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Leadership 91
Anita Atwal and Kalimah Ibrahiim

Chapter Overview 91

Leadership 92

Quality Assurance and Change Management Models 98

Implementing Change 102

Service User Voice in Quality Improvement 103

Stage One: Making the Case for the Project 103

Stage Two: Building the Team 104

Stage Three: Observation 104

Stage Four: Recruitment of Professionals and Service Users 104

Stage Five: Co-Designed Groups 105

Stage Six: Communicating Outcomes 105

Audit 105

6 Allied Health Professionals and Interprofessional Practice 111
Anita Atwal

Summary 111

Teams 112

Be Able to Communicate and Have a Strong Professional Identity 116

Documentation and Communication 117

Electronic Care Records 121

Understand and Have Knowledge about the Role of Other Professionals and Support Staff 123

Know How to Manage Differences 125

Show Leadership When Needed 128

7 Preparing for Successful Career Transitions 133
Anita Atwal

Chapter Overview 133

Preparation for Transitioning 134

The Application Form 134

How Do I Make My Application Stand out? 137

The Application Process 138

Preparation for the Interview 138

Try to Avoid These Common Pitfalls 140

Preceptorship, Mentorship, and CPD 141

Mentorship 142

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 143

8 Professional Identity and Allied Health Professional Practice 147
Adele Stewart-Lord

Chapter Overview 147

Professional Identity 148

What is Professionalism within the Context of Allied Health? 155

Top Tips from Rachel Moses on Twitter (@AHPLeader) Include 155

Index 161

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.