Allied Health Professionals

The Allied Health Professions (AHPs) are the third largest workforce in the NHS. As an AHP, you would provide system-wide care to assess, treat, diagnose and discharge patients across social care, housing, education, and independent and voluntary sectors. For more information on the AHP roles, have a look at this webinar series.

There are 15 AHP roles which include the following:

• Diagnostic radiographers – as a diagnostic radiographer, you are responsible for providing safe and accurate imaging examinations and reports to diagnose an injury or disease.
• Therapeutic radiographer – as a therapeutic radiographer you play a vital role in the treatment of cancer and provide care and support for patients throughout their radiotherapy treatment.
• Paramedics – paramedics are the senior ambulance service healthcare professionals at an accident or a medical emergency. You will be responsible for assessing the patient’s condition and then giving essential treatment.
• Dietitians – specialise in assessing, diagnosing and treating diet and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public health level using the most up–to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease.
• Music therapists – aim to engage clients in live musical interaction to promote emotional wellbeing and improve their communication skills. In particular, music therapy is an effective intervention for those clients who cannot speak due to disability, illness or injury.
• Physiotherapists – you will use physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being.

General Manager

General management can cover a wide range of responsibilities and areas, ranging from overseeing hospital trusts’ budgets, managing a divisions of staff or managing new policies from planning to implementation.

General management roles include the following:

• Communications and corporate affairs – interacting with the community, patients, staff and other stakeholders on behalf of your organisation.
• Performance and quality management – working with staff to set and meet standards for the provision of services.
• Project management – planning, delivering and implementing a new policy, site or service.
• Purchasing and contract management – tendering and contracting for the supply of goods and services.
• Strategic management – helping to set and deliver the direction of the organisation.

Estates Manager

Estates managers are responsible for managing and maintaining NHS properties to make sure they are safe for patients, staff and visitors. As an estates manager, you’re responsible for day-to-day estates operations including:

• property transactions (buying and selling)
• organising repairs and maintenance
• project managing building and renovations.

In many hospitals and trusts, you’re also responsible for facilities management. This can include domestic and hotel services, catering and laundry. You will have some contact with clinical staff, but little or no contact with patients.

Nurse

As a registered nurse, there’s really no limit to how far you can go in the NHS. With lifelong professional development always available, you’ll always be able to progress your career. There are four areas of nursing you can specialise in:

• Adult nursing – specialises in caring for people aged 18 and above. Some may have one health condition to manage, others may have multiple conditions. You’ll work with a wide range of specialists to deliver the best outcome.
• Child nursing – aims to minimise the effects of illness on children from newborns to adolescents. You’ll work closely with parents or guardians and other healthcare specialists in this role.
• Learning disabilities – you’ll work with adults and children who have a range of learning disabilities. A learning disabilities nurse works to improve or maintain their patient’s health, encourage independent living and help them lead a fulfilling life.
• Mental health – you’ll support people with a range of mental health conditions. Some may need long-term care, others short-term support. As a mental health nurse, you’ll help them take more control over their condition.

Engineer

As an engineer, you could work in different departments using your engineering skills in different ways. Engineering roles include:

• Biomedical engineer – maintaining and managing medical equipment in operating theatres, intensive care, neonatal units, accident & emergency or radiology.
• Plant maintenance engineer – making sure that water supplies and drainage, electrical systems, boilers and alarms are working well within NHS buildings.
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineer – making sure all hospital areas are safe to use and kept at the right temperature, to keep patients warm or vital supplies cool.
• Prosthetic engineer – creating and maintaining artificial limbs (prosthetics).
• Building services engineer – overseeing the installation and maintenance of systems within buildings, including lighting, lifts, communications and security.