I QUALIFIEDOUTSIDE THE UK

I’M AT COLLEGE

I’M AT SCHOOL

LOOKIN

G FOR A

CAREER CHANGE

I’D LIKE TORETURN TO

AHP PRACTICE

Click on a planet to learn more about each profession… or click on a rocket to see the pathway to help you get there!

Registered Allied Health Professional

OperatingDepartment

Practitioners

Art Therapists

Diagnostic

Radiographers

Orthoptists

Podiatrists

Paramedics

Drama -therapists

Prosthetists

Orthotists

Therapeutic

Radiographers

Speech &Language

Therapists

Osteopaths Occupational

Therapists

Physiotherapists

MusicTherapists

Dieticians Dietitians

Reach for the stars with your Allied Health Profession (AHP) career!

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Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its main mode of expression and communication. 

Art therapists/art psychotherapists use art as a medium to address emotional issues which may be confusing and distressing. There may be things which clients cannot say in words. This could be because the emotions are too distressing. Or it may be because the client has difficulties with communication.

Diagnostic radiographers use the latest technology to look inside the body in different ways. 

You'll use a range of imaging technology and techniques to help work out what disease or condition is causing a person’s illness or as part of their treatment, including x-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound scanners. In some cases, you will also interpret the images and report your findings.

In the NHS, you're likely to work in the radiology and imaging departments of hospitals. You'll provide a service for most departments within the hospital including accident and emergency, outpatients, operating theatres and wards. You may work in private clinics and hospitals.

Dietitians translate the science of nutrition into everyday information about food.

You'll advise people and help them make informed and practical choices about their food and nutrition. You'll assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. You'll also teach and inform the public and health professionals about diet and nutrition. Your aim is to promote good health and prevent disease in individuals and communities.

Dramatherapy uses role play, voice work, movement and storytelling to help clients explore and solve personal and social problems.

You'll use the healing aspects of drama and theatre to help people explore and reflect on their feelings. You'll offer people the opportunity to change by experimenting with different ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.

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Music therapists use the power of music to help people deal with feelings they cannot put into words. 

You’ll help your clients achieve therapeutic goals through the development of the musical and therapeutic relationship.

You'll work with the natural musicality of clients and offer a client-led approach. You'll use a wide range of musical styles and genres including free improvisation to offer appropriate, sensitive and meaningful music interaction with your clients. Therapists also work one to one or in groups, depending on the needs of the client.

Operating department practitioners work with surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses to help ensure every operation is as safe and effective as possible. You’ll provide high standards of skilled care and support during each phase of an individual’s perioperative care - anaesthetic, surgical and recovery.

ODPs also manage the preparation of the environment, equipment and act as the link between the surgical team and other parts of the operating theatre and hospital. They must be able to anticipate the requirements of the surgical team and respond effectively.

Occupational therapists take a ‘whole-person’ approach to both mental and physical health and wellbeing to enable individuals to achieve their full potential.

Illness, injury, disability or ageing can make ordinary tasks such daily care (washing, dressing, eating), work or education and leisure harder to do. You'll help people find ways to continue with activities that are important to them. This might involve learning new ways to do things, or making changes to their environment to make things easier.

Orthoptists specialise in diagnosing and managing eye conditions, in a wide age range of individuals, that largely affect eye movements, visual development or the way the eyes work together.

Orthoptics is an exciting and varied career. It offers you the chance to make a difference, a high degree of flexibility and excellent employment prospects. You’ll work with people every day to help improve their care and their lives.

Most orthoptists work in the NHS. You may work in an eye hospital, hospital eye department or a community health centre. You may also visit schools, including special schools. Outside the NHS, you may work in private clinics.

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Osteopaths use a range of safe and effective approaches including manual therapy, exercise and advice, to promote the optimum environment for health, based on the person’s individual needs.

They have expertise in the musculoskeletal system and its relationship to other systems of the body in the promotion of good health.

Most osteopaths work as self-employed primary care practitioners in private practice, able to diagnosis and treat a wide range of health issues, although there are opportunities to work within the NHS and in secondary care.

Physiotherapists work with people to help with a range of problems which affect movement using exercise, massage and other techniques.

You'll help and treat people with physical problems caused by illness, injury, disability or ageing. You'll see human movement as central to the health and wellbeing of individuals so they aim to identify and maximise movement.

As well as treating people, you promote good health and advise people on how to avoid injury.

Paramedics care for individuals in the community or in their own home. working closely with other healthcare teams, such as GPs, district nurses and pharmacists.

Working within ambulance services, you would also provide emergency care in response to 999 calls, caring for critically ill and injured individuals and transporting them to the right place for further treatment.

Paramedics also work in other areas of healthcare, such as GP practices, hospital emergency departments and police custody suites where you would be responsible for providing a wide range of treatments and managing ongoing care plans.

Podiatrists work with people’s feet and legs. You'll diagnose and treat abnormalities and offer professional advice on care of feet and legs to prevent foot problems.

You’ll see a huge variety of people and help them with many different issues as podiatrist.

As well as seeing different individuals and conditions you’ll also have the opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team in a range of settings from hospitals to community clinics to people’s own homes.

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Orthotists provide a range of aids to correct problems or deformities in people’s nerves, muscles or bones.

As an orthotist your aim is to aid movement, correct deformity and relieve discomfort. This involves assessing the patient’s needs.

You'll treat people of all ages with a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, cerebral palsy, stroke, spina bifida and scoliosis.

You’ll work alongside doctors, nurses, podiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and technicians.

Speech and language therapists provide treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.

You'll help people who, for physical or psychological reasons, have problems speaking and communicating.

Patients range from children whose speech is slow to develop, to older people whose ability to speak has been impaired by illness or injury. It also includes treatment for those who have difficulty with eating or swallowing.

Prosthetists specialise in prosthetic (artificial) limbs and the treatment of those with limb loss or absence.

As a prosthetist, you are responsible for the assessment, prescription, measurement, design, fit, supply and review of prosthetic limbs for these individuals.

You'll work with people of all ages who may have been born with a limb missing, lost an limb in an accident or during military service, or had a limb amputated as a result of a condition such as diabetes.

Therapeutic radiographers use doses of x-rays and other ionising radiation to treat medical conditions - mainly cancer and tumours.

You will work to high levels of accuracy to help ensure the individual’s tumour or cancer receives exactly the right dose of radiation.

The difference you make to the individual’s life is one of the most exciting things about being a therapeutic radiographer. As well as seeing different people and conditions you’ll also have the opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team.

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Lore

It’s important to think about which GCSEs you choose and the options for what you do next, such as which A levels (or equivalent qualifications) you might take. Think about what your likely GCSE results will be and check the entry requirements for the profession(s) you are interested in. You may also want to consider apprenticeships, cadet schemes, traineeships, T levels or assistant/support roles available in your area. It would be helpful to speak to an AHP about their role, seek work experience or volunteering opportunities in a relevant setting and look out for relevant health careers events in your area. Your careers adviser will also be able to assist you.

Think about what your likely results will be and check the entry requirements for the profession(s) you are interested in. You may also want to consider apprenticeships or assistant/support roles available in your area. If you are planning to study for a degree in a particular profession, look into which universities offer these courses and their requirements. It would also be helpful at this stage to speak to an AHP about their role, seek work experience or volunteering opportunities in a relevant setting and look out for relevant health careers events in your area. Your careers advisor will also be able to assist you.

Whether you are a recent school leaver, already working in a healthcare role or have followed a different career path and are looking for a change of direction, there are various routes you could consider towards training as an Allied Health Professional. Check the entry requirements for the profession(s) you are interested in to help plan your next steps towards gaining the required qualifications and consider the options that will best suit your current circumstances, which could include cadet schemes or traineeships. It is also possible to build up to an AHP qualification through apprenticeships or you can access some of the AHP assistant/support roles this way. It would be helpful to speak to an AHP about their role, seek work experience or volunteering opportunities in a relevant setting and look out for relevant health careers events in your area.

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LOOKING FORA CAREER CHANGE

I’M AT SCHOOL

If you trained as an AHP but have since left the profession and the HCPC register, Health Education England run a programme that can provide help and information if you want to return to practice. You can also approach your local health and social care organisations to find a placement.

You must be registered with the HCPC in order to work as an AHP in the UK (General Osteopathic Council for Osteopaths). There are different requirements for registration if you trained outside the UK. Further details can be found on the NHS Health Careers website.

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I QUALIFIED OUTSIDE THE UK

I’D LIKE TO RETURN TOAHP PRACTICE