Glossary of health and other care professionals

A nurse qualified to treat certain medical conditions without the direct supervision of a doctor due to education and training.

Group of autonomous practitioners – eg. dieticians, occupational therapists, paramedics, speech and language therapists - who work with other healthcare professionals and at various points along the care pathway. Their roles may span diagnosis, treatment, support and enabling independence.

Psychological therapist with arts-based experience plus training in psychological interventions who uses drama, music or art as their primary mode of communication.

Although not registered practitioners, they have a level of skill in a particular area of clinical practice and work in support roles alongside qualified health professionals.

Trained to evaluate disorders such as hearing loss, problems with balance, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and other auditory issues which may result from traumatic brain injury, and to help rehabilitate individuals, for example by the use of hearing aids.

Uses techniques based on learning theory to help shape new behaviours in individuals with behavioural problems.

Appointed by a solicitor in the case of serious injuries, or by the family affected, a Case Manager will assess the needs of the injured party and their family, and identify relevant and cost effective resources that will deliver maximum benefit for the client; they will help to co-ordinate the rehabilitation process which might involve care, support, therapies and specialist equipment.

In the event of a serious injury claim where liability has been accepted by an insurer, a Case Manager might be jointly appointed by the claimant’s solicitor and the compensator (often an insurance company).

Experienced Case Managers will often also be capable of negotiating elements of care with the local authority and social services. Case Managers are usually qualified nurses, occupational therapists or physiotherapists.

Healthcare professional trained to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. There is no difference between a chiropodist and podiatrist - podiatrist is simply a more modern name.

Offers various forms of therapy and treatments for difficulties relating to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, social and interpersonal problems and challenging behaviours to help make positive changes to their client’s lives.

Works alongside health professionals helping to set up equipment, preparing patients for therapy and sometimes assisting with the treatment itself.

Patients being discharged from hospital or specialist rehabilitation units may be referred to a Community Rehabilitation Team that offers physical and neurological rehabilitation services in people's homes and the community.

This team assesses the patient's healthcare needs and will plan and agree a rehabilitation programme to help them achieve their goals. Teams may include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists. Programmes are usually facilitated by rehabilitation support workers.

Therapies include: acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, clinical hypnotherapy, massage and osteopathy. In some cases, nurses and doctors or other healthcare professionals offer complementary or alternative therapies; in others, these therapies are carried out by complementary or alternative therapists. These therapies fall outside of mainstream healthcare; only two areas - chiropractic and osteopathy - are regulated.

A senior doctor who will have undertaken significant training to become a recognised specialist in their chosen field. Involved in the delivery of expert clinical care with the ability to recognise and manage complex cases. Also tend to be involved in the wider management and leadership of the departments and/or organisations within which they work.

Helps people to talk about their feelings so that they are able to see things more clearly or in a different way – for example, to help them deal with everyday life. Counsellors should have a recognised counselling qualification and some may also have a clinical / other professional qualification.

Translates the science of nutrition into everyday information about food, advising people and helping them to make informed and practical choices about their food and nutrition. Also assesses, diagnoses and treats dietary and nutritional problems such as difficulty with swallowing.

Helps patients and their families to navigate the sometimes complex process of discharge by assessing needs and co-ordinating resources to enable a safe discharge and to allow the patient to obtain optimum health after being discharged.

Visits people in their own homes or in residential care homes, providing care for patients, co-ordinating a range of care services and supporting families.

Assists with personal care and other practical household tasks to help people live more independently.

Helps children or young people who experience problems in an educational setting with the aim of enhancing their learning. They work in a variety of ways including observations, interviews and assessments and offer a wide range of interventions such as learning programmes, working collaboratively with the child or young person concerned, their teachers and parents.

Responds to medical emergencies, supporting the work of paramedics.

Specialist nurses with extra qualifications in neurology, care of a patient with epilepsy and nurse prescribing.

Healthcare professional with experience in falls prevention who helps people to reduce their risk of falling.

A brain injury can result in enormous disruption to the family routine and the way its members relate to one another. Broadly speaking, family therapists reach beyond the injured child or adult and help family members to help each other. The aims for each family will be different.

Your family doctor - primary care doctors provide the first point of contact with the NHS for most people in their communities. GPs treat all common medical conditions and refer patients to hospitals or other services for urgent and specialist treatment. Combine physical, psychological and social aspects of care and manage medication prescriptions.

Works in GP surgeries as part of the primary healthcare team and is involved in most aspects of patient care.

A healthcare professional who visits patients and their families at home to offer support.

Carries out basic care tasks for patients - such as helping them to bathe, shower, wash or dress themselves or with meals - under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital, nursing home or in the community.

Collective name given to qualified medical practitioners who are working whilst engaged in postgraduate training to become a consultant or GP. The term covers doctors just out of medical school through to others with many years’ experience.

A nurse who specialises in supporting the injured person and their family; they might speak with local agencies (eg. school nurses, social workers) on behalf of the family.

A doctor who temporarily covers for a regular doctor when they are absent or when an organisation is short-staffed.

Often instructed at the start of a personal injury claim to undertake an independent medical examination and report on the injuries suffered, treatment received, the effects of the injury and prognosis for recovery. Depending on the injury, multiple medical experts with different specialisms may be called on to examine and report on the same individual.

A team of professionals with different specialisms who work together in the care or rehabilitation of an injured person.

Therapists who use techniques involving music and sound to stimulate brain function controlling movement, cognition, speech, emotions and the senses; improvising music, using instruments or singing can help an injured person build on their ability to interact.

A nurse who has been specifically named to take care of a patient.

A doctor who specialises in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders that affect the central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord – and the peripheral nervous system ie. the nerves and muscles that activate movement and transmit sensation from all parts of the body to the brain, including vision and hearing. Neurologists can recommend surgical treatment, but do not perform surgery.

A psychologist specialising in the functions of the brain, particularly emotions and thinking skills such as memory, concentration and problem solving. They evaluate actual brain functioning in relation to ‘real life’ activities, behaviour and social adjustment to help a brain injured person return as far as possible to normal functioning, and will recommend alternative cognitive and behavioural strategies to manage the effects of brain injury.

A doctor who specialises in performing brain or spinal cord surgery.

Senior nurses with a role blending direct, higher level clinical care with education, research and management activities.

Carries out basic care tasks for patients - such as helping them to bathe, shower, wash or dress themselves or with meals - under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital, nursing home or in the community.

Advises on matters of health and nutrition but can only work with acutely ill or hospitalised patients when supervised by a regulated healthcare professional such as a dietician. Although not required by law to be registered, many nutritionists choose to join voluntary professional registers.

A member of the rehabilitation team who uses specific activities to limit the effects of disability and maximise a person’s independence by focusing on their ability to manage activities of daily living.

A doctor who is an eye specialist. A neuro-ophthalmologist will have more advanced training in vision problems caused by brain injury.

A doctor who specialises in the treatment of bones.

Usually part of a hospital team, an Allied Health Professional who specialises in diagnosing and treating visual problems involving eye movement and alignment.

A specialist in children’s health.

A neurologist specialises in the brain and nervous system; a paediatric neurologist specialises in these things in children. Also see Neurologist.

Trained in all aspects of urgent and emergency care, they provide a comprehensive healthcare service by assessing, diagnosing problems and treating patients who are either acutely ill or injured. While most paramedics work for NHS ambulance services, some work in other settings such as urgent care centres. They can administer a range of drugs and carry out certain surgical techniques.

Qualified to prepare and dispense drugs and medicines on the written order of a licensed practitioner such as a doctor. Pharmacists also provide advice on drugs to other healthcare professionals, patients and the public.

Physiotherapy is a key element in restoring physical ability. Physiotherapists evaluate the components of movement (such as muscle strength and tone, posture, co-ordination) and general mobility. As well as manipulating the muscles to encourage greater movement and flexibility, physiotherapy may take the form of specific exercises, or managing posture. Each patient’s targets in physiotherapy will be very different in order to achieve functional independence.

Sometimes children find it difficult to talk about their problems and concerns in the same way as an adult might; play therapy gives children a private, confidential space to work through anything that is troubling them.

A healthcare professional trained to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. There is no difference between a podiatrist and chiropodist - podiatrist is simply a more modern name.

Responsible for the running of a GP surgery.

Assesses and advises if an individual has any difficulties with areas such as memory and planning, or sense of wellbeing.

Produces and interprets high-quality images of the body to diagnose injuries and diseases.

A doctor who specialises in radiology, the branch of medicine that uses radiation techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

In a hospital environment, when a patient shows signs of imminent clinical deterioration, a team will be summoned to immediately assess and treat the patient with the goal of preventing admission to intensive care, cardiac arrest or death.

In the community, a rapid response team will provide short term care, support and rehabilitation in the patient’s home to help prevent the need for them to go into hospital.

Experts in assessing assistive technology needs for those with complex disability.

A nursing professional who assists patients with long-term disabilities to recognise their abilities and limitations and help them attain and maintain their maximum potential.

Works closely with many other medical specialities, healthcare professionals and agencies to assess and provide interventions to individuals with complex conditions. Working along the whole healthcare pathway, their aim is to improve the function of the individual and promote his/her participation in society.

Helps individuals to live as independently as possible by providing support and guidance with many aspects of everyday living, including physical, emotional and social. These workers normally care for a small number of individuals whom they get to know well. Some work in residential care homes, others provide support within the local community for individuals who are in supported housing or living independently.

Works with individuals and families to help them live more successfully and can be a key ally in difficult times. Their principal role is to make sure everyone in a family is managing and receiving the help and services they need. Social workers work with people to find solutions to their problems – eg. helping to protect vulnerable people from harm or abuse, or supporting people to live independently; their aim is to help people develop their skills and ability to use their own resources and those of the community around them to resolve problems. Social workers also work with other agencies including local authority departments and schools.

Specifically employed to work with children or young people who need extra support or an advanced programme of learning in order to reach their full educational potential; they will identify individual needs and create a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment. SEN teachers may work with those who have physical disabilities, sensory impairments, speech and language difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, or a combination of these difficulties.

Specialist nurses are dedicated to a particular area of nursing: caring for patients who have suffered a stroke, or with epilepsy or Parkinson’s for example. They provide direct patient care and can play a vital role in educating patients on how best to manage their symptoms, as well as offering support following diagnosis. In many cases the involvement of a specialist nurse can help to prevent patients being re-hospitalised.

Allied Health Professionals who provide treatment, support and care for individuals who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.

Offers support for the overall comfort and wellbeing of the individual and helps those who need care and support to live as independently as possible. Working in residential care homes, in the community and in people’s homes, their work is defined by a care plan, often developed by a social worker or case manager, to meet the assessed needs and wishes of the individual. Their duties vary significantly according to each individual.

Works alongside health professionals helping to set up equipment, prepare patients for therapy and sometimes assisting the therapist with the treatment.

Treats patients in a state of emergency, and handles situations where the cause of injury or disease may not yet be known. Usually work in Accident & Emergency departments where their main responsibility is to help stabilise the condition of the patient; often co-ordinate with doctors, other nurses and family members.

Responsible for ensuring high quality, safe and effective care in an in-patient setting by overseeing the day to day running of the hospital ward or unit.