Professional Identity In Health And Human Service Delivery

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Health and human service delivery is relevant over all allied health roles, and involves working to achieve the utmost physical health, mental health and wellbeing, so that a valued life can be lead (1. DHS). The ability for a professional to provide the most beneficial health care to a patient is directly to related to the idea of professional identity. Once reached a level of professionalism a person will then be able to apply themselves within that profession using an acquired set of skills and knowledge. This is then where professional identity defines a person's self-concept, based on the individuals professional attributes, beliefs and experiences. A specific health care discipline that incorporates professional identity and all its over-arching …show more content…

Professional identity is also associated with a sense of belonging in a professional setting, and the feeling of a high status or attachment in their respected health care setting. Within specific health areas, professional identity is also associated with the idea of acquiring additional monetary or material resources, due to the high regard these professionals are held in and the work put in to gain this professional status in society. Within health and human service delivery there are many branching occupations and roles, each with different views on their own personal idea of professional identity. Specifically, one branch is occupational therapy, in which the discourse of professional identity strongly influences the care provided to patients. The overall role of an occupational therapist is to assist people in managing their living with primarily long-term health conditions (4) Through the use of assessment, occupational therapists are able to assist in developing patients skills to enable them to perform every day or meaningful activities. It is an easy industry to grow and develop ones professional identity as there are many new and …show more content…

Their main focus is to represent the interests of all registered occupational therapists across the country by providing them with support and promote them as a key feature in the health system (11). The achievement of the highest quality patient care, along with the way occupational therapist conduct themselves is governed highly by the occupational therapy Australia's code of ethics (also known as ethos) Although no legally binding, the code states the manner in which practicing occupational therapists must conduct themselves in a way that firstly does not discriminate against any client's position in society, and further more requires them to perform their professional duties in and ethically and responsible way (6) Patient safety is an issue covered widely by the code of ethics, ad can be defined as the prevention of harm to patients in all respects. To allow the clients to feel a sense of safety, whilst ultimately providing them effective care, an element of trust must exist between client and professional. This element of trust stems mainly from the 'Relationships with, and responsibilities to patients and clients' (6) section of the code of ethics. This particular section highlights the importance of confidentiality with patients information, along with the important notion of respecting the patient's rights in all areas.thsi governs

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