How to Develop Your Healthcare Career

Lisa E. Taylor, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and Employability Lead for the School of Rehabilitation Sciences (RSC), University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

• Contributors, ixForeword, xPreface, xiiChapter 1 Lisa TaylorWhat is employability and what does it mean for you?, 1Introduction, 1What does the literature say on employability and how it has evolved?, 2Towards a common language of employability, 2Models of employability, 3Personal responsibility for employability, 6External influences on employability, 6Response to changing expectations within the workplace and personal circumstances, 7How is employability approached within education?, 9Maximising your own employability potential, 11What do employers want from graduates?, 12Healthcare employability, 14Evidencing your employability, 16Conclusions, 17References, 19Chapter 2 Adrienne JollyCareer planning and management, 21Introduction – Aims of this chapter, 21What do we mean by ‘Career’?, 22Factors that influence our career, 27Making good career decisions, 31Possible causes of career change, 34In summary: What do we know? How can this help in considering future chapters?, 35References, 36Chapter 3 Rosemarie MasonProfessionalism, 37What is a profession?, 37Why is professional identity important?, 44Learning professionalism, 46Summary, 49References, 50Chapter 4 James GazzardContinuing professional development (CPD), 54Introduction, 54Objectives, 55The terminology of CPD, 56A definition of CPD, 56Motivations to engage with CPD, 58The precursors of effective CPD, 59Types of CPD: What counts as CPD?, 60Ensuring that different types of CPD are recorded, 63Levels of CPD, credit]bearing or non]credit]bearing CPD, 64Where to access CPD, 66How to access CPD: Overcoming barriers, 67Evaluating the effectiveness of CPD, 68An outline practical approach to planning and undertaking a balanced CPD portfolio, 70Conclusions, 71References, 72Further reading, 72Chapter 5 Neil SellenLeadership, 73Introduction, 73What is leadership?, 73Why is leadership important in health care?, 74Leadership as a professional responsibility, 75Why choose to be a leader?, 75Leadership and management, 77Leadership and culture, 78What is your approach to leading?, 78What do employers want in early and developing leaders?, 79What are the component behaviours and personal qualities that influence leadership effectiveness?, 80What sort of leader are you?, 81Typical leadership development activities, 82Employers’ expectations of early career healthcare professionals, 82When will you feel like a leader?, 83Tips and trips, 84References, 85Further reading, 85Chapter 6 Jonathan LarnerService improvement, 87Background and context, 87Where has service improvement come from?, 89How does service improvement feature in healthcare education?, 92Service improvement as an ‘employability skill’, 93What level of service improvement experience will be expected?, 94What specific skills can I demonstrate through service improvement experience?, 96Service improvement and leadership skills, 99Conclusions, 100Case studies, 100References, 107Chapter 7 David Dowdeswell AllawayBusiness skills, 109Things, 110People, 115Time, 122Money, 125Summary, 128References, 129Chapter 8 Stephanie AllenThe job application process, 130Getting behind the recruitment process, 130Introducing the CV, 131Other application processes, 136The personal statement, 136Preparing for the interview, 137The interview itself, 138What next?, 141Reference, 142Further reading, 142Chapter 9 Consolidation of learning and moving forward, 143Chapter 1 – What is employability and what does it mean for you?, 144Chapter 2 – Career planning and management, 144Chapter 3 – Professionalism, 146Chapter 4 – Continuing professional development, 147Chapter 5 – Leadership, 149Chapter 6 – Service improvement, 149Chapter 7 – Business skills, 150Chapter 8 – The job application process, 151Consolidation of learning and moving forward conclusions, 152Reference, 152Index, 153