This book has emerged from our experience in the education of allied health professionals (AHPs), particularly student occupational therapists. As tutors we were aware that students, especially as they neared qualification, struggled to find a suitable textbook examining the key areas that contextualised their study of profession-specific skills. Although there were a range of very useful sources examining profession-specific practice, philosophy and theory, there seemed to be little available covering the breadth of subjects needed to help AHPs understand and prepare for practice in the contemporary climate of health and social care. These were issues pertinent beyond our own profession and of common interest to all the professions in.
