Description
Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 1999 numerous changes have taken place in the contexts of speech and language therapists’ work and the delivery of services offered. Standards of service delivery and clinical competencies necessary for practice have been laid down more firmly and the registration of the profession under the auspices of the Health Professions Council has led to clearer specifications of the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the practicing clinician. Collaborative working is more firmly established with shared client programmes and records. A client-centred philosophy and social models of intervention permeate the health profession replacing or counter-balancing medical models of client-professional relationships. The second addition takes into account these shifts and provides the reader with current ideas and terminology. However, we feel there is much that has not changed. This is the need to have a sound knowledge of what the profession is and who it encompasses; the awareness of the concepts that underpin decision-making, planning and choice of activities; and understanding of the philosophies that drive the choice of working practices.
