ABSTRACT
Health and social care affect the life of everyone. The focus for professional caring is its effect on those who are the recipients of care, but we must also pay attention to the personnel who provide that care. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is for those who work in the health service, social work, the professions allied to medicine and the voluntary sector, including their managers, personnel officers and counsellors. It explores the conscious and unconscious reasons why people choose health and social care as an occupation. The book looks at hierarchy, systems, organisational change and professional standards. These all have an impact on individual workers. The mismatch between the aspirations of the carers and the requirements of the organisation, patients and clients sets the scene for work-related stress. The book also explores the range of staff support services available.
