Glossary
Why we have a glossary
Just like all businesses and professions, we develop our own language. “We” in the Social Care business, all know what “we” are talking about because it is every day language for us. We often assume that everyone else understands what we mean but why should you?
This Glossary attempts to explain some terms that are used in the Web Site or that you may come across – a translation of the “professional jargon”.
A - F G - L M - Z
A - F
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) – Refers to all of those everyday things that most of us take entirely for granted but which actually require considerable physical, intellectual and emotional ability and skills. Everything from getting up, washed and dressed in the morning, to cooking, eating, shopping, washing up, laundry, getting out and meeting people, even through to getting and holding down a job.
Approved Mental Health Professional – A professional, usually a Social worker, who is specifically qualified to make decisions, alongside Doctors, as to whether some one is a danger to themselves or others as a result of a mental illness. The Approved Mental Health Professional can, along with a nearest relative, make application to a psychiatric hospital for the admission of someone against their will, on the grounds that they are so ill they do not know what is in their best interest. Such action is always a last resort and support and help for the person in their home will always be the first option. Nonetheless, sometimes “sectioning” (detention in a hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983) is unavoidable and the right thing in the longer term.
On occasions, the Police need to be involved in the detention of the person. Police are lawfully authorised to assist in the detention of someone under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Assessment – The Unified Assessment. The formal process for identifying and recording the health and social care needs of someone who may appear to need social or health care services with evaluation of the risks they face, so that appropriate services can be offered.
Care Manager / Care Coordinator – A person employed by Powys County Council, or employed or contracted by Powys (t)Local Health Board. \their job is to get to know you and your circumstances and decide with you what help you need and where it might come from. They will also explain to you what the service(s) will cost and will ensure that your needs continue to be monitored and reviewed
CPA - The Care Programme Approach. The formal process of identifying and recording the needs of people with severe mental health problems and the risks they face, so that appropriate services can be offered.
Discharge Liaison Nurse – A nurse employed by Powys tHB Health Service to arrange the prompt discharge of patients from District General Hospitals servicing Powys residents either back to their own home, with or without services as appropriate, or to local Powys Community Hospitals as appropriate.
Eligibility Criteria – Please see “Who Can Get Help from Social Care Services”
Emergency Social Care Services – In an emergency - when you have an urgent and unexpected need, Social Care Services can provide what is needed if you are eligible and the service can be made available at short notice. If it cannot be provided, we will nonetheless need to find a solution to meet your needs along with you. There will be no cost to the service unless and until we have, with you, considered your longer term needs (Assessment) and have established and agreed a Plan of Care with you.
Emergency needs during working hours (Mon. – Thurs. 08:30 -16:45 / Fri. 08:30 - 6:15) should be directed to your local Adult Social Care Office.
Outside of these hours and on Bank and National holidays please call 0845 054 4847.
The service outside of office hours is not a continuation of the day time service and will only deal with emergencies – that is those things that cannot wait for the next working day and the day time staff who may know more about your circumstances. The service cannot take messages and should only deal with things that cannot wait.
Extra Care Housing – Housing provided by Powys County Council or a Social Housing Provider (voluntary sector) where care is provided on site as part of the tenancy.
G - L
Independent Living Fund – This is a Central Government funded agency providing discretionary money to enable disabled people aged 18-64 to buy personal and domestic care to help them live in their own home with a more intensive level of support.
Learning Disability - Most learning disabilities are caused by the way the brain develops - before, during or soon after birth. However, there are also causes that affect children at an early age. A person has a learning disability all through their life. There are many different types of learning disability which can be mild, moderate or severe. All affect the ability of people to be totally independent.
M - Z
Monitoring – When your Plan of Care has been agreed and the services you need are started, the Care Manager should monitor those services and ask you whether you are satisfied with the services or whether changes need to be made. Once everything is settled and agreed, there should be a review of your needs and services at east every year
Nursing Care Homes – These are Care Homes that are specifically registered to provide nursing care as well as the personal/social care that is provided in a residential care home. They are for people who have a specific and continuing health care need.
Occupational Therapists - People who assess the needs of disabled adults, children and their carers, looking particularly at their ability to be independent in everyday activities – washing, dressing, going to the toilet, cooking, eating, etc., etc. Occupational Therapists provide training and equipment to help people to be as independent as possible. They also carry out manual handling risk assessments in the community for those who are heavily dependent on others to help them to move.
Private Sector Services – services that provided by private businesses on a profit making basis. Powys County Council often employs private businesses to deliver the service you need. Private sector businesses provide personal and domiciliary care, residential and nursing care, meals, etc.
Reablement - A service provided by Health and Social Care Services which sits between hospital and being home. The Reablement Service tries to avoid unnecessary admission to hospital and encourages supported discharge from hospital as soon as possible. Includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, equipment and personal care at home as an alternative to being in hospital. Obviously, it is not an appropriate service when acute hospital care is needed.
Residential Care Homes - These are intended for older people in need of levels of personal care that cannot be provided or afforded in their own home or where own home is physically inappropriate. Homes in Powys are provided by the voluntary and private sector. Powys County Council can pay for places if there is an assessed need (people pay a substantial contribution to the cost according to a national Government financial assessment) or they can be purchased privately
Review – Once a Plan of Care is established and acceptable, there should be a review of your needs and the service provided at least annually. Things change. If your needs change for better or worse, please let us know. If you become unhappy with the service(s) you receive, please let us know.
“Sectioning” - Detention of someone with a mental illness in a psychiatric hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983. An Approved Mental Health Professional, usually a Social worker who is specifically qualified to make decisions alongside Doctors and a nearest relative, may make application to a psychiatric hospital for the compulsory admission of someone who has a mental illness and who is a danger to themselves or others (on the grounds that they are so ill they do not know what is in their best interest). Such action is always a last resort and support and help for the person in their home will always be the first option. Nonetheless, sometimes, admission to hospital is unavoidable and the right thing in the longer term).
On occasions, the Police need to be involved in the detention of the person. Police are lawfully authorised to assist in the detention of someone under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Supporting People - Housing support to be commissioned by local councils on the basis of service users' assessed needs in order to ensure that recipients are able to sustain a tenancy or remain living in their own homes. The scheme will operate in parallel with the Housing Benefit system that will continue to meet rental costs as well as the costs incurred in delivering standard landlord functions.
Social Work – A professionally qualified and registered person who works as a Care Manager but who is also trained and qualified to help you to sort out (if possible) any relationship and social problems that may be preventing you from getting the help you need or from finding your own solutions to the challenges you face. Some Social Workers are also qualified as Approved Mental Health Practitioners.
Unified Assessment Process (UAP) - Framework across health and social care so duplication is minimised and an individual receives timely and proportionate assistance appropriate to their risks and needs. The UAP aims to put individuals at the centre of their own assessment.
Telecare - A combination of equipment, monitoring and response that can help individuals to remain independent at home. It can include basic community alarm services able to respond in an emergency and provide regular contact by telephone as well as detectors which pick up things like falls, fire, accidents/illness in the night, wandering and trigger a warning to a response centre.
Third Sector Services – Refers to services provided by the voluntary and private organisations and businesses as different from those provided directly by the public sector.
Voluntary Sector Services - services that are organised and provided by voluntary businesses on a not for profit basis. Voluntary sector workers are usually employed although some will be “volunteers”. Powys County Council often employs voluntary sector services to deliver the service you need. Voluntary sector businesses provide personal and domiciliary care, residential and nursing care, meals, day care, support groups, information and advice services, etc.
Wellbeing - The state of being healthy, happy and prospering. An individual's health and well-being is affected by a number of different factors that contribute positively to health and well-being such as:
• a balanced diet
• regular exercise
• supportive relationships
• adequate financial resources
• stimulating work, education and leisure activity
• use of health monitoring and illness prevention services (such as screening and vaccination)
• use of risk management to protect individuals and promote personal safety
