www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Glossary of Terms
Advocacy
Enabling, promoting cause of, or acting on behalf of, another person to secure the services they require or rights to which they are entitled.
Agency
Any organisation, statutory, voluntary, private or independent that manages, provides or arranges services.
Assessment
Assessment is a process carried out with a person, whereby their actual or potential needs and related matters are identified, their impact on independence, daily functioning and quality of life is evaluated, so that appropriate action can be planned.
Benefits Agency
Government department responsible for assessing and paying financial benefits, eg Income Support, Attendance Allowance.
Care Manager
Professional worker with responsibility for co-ordinating assessment, care planning, service delivery and reviewing of services for an individual.
Care Package
Combination of services put together to meet an individual's need.
Care Plan
Plan negotiated and agreed with user, carer and care manager. Follows an assessment and is likely to also involve providers of services (eg help with meals, respite care, nursing). Together they plan the best way of providing care within the resources available.
Carer
Person who provides personal care and support (but is not employed to do so) to another person living in the community who is frail, disabled or has mental health problems. Normally a relative, friend or neighbour.
Carers' Assessment
Way or working out with users and carers what services are required to support and assist person in need.
Commissioning
Process of specifying services to be provided by another agency to meet a need identified by the commissioner of services.
Community Care
Provision of services and support for people affected by problems of ageing, mental illness, learning disability, or physical or sensory disability, to enable them to live as independently as possible in their own homes or 'homely' settings.
Day Care
Communal care, usually away from user's home, where paid or voluntary workers are present. Can cover a wide range of services (eg meals, chiropody, hairdressing, entertainment).
Direct Payments
Cash payments to users to enable them to arrange and purchase their own care in accordance with their assessed needs and an agreed care plan.
District Council
Local authority responsible for housing, environmental health, leisure, etc.
Domiciliary Care
Personal care provided in the home.
Enable
To support and facilitate a group or individual to achieve their objective(s).
Empower
To give authority and control to a previously disadvantages group or person.
GP
General Practitioner or Family Doctor.
Health Care
Medical and nursing care.
Home Care
Personal care and practical help to people in their own homes provided by Social Services (Department of Adult & Community Services) or an independent agency.
Independent Sector
General term for private or voluntary (not for profit) service providers.
Primary Care
Local network of primary health care and local social services.
Primary Care Trust
Body responsible for local community health care i.e. GP Surgeries, Community Nurses, Dentists, etc.
Provider
Any organisation, agency, group of people or individual which supplies a service in the community, home or hospital.
Purchaser
Any organisation or agency which buys services directly from providers, or arrange services through contracts and/or commissioning plans.
Respite Care
Service giving carers short breaks from their caring responsibilities and/or provide opportunities for users to pursue chosen activities or to have respite.
Social Care
Non-medical and non-nursing care provided by Social Services (Department of Adult & Community Services), or arranged directly by them.
Social Services
Local Government Department responsible for personal services prescribed by law and regulations.
Statutory
Organisations set up by law, stature or government organisation regulation, eg County Council, Local Authority, Primary Care Trust, District Council funded by Central and/or Local Government revenue.
User
Any person who receives or is eligible to receive a community care service which a local authority or Primary CareTrust have a duty or power to provide or arrange.
Voluntary Organisation
Organisations that are not usually set up by law or organisation statute. Can include paid staff or volunteers, but usually managed by unpaid committee members and registered as charities. Funded by donations, grants, fundraising, etc.
Contact Details
By Post
Social Care Help Desk
Wiltshire County Council
Department of Community Services
(Adult Social Care Services)
County Hall
Trowbridge
BA14 8LE
By Email
socialcarehelpdesk@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
01225 713001
By Fax
01225 713355
