Glossary of Terms

  • Abuse

    The violation or neglect of those unable to protect themselves, to prevent harm from happening, or to remove themselves from harm or potential harm by others.

  • Advocacy

    Actively promoting and representing the cause of another; speaking on behalf of someone as if speaking as that person.

  • Agency

    An establishment or organisation providing a service to users.

  • Assessment

    An exploration of service user needs as part of the process of care, in order to enable the service user to reach a quality of life which is as god as can be; the basis of planning.

  • Care

    Caring for people in society, other than self or family, in an agency whose codes of practice are dictated to and guided by legislation, policy and professional ethics.

  • Care Plan

    An agreement arising form an assessment about which needs are to be met, how they are to be achieved and how problems are to be dealt with.

  • Choice

    Promoting choice means giving different options, real options, from which the individual can select as independently as possible.

  • Client

    The recipient or user of a service.

  • Confidentiality

    Maintaining the right to privacy of information; not divulging personal information without consent.

  • Culture

    The way in which people live, lifestyle, values; cal also be seen as consisting of all the messages received from society about what is good, bad, desirable, undesirable, etc.

  • Domiciliary Care

    Domiciliary care can help people with personal care and some of the practical household tasks that help them to stay at home and be as independent as possible.

  • Discrimination

    The process whereby some groups or individuals in society treat others less favourably than themselves, based upon prejudice and stereotypes.

  • Equal Opportunity

    The belief that everyone should get an equal chance to make decisions and choices.

  • Holistic Care

    Care which sees the whole person in a social situation and attempts to satisfy physical, intellectual, communication, emotional, cultural, spiritual, spiritual and social needs.

  • POVA ( Protection of Vulnerable Adults)

    regulations surrounding the protection of vulnerable adults.

  • Rights

    The valid claims that individuals have, e.g. To be respected, to have privacy, etc.

  • Stereotype

    A fixed, general, over– simplified and usually negative image of what a particular individual or group is like because of the possession of certain characteristic, e.g. The false ‘stereotypes’ of all gay men being promiscuous, or all people from a particular city being mean.

  • Service User

    One who receives or avails him or herself of help or assistance towards fulfilling need and/ or improving the quality of life; sometimes also called a client or resident.

  • Whistle blowing***

    The term ‘whistleblowing’ is used in national minimum standards to describe the actions of employees who draw attention to bad practice where they work. Employees may whistleblow within their organisation or, if they do not have confidence in their employer or fear detriment as a result, may disclose their concerns to others.


* http://www.kent.gov.uk/adult_social_services/your_social_services/services_and_support/older_people/staying_in_your_own_home/
domiciliary_care.aspx

** Definitions were obtained from the book Care Practice for S/NVQ 3.(2005).Bookpoint Ltd, 130 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4SB.Miller, Lancaster, Graham, Gibb, Lavarie and Baker

*** www.cqc.org.uk/_dbl_documents/whistleblowing_arrangements.doc


footer