Oct 2015 – new terms – DRAFT 3

CARE AND SUPPORT JARGON BUSTER

Single words in bold have their own definitions elsewhere in the jargon buster, and should be linked on the website.

TERM / DEFINITION / COMMENTS FROM REVIEWERS
Appropriate adult / Someone over the age of 18 who stays with you if you have a mental health problem or disability, or are perceived as ‘vulnerable’, and are held by the police for any reason. This person, who should not work for the police, is there to support you and help you understand what is happening.
Autistic spectrum disorder / A condition that someone is born with that affects their ability to communicate and interact with the world around them. It is also called autism, and covers a wide range of symptoms. It affects people in different ways, and some individuals need much more help and support than others.
Carer’s Allowance
See also Carer / A weekly payment from the Government if you provide support to a partner, family member, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without your help. You don’t have to be related to the person or live with them to be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. Whether you can claim it depends on how many hours a week you provide care for, what benefits the person you care for receives, and how much you earn (but not how much money you have in savings).
Chronic condition
See also Long-term condition / An illness or health condition that you live with, that cannot be cured but can usually be managed with medicines or other treatments.
Counsellor / Someone who is trained to listen and help you think through particular problems or issues.
Discharge planning
See also Discharge summary / If you are in hospital, this is the process of planning when you will leave, where you will go, what you are likely to need once you are out of hospital, and how your needs will be met. You should expect to be part of these discussions and to know what is happening.
Discharge summary
See also Discharge planning / A report or letter that is sent to your GP when you have stayed in hospital, so that your GP knows what has happened and what you need. You should also be given a copy. The report should explain why you were in hospital, what treatment you received, the results of any tests that were done, what changes may have been made to your medicines, and any follow-up care that is needed.
Gateway worker / A mental health worker such as a nurse, social worker, occupational therapist or psychologist, who can help you with problems such as mild depression, anxiety or stress. Gateway workers work closely with GPs and can give you information and advice about support services in your area that may be helpful for you. You may see a gateway worker at your GP surgery or in your own home.
Key worker
See also Integrated care / A person who acts as a single point of contact for you, helps coordinate your care and can give you information and advice.
Locality commissioning
See also Commissioner / When a group of organisations in a local area come together to combine their funds and create a single process to plan and pay for the services that are needed in that area.
Ombudsman / Someone appointed by the Government or Parliament to investigate your complaints about an organisation or service. In England, if you have a complaint about the NHS that you think has not been fully dealt with, you may wish to complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. If your complaint is about a council, you can contact the Local Government Ombudsman.
Outreach / Support that you may be offered in your home or community, to help you with a particular condition or course of treatment or to help you take part in activities outside your home.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) / A regular benefit payment to help you with some of the extra costs caused by long-term illness or disability if you are over 16 and under 65. (PIP has replaced Disability Living Allowance, or DLA, for adults, although children under the age of 16 still receive DLA.) How much you get depends on how your condition affects you and how much help you need, not on the condition itself. You will be assessed on how well you can manage your activities of daily living and on how easily you can get around. It is dependent solely on your needs, not on your income or savings, and can be paid whether or not you are in work and alongside other benefits.
Support planning and brokerage service
See also Broker, Support plan / A service to help you plan and arrange the support you need to enable you to live your life the way you wish. An independent broker can help you understand what is available in your area and what you can spend your money on (either your own money or a personal budget from the council). This service may be offered by your council, or they may be able to tell you where you can find it.
Virtual budget
See also Personal budget, Direct payments / When your council allocates an amount of money to you as a personal budget, you can take this either as cash through a direct payment or as a virtual budget (also known as a managed budget). If you take it as a virtual budget, the council manages the money for you to arrange the services you choose, and you aren’t responsible for paying directly for the services you receive.