Jargon buster

Unfortunately, there are a lot of words and phrases used in the support service world. We have explained many of the most common ones below. If you have seen a word or phrase on Enham's website which should be included in this Glossary, please let us know by emailing marketing@enham.org.uk.

A

Advocacy / Advocate

Advocacy is a way of helping an individual to express themselves to other people. The person who helps to do this is known as an advocate. They will usually be someone who is independent from any services provided and not employed by health or Adult Social Services. An advocate can act on behalf of an individual with things such as arranging or asking for support, or speaking at a meeting.

B

Brokerage

A service where individuals called brokers help people gain access to the social care and support services they need.

C

Care Home

A home registered with the Care Quality Commission and providing nursing and/or personal support as well as living accommodation.

Care Plan

A care plan will say in writing what help a person needs and who will be doing this. A care plan can include help from Adult Social Services and health, with things like getting help from a nurse, managing your money properly or learning to live in your own accommodation.

D

Direct Payments

Direct Payments are cash payments that a person receives from local authorities to purchase and arrange their own support.

I

Individual Budgets

Individual budgets are defined as including council funding (e.g. a personal budget) alongside other sources of funding.

M

Mental Capacity

The Mental Capacity Act says "a person must be assumed to have the capacity to make decisions for themselves unless it is established that they lack capacity". This means people must have an assessment of their capacity before decisions can be made on their behalf.

P

Person-centred Plan

This is a plan which says what a person wants to do with their life and what support they will need to do this.

Personal Budget

The actual amount of money Adult Social Care will make available to meet a service user's social care needs as identified in an assessment. The personal budget can be used to arrange services through a direct payment, through services arranged by Adult Social Care staff or a combination of the two.

Personalisation

Government-led agenda to ensure that every person who receives support, whether provided by statutory services or funded by themselves, will have choice and control over the shape of that support in all care settings.

Positive Risk Taking

Allows individuals to take control over their own lives by weighing up the potential benefits and harms of exercising one choice of action over another. Gives them the support they need to take the risks they want and to make informed choices.

R

Referral

This is what happens when Adult Social Services or another agency are asked to see if they can provide support to a person.

Resource Allocation System (RAS)

The system a local authority uses to decide how much money an individual receives for their support.

Respite Care

This is a service which helps a carer to have a break from caring by looking after the person they normally care for.

S

Self-Directed Support

Enables service users to have greater choice and control over the social care and support services they receive to meet their assessed needs.

Support Plan

A plan developed by service users (with help if needed) to show how they can use funding from Adult Social Care and other resources to meet their assessed needs. The service user will be made aware of their indicative amount and have a copy of the statement of their needs before they start work on their support plan.

T

Trust Fund

A legally set up body to receive and administer Direct Payments on behalf of a service user. The service user will in effect receive an indirect payment.