If you are new to caring or the health and social care sector, there may be some names, terms, and acronyms used by others that are confusing.

Below is an A-Z of commonly used terms and acronyms that you may hear to help you understand what is being discussed!

Key Terms Explained

C

Carer: A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

Carers Assessment: A carer’s assessment is a critical intervention which supports a local authority to determine whether a carer has a need for support to help them live their day-to-day life and to continue providing support to an adult.

Cared for: A cared for person is someone who is protected and provided with the things they need, especially someone who is young, vulnerable, elderly or ill.

Case Management: Case Management is the process of planning, coordinating and reviewing the support/ care of an individual. Case management refers to a package which covers a range of activities and interventions that seek to address the identified needs and outcomes of the individual.

Commissioning: The NHS defines commissioning as: “the process of assessing needs, planning and prioritising, purchasing and monitoring health services, to get the best health outcomes”. Commissioning is essentially the buying of services and equipment to make sure people’s health needs are met.

Community Led Support: Community Led Support (CLS) is an approach to meeting people's needs for care and support that maximises their strengths and community connections.

Community Sector: The community sector refers to various groups of people who come together based on shared social, political, economic, cultural, or religious interests.

H

Hidden Carers: Hidden Carers are unidentified Carers, often not receiving any help or support and are usually unaware that they are carers.

Hub Model: The central control/contact centre.

L

Lead Provider / Provider: Refers to the Provider who is awarded this Contract and is responsible for the management, coordination, provision and delivery of the service.

Local Authority: Refers to an organisation that is officially responsible for all the public services and facilities in a particular area.

M

Mobilisation Period: The Mobilisation Period is a term used in contracts and refers to the time from the date of signature of the contract to the Commencement Date. It is the period in which activities defined in the contract would be completed.

P

Provider Partners: Refers to the partners of the provider (if any) that shall be providing the Service set out in this specification in collaboration or partnership with the provider.

S

Self-Assessment: This is where the assessment is conducted by the individual requiring care and support.

Social Care Assessment: A social care assessment helps to find out the information needed so that it can be decided whether a person needs care and support to remain independent and help them live their day-to-day lives.

Support Planning: Support planning is a defined process which helps people set their own aims, and then secures the support and care that are needed to achieve them.

U

Universal Carers Assessment: A triage and first point of contact approach to Carers assessments that should complement and support Social Care Assessments.

W

Whole Family Approach: Whole family approach is to take a holistic view during assessment and support planning, with a focus on the impact and support solutions for the whole family or others in their support network.

Whole System Redesign: An integrated commissioning and change management approach for the review and development of the outcomes, processes, pathways and contracts to ensure that local support is available to meet the changing needs and aspirations of Older Adults and Carers, is aligned to the local health and social care economy and is Care Act and Children and Families Act compliant.

Y

Young Carer: A young carer is someone aged 25 and under who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

Young Adult Carer: Young adult carers are young people aged 16–25 who care, unpaid, for a family member or friend with an illness or disability, mental health condition or an addiction.

Acronyms and Abbreviations Explained

BCWS - Bridgend Carers Wellbeing Service

Block - We are paid a lump sum of money to deliver a service

CCO - Care Co-ordinator

CLCC - Community Led Care and Carers Service

CPPOG - Contract Planning and Performance Oversight Group

CPO - Care Planning Officer

CQC – Care Quality Commission

DLA – Disability Living Allowance

HFRS - Home First Response Service

KPI - Key performance indicators

NCA - Northamptonshire Carers Association

NNHD - North Northamptonshire Hospital Discharge Service

RIF - Regional Integrated Fund

RM - Regional Manager - Registered Manager

SDP - Service Delivery Plans

SEN – Special Educational Needs

SIT REP - Situation Report

Spot - Pay as go services

YCiS - Young Carers in Schools