18. Appendix 2: Glossary of terms

Abuse	Single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to another person, including physical, emotional, verbal, financial, sexual or racial abuse, neglect, and abuse through the misapplication of drugs.
Care assessment	Collection and interpretation of data to determine an individual's need for health, personal and social care and support services, undertaken with the individual, his or her supporter and relevant professionals.
Care plan	A written statement, regularly updated and agreed by all parties, setting out the health and social care and support that a Client requires in order to achieve specific outcomes and to meet their particular needs.
Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)	A single inspectorate for social care in England which is responsible for all social care services, whether local authority or independent, to check the required standards are being met.
Domiciliary Care	A care service provided to people in their own homes.
Community Support Worker	Someone who works on a paid basis for an organisation which provides personal domiciliary care services to people who live in their own homes.
Team Leaders	The individuals responsible for planning the delivery of care and ensuring Clients receive their visits from the home care assistants as planned.
Operational Manager	The individual responsible for organising the delivery of care provision, for supervising the Team Leaders and monitoring the quality of the service.
Moving and handling	Assisting Clients with safe transfer from one area of the home to another, by use of specific equipment identified by risk assessment.
Personal care	Includes assistance with bodily functions where required.
Policy	An operational statement of intent which helps staff make sound decisions and take actions which are legal, consistent with the aims of the service, and in the best interest of Clients.
Procedure	The steps taken to fulfil a policy.
Risk assessment	An assessment undertaken by a trained and qualified person of the potential risks to Clients and staff in delivering care.
Client	Person who is receiving the care service.
Standard	A measure by which quality is judged.
Client Information Pack	Information given to Clients to keep in their own home about the home care service.

This document was updated in January 2007

Policies and Procedures

18. Appendix 2: Glossary of terms