Social care comes with its own language. Here's what the terms you'll see across this site, and in conversations with us, actually mean.
Care terms,plainly explained.
Social care comes with its own language. Here's what the terms you'll see across this site, and in conversations with us, actually mean.
Care & Support
Care Plan
A written plan describing a person's needs, goals and the support they receive, reviewed regularly and updated as circumstances change.
Community & Social Inclusion
Support that helps someone take part in everyday community life, including work, leisure and relationships, rather than being isolated within a service.
Complex Care
Support for people with significant or combined health and behavioural needs, usually requiring a higher level of trained, consistent support.
Person-Centred Support
Support that starts with what matters to the person: their routines, preferences and goals, rather than fitting them into a standard service.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
An evidence-based framework for understanding why behaviours that challenge happen, and building support around a person's needs rather than reacting to the behaviour itself.
Supported Living
A way of living where a person has their own tenancy and home, with support visiting to help with daily life, rather than living in a residential care setting.
Regulation & Safeguarding
CQC (Care Quality Commission)
The independent regulator of health and social care in England. Providers must register with the CQC and are subject to inspection.
Enhanced DBS Check
A Disclosure and Barring Service check carried out on anyone working closely with vulnerable people, confirming they are safe to work in care.
Safeguarding
The steps taken to protect people from abuse, neglect or harm, including how concerns are recognised, reported and acted on.
Whistleblowing
Raising a concern about poor practice, unsafe care or wrongdoing, including the right to do so confidentially, without fear of blame.
Roles & People
Key Worker
A named support worker who takes a lead role in coordinating a specific person's care, acting as their main point of continuity.
Registered Manager
The person legally responsible for the day-to-day running of a CQC-regulated service, named on the CQC registration.
Support Worker
A trained team member who provides day-to-day, hands-on support to a person, matched to their needs, culture and interests.
For commissioners and referrers.
If you're a social worker, care coordinator, or commissioner looking to place someone with complex needs, we make referrals straightforward.
