Glossary

The government has launched it's 'Act against Harm' multimedia campaign across Scotland to raise awareness among the public of adults at risk of harm and the provisions of the adult support and protection act. The campaign includes a website which is now live.  If you are being harmed or someone you know is being harmed or is suffering from neglect, it is important to tell someone. Everyone has a right to be safe.

http://www.infoscotland.com/actagainstharm/

Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland is Scotland's largest charity for older people, providing free, confidential and impartial information for people aged 50 and over, and their families and carers, across a wide range of topics. They also run the Scottish Helpline for Older People on 0845 125 9732 (local call rate).

http://www.ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk/

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland's leading charity helping people with dementia, their families and carers, offering information and advice, drop-in centres, support groups, home support services and carer education.  They also run the freephone Dementia Helpline 0808 808 3000.

http://www.alzscot.org/

Arthritis Care is a UK-based voluntary organisation working with and for everyone affected by arthritis.  They provide information, training and support to help people with arthritis take control of their health and their lives.

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk

The process of deciding what a person needs in relation to their health, personal and social care, and what services must be put in place to meet these needs. An assessment is undertaken with the person, his or her relatives or representatives, and relevant professionals.

See Assessment of your Care Needs

An assessment carried out by care professionals to find out what your care needs are and used to plan how any assessed needs might best be met.  Also known a 'community care assessment', 'joint needs assessment' or a 'single shared assessment'.

See Assessment of your Care Needs

Breathing Space is a free and confidential phoneline service for any individual who is experiencing low mood or depression, or is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to. The phoneline is open 24 hours at weekends (from 6pm Friday through to 6am Monday) and from 6pm to 2am on weekdays (Monday - Thursday).  The number is 0800 838587.

http://www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk/

Care and Repair services offer independent advice and assistance to help homeowners repair, improve or adapt their homes so that they can live in comfort and safety at home in their own community.  The service is available to owner-occupiers, private tenants and crofters who are aged 60 or over or who have a disability.

http://www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk

See Assessment of your Care Needs

A person who supports or looks after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid.

An individual may be eligible for Carer's Allowance if they are aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or disabled.  The following website provides further information on who can get carers allowance and how to claim, as well as a link to the Carer's Allowance e-service where you can claim online. 

See our page on Carer's Allowance

Each Health Board in Scotland is required to produce one.  It sets out how they will inform carers of their right to a carer's assessment and gives them information that  might help them in their caring role.

See our page on Carers Information Strategy

Carers Scotland is the Scottish national office of Carers UK and campaigns for a better understanding of the issues affecting and services needed for carers. Their website includes information for carers on many issues including financial and practical advice, and guidance on where to find support and various services.

http://www.carerscotland.org/

This website gives information about the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) service in Scotland. CABs are independent, local charities that provide advice and information to people in need in over 200 locations.

http://www.cas.org.uk/

The online Citizens Advice Bureau service for the UK that provides independent advice on your rights. There is a section for the citizens of Scotland offering advice on money, family, daily life and rights.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm

CarersNet is a partnership project of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland. The Coalition is a network or alliance of over 80 autonomous local carer-led groups, centres and projects.

http://www.carersnet.org

See Assessment of your Care Needs

Community Care Providers Scotland (CCPS) is the association of voluntary sector organisations providing care and support services in Scottish communities. Its membership comprises the majority of the leading national non-profit and charitable service providers in Scotland.

http://www.ccpscotland.org

Consumer Direct is the government-funded telephone helpline and online service offering information and advice on consumer issues. Consumer Direct is funded by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Consumer Focus is the new statutory organisation campaigning for a fair deal for consumers in England, Wales, Scotland, and, for postal services, Northern Ireland.  Their aim is to be the voice of the consumer, and work to secure a fair deal on their behalf.

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/

Contact the Elderly is a UK charity which aims to offer a lifeline of friendship.  With over 4,500 volunteers, they work to relieve the loneliness often felt by those over the age 75 who live alone with little or no social support. 

http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), is the representative voice of Scottish local government and also acts as the employers' association on behalf of all Scottish councils.

http://www.cosla.gov.uk/

Counsel and Care is the national charity working with older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support. They provide personalised, in-depth advice and information, which informs their research and campaigning work.

http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/

CrossReach is one of the largest social care agencies in Scotland, providing care and support for thousands of people in need every day of the year. Although CrossReach is part of the Church of Scotland, its services are available to people of all faiths or none at all.

http://www.crossreach.org.uk/

Crossroads Caring Scotland is a national charity dedicated to the provision of short breaks for carers within their own homes.  They have services throughout Scotland providing practical support for carers of all ages.

http://www.crossroads-scotland.co.uk

The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) offers help to some people who have lost out on their pension. The scheme is managed by the Department for Work and Pensions and is administered by the FAS Operational Unit (FAS OU). It makes payments to top up scheme benefits to eligible members of schemes that are winding-up or have wound-up.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

The stories in this library highlight the impact that health and social care services have on the quality of life of people who use these services and their carers. The stories are not meant to reflect what happens most of the time. Rather, they offer a few examples of actual care experiences that we hope will cause service providers and decision makers to reflect and to think creatively about how to improve care services, outcomes - and ultimately people's lives.

http://www.digitalstorylibrary.scot.nhs.uk/

Also known as 'Self-directed Support', 'In Control payments' or 'Self-Directed Services'.  It is when you arrange some or all of your support instead of receiving services arranged by your local authority social work or housing department.  The Local Authority makes the payment instead of arranging services. 

See Self Directed Support

The Direct Gov website is a UK Government site that provides access to information and guidance on all aspects of the work done by public services. When using this site you should always ensure you select the information that is specific for Scotland as the site contains information that is only applicable in England and Wales.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

Disclosure Scotland is a service designed to enhance public safety, providing potential employers and voluntary sector organisations with criminal history information on individuals applying for posts.

http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/

The Elderly Accommodation Council (EAC) offers advice on; elderly care, sheltered housing, retirement housing, care homes, or care services for elderly people, making sure that all options have been considered.

http://www.housingcare.org/

Enable campaigns for a better life for children and adults with learning disabilities and supports them and their families to live, work and take part in their communities.  Their website offers information for older families and carers about what services are provided and how people can get involved.

http://www.enable.org.uk/

The Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.  It offers advice and support via their website and via a telephone helpline 0845 604 5510.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/scotland/

FirstStop Advice is venture launched by four national organisations - Age Concern and Help the Aged, Counsel and Care, Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) and NHFA Limited.

FirstStop Advice is an independent, free service providing advice and information for older people, their families and carers about care and housing options in later life. FirstStop also offers useful information for carers looking for support and advice.

When using this site you should always ensure you select the information that is specific for Scotland as the site contains information that is only applicable in England and Wales.

http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/

Health Rights Information Scotland produces clear, accurate, and up to date information about your health rights.  We can also provide assistance to those involved in producing patient information.

http://www.hris.org.uk/

NHS Health Scotland is the national agency for improving the health of our population.  Their work covers every aspect of health improvement, from gathering evidence, to planning, delivery and evaluation, and spans the range of health topics, settings and life stages.

http://www.healthscotland.com/

Care provided in your own home to enable you to maintain independence.  Also known as "home help" or "home support".

See Home Care

Any worker delivering care services at home.

In Control Partnerships is a social enterprise - a charity and an independent company helping those with a learning disability.  It works in partnership with citizens and government, and with charities and commercial companies.  There are contacts for the In Control Scotland Team to find out how they can help via the In Control Scotland website.

http://www.in-control.org.uk/

Independent Age works to keep thousands of older people independent and out of poverty by providing them with practical support, financial help and lifelong friendship.  Their support is provided by local teams of volunteers, supported by a small number of staff across the UK and Ireland. 

http://www.independentage.org.uk/

Info Scotland is an information resource detailing all of the Scottish Government's campaigns, including "Healthier Scotland", "Natural Scotland", "One Scotland", "Smarter Scotland" and "Safer Scotland".

http://www.infoscotland.com/CCC_FirstPage.html

Jewish Care Scotland is a modern registered Scottish charity that continues to build on the long tradition of dedicated caring for Scotland's Jewish community and provides social care services for the Jewish Community in Scotland.

http://www.jcarescot.org.uk/

The Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) brings together voluntary and community organisations across Scotland. LTCAS' aim is to ensure the voice of people living with long term conditions is heard.

http://www.ltcas.org.uk

Are prepared meals that can be delivered to you at home if you have difficulty in shopping for food or preparing meals for yourself.  Also known as 'meals services'.

See Meals Services

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an independent organisation working to safeguard the rights and welfare of everyone with a mental illness, learning disability or other mental disorder.  Their website offers advice about rights in relation to mental health care, treatment for individuals, or those who are concerned about the rights and welfare of someone else. 

http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/

The Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland is Scotland's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). They undertake MS research, run a holiday respite centre, provide grants, and education and training on MS. It produces numerous publications on MS and runs a freephone specialist telephone support services 0808 800 8000.

http://www.mssocietyscotland.org.uk/

See Assessment of your Care Needs

NHS24 provides comprehensive up-to-date health information and self care advice for people in Scotland.

http://www.nhs24.com

NHS inform is a national health information service providing a co-ordinated approach and a single source of quality assured health information for the public in Scotland.

http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/

As well as its role as a membership organisation and service provider, NSF (Scotland) is closely involved in a number of activities which promote greater wellbeing and quality of life for people affected by schizophrenia and other mental illness.

http://www.nsfscot.org.uk/index.html

OPSI provides a wide range of services to the public, information industry, government and the wider public sector relating to finding, using, sharing and trading information. The site contains the full text of all Acts of the Scottish Parliament and the Explanatory Notes to the Acts of the Scottish Parliament; and Scottish Statutory Instruments.  The website also provides information on copyright, public sector information regulations and other guidance relating to public sector information in Scotland.  

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/

The Office of the Public Guardian has a general function to supervise those individuals who have been appointed to manage the financial or property affairs of an adult who lacks the capacity to do so for themselves.

http://www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk/

Personal Care refers to anything that's done for you that is of a personal nature.  Nursing Care is anything which involves the knowledge or skills of a qualified nurse.

See our page on Personal and Nursing Care

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is the largest provider of comprehensive carers support services in the UK.  It currently provides quality information, advice and support services to almost 354,000 carers, including over 20,000 young carers. 

http://www.carers.org/

Ricability is an independent consumer research charity providing free, practical and unbiased reports for older and disabled people.  Ricability is the trading name of the Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (RICA). They are a national research charity dedicated to providing independent information of value to disabled and older consumers.

http://www.ricability.org.uk/

Rights Advice Scotland have worked in partnership to produce this benefits calculator. It will calculate entitlement to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Benefit for people aged 60 or over. To keep the calculator simple it will not calculate Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit if there are children or other non dependent adults living in the house.

http://www.rascot.co.uk/pc/

RNIB Scotland is the leading charity working with blind and partially sighted people in Scotland, dedicated to delivering services, supporting their needs and campaigning for their civil and welfare rights. Supports children and adults with sight loss to live full and independent lives.  Their website offers a range of information, factsheets and contacts to support services for people affected by sight loss.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/

RNID offer a range of services for deaf and hard of hearing people and provide information and support on all aspects of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus.  Their website provides information on where to get help, the type of help available, Typetalk information, care services and information and publications on all aspects of deafness.  RNID offer a helpline which can be accessed by telephone 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000.

http://www.rnid.org.uk/

Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) is Scotland's leading mental health charity, working to support people who experience mental health problems, homelessness, addictions and other forms of social exclusion. They provide direct services, including accommodation, support, employment and rehabilitation. Information on all of their services can be found on their website, including details of their telephone helpline.

http://www.samh.org.uk/

Scottish Care represents residential care homes and care providers in Scotland.  Their website provides a search facility for a residential care home in Scotland that meets specific requirements. Their members will be delighted to discuss your needs, by telephone or e-mail, and you can arrange a visit directly.

http://www.scottishcare.org/

The Scottish Courts website provides a single access point for information relating to civil and criminal courts within Scotland, including the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, the Sheriff Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, District Courts and a number of other courts, commissions and tribunals.

http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/

The Scottish Government website offers information about the work of the Scottish Government which is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home

Scottish Helpline for Older People in Scotland offers a website and telephone helpline to assist older people.  There are online resources to assist in locating the information and organisations that can help with a range of queries, from health and housing to benefits, finances, leisure, work and advocacy. 

http://www.ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk/need_our_help

The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) promotes, supports and defends the principles and practice of independent advocacy across Scotland.  It is a membership organisation that has the overall aim of ensuring that Independent advocacy is available to any vulnerable person in Scotland.

http://www.siaa.org.uk/

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has a range of functions under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act, including the provision of information, advice and guidance with regard to; Powers of Attorney, Access to Funds, Guardianship and Intervention Orders, and investigations.

http://www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk/

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care's (SPPC) objective is to promote equitable access throughout Scotland to high quality palliative care for all patients and families on the basis of need not diagnosis. With member organisations, the SPPC contribute to national thinking and policy in relation to palliative care and promote improvements in service delivery at local level.

http://www.palliativecarescotland.org.uk/

The SPSO provides a 'one-stop-shop' for individuals making complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland. The SPSO is the final stage for complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland.  The "How to complain" section offers advice on how to submit a complaint about a public service.

http://www.scottishombudsman.org.uk/

Is when you arrange some or all of your support instead of receiving services arranged by your local authority, social work or housing department.  The Local Authority makes the payment instead of arranging services.  Is also known as 'Direct Payments', 'In Control Payments', or 'Self-Directed Services'.

See our page on Self-directed Support.

Shared Care Scotland is a registered national charity formed to promote and support the development of flexible, imaginative and person centred short break services (respite care) throughout Scotland.  The website provides information on how to arrange breaks, and offers support and advice on short break services.

http://www.sharedcarescotland.com/

Shelter is a housing and homelessness charity with a division covering Scotland.  Their website offers further information about care homes.

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/

Also known as 'supported housing', 'retirement housing' or 'supported living accommodation'.  It is specially-designed accommodation, mainly for people aged 60 or over, which you can buy or rent from providers such as a Local Authority, housing association or private landlord.

See Supported Housing

When an Assessment of your Care Needs is carried out the person doing it must ask for your written permission to share specific information with other care professionals.  This information is shared in order to make the best informed assessment possible and to avoid having different professionals needing to ask you the same questions.  This is sometimes known as a 'single shared assessment'. 

See Assessment of your Care Needs

Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is the regulatory body that regulates all adult, child and independent healthcare services in Scotland, including care homes.  Their website provides the option to search for care services in local areas, find an inspection report, or make a complaint about a care service.

http://www.scswis.com/

SPAEN is a membership organisation and its members are all people who have made the transition from having their care needs organised by the state to taking over the management and control of their own assistance.  

http://www.spaen.co.uk/home.aspx

Specially-designed accommodation, mainly for people aged 60 or over, which you can buy or rent from providers such as a Local Authority, housing association or private landlord.  Also known as 'sheltered housing', 'retirement housing' or 'supported living accommodation'.  

See Supported Housing

A service that enables people, especially those who are more vulnerable, to live independently in their own home through installing devices that meet the individuals needs.

See Telecare

The Pension Service is part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It was set up to improve the service you receive, whether you are already a pensioner or are planning for your retirement, no matter how far off it might be.  The Pension Service has a network of pension centres supported by a local service and their website provides information about pensions and pensioner benefits plus details of how to contact the Pension Service in your area.

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/

The vast majority of older people are cared for by their families which is known as 'unpaid care', as opposed to the paid care that is provided by home care workers.  Unpaid carers are vitally important and key legislation has attempted to recognise and support their role. 

UPDATE is Scotland's national disability information service that provides a wide range of services to information providers in Scotland. They provide a comprehensive package of disability information, resources and other supporting services to enable any type of organisation to provide reliable, relevant and up-to-date disability information.

http://www.update.org.uk/

Victim Support Scotland is the lead voluntary organisation in Scotland helping people affected by crime. It provides free and confidential emotional support, practical help and essential information to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime. 

http://www.victimsupportsco.org.uk/page/index.cfm

Scottish Women's Aid is the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. They offer advice on what to do if you have been affected by or know of someone affected by domestic abuse.  They offer a 24 hour free and confidential Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 027 1234.

http://www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk/