Government - Care

Governments are normally masters at creating jargon & this jargon directory dedicated to the care profession is a classic case in point. Who would have thought that a care profession would require a care jargon buster?

They make so many long winded useless descriptions of such simple things in order to justify their positions at the tax payers expense that they need to convert the sayings to acronyms that now form part of the care jargon.

Hopefully most people will never require the services of any care department but if you do this small care jargon buster may be the place to start in order to decipher the bollocks.

I hope never to use or need to understand care jargon in my lifetime.

Care Jargon.

Acronyms

OPT: Older Person's Team: A social work department team, who work only with those over the age of 65.

CPN: Community Psychiatric Nurse

SW: Social Work

COPT: Community Older Person's Team

SSA: Single Shared Assessment

AWI: Adults With Incapacity (Scotland) 2000 Act

SIAA: Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance

ASA: Advocacy Safeguards Agency

MHA: Mental Health (Care & Treatement) (Scotland) 2001 Act

OT: Occupational Therapist

POA: Power of Attorney (See below)

Terms

Respite: This is a process by which a carer or individual may spend time away from the normal place of residence, in order to provide both parties with a short break.

Advance Directive: This is sometimes called a 'Living Will' and is a written statement that indicates what sort of treatment you do, and do not want to undergo, should you become unable to say what you want. In addition to an Advance Directive, you should discuss with friends and relatives what you wish to happen, and it may help to have a solicitor to advise you on writing the statement.

Power of Attorney: This is a document in which you give specific powers over your affairs to somebody you trust. There are two types of Power of Attorney, a Welfare Attorney and a Financial Attorney. As the names suggest, a Welfare Attorney is given power over your welfare, and a financial attorney is given power over your finances. It may be easier to consult a solicitor regarding the writing of a Power of Attorney as any Attorney will only have the powers described in the paper, and so what is covered is very important. A Power of Attorney does not come into effect until you are incapable of making your wishes known for any reason. If you would like to know more, see the Office of the Public Guardian site here.

Direct Payments: This is where a Social Work Service user elects to take the cash equivalent of the services, in order to buy in services privately. This enables services to be bought in to closer match the service users needs, but also involves greater responsibility on the part of the service user. If you would like more information on Direct Payments, you can look at the East Dunbartonshire Social Work Department website at www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk.

Free Personal Care: In July 2002, Free Personal Care was introduced in Scotland. This means that local authorities are no longer able to charge for personal care provided to those aged 65 or over. People living in a care home setting who would otherwise pay their own fees receive £145 a week towards personal care, plus another £65 if nursing care is required. People under 65 can also receive £65 towards nursing care if it is necessary. For more information you can go to the Scottish Executive page on Free Personal Care here.

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