Communities and Local Government
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- Housing
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- Housing and Older People
- Glossary of health and housing terms
Housing
Glossary of health and housing terms
The following common terms appear on this website and are used by those working in housing, social care and health for older people.
| Approved Development Programme (ADP) | The Housing Corporation's mainstream investment programme. |
| Attendance Allowance | A non - means tested benefit paid to people 65+ who need care and attention or supervision because of a disability. |
| Audit Commission | A Government body with responsibility for assuring value of money from local authorities, the NHS and the police. |
| Beacon Schemes | Schemes set up to establish certain local authorities and other organisations as centres of excellence for particular service areas. |
| Best Value | A duty on local authorities to review the services they provide for local people and improve them by the best means available ensuring service quality and cost-effectiveness. This must be done in consultation with people who use the services and the wider community. |
| Better Government for Older People (BGOP) | The BGOP programme was launched in 1998 to help improve services for older people by involving them in the creation of services to better meet their needs, listening to their views and encouraging and recognising their contribution. Pilots were set up in 28 local authorities to listen to older people about what worked best for them covering a broad range of services. |
| BME | Black and minority ethnic. |
| Block purchasing | A contract made to a provider to offer a service for individuals. |
| Care Direct | DH Pilot scheme to provide a new single information gateway for older people, and disabled people who have no prospect of work. The pilots provided, via a telephone help-line and help desk in each local authority area, access to information and advice on housing, care and support services and social security benefits. This work is being taken forward by the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the LinkAge and LinkAge Plus programmes. |
| Care and Repair | Term used to describe services that help older home -owners with repairs, improvements and adaptations (home improvement agencies). |
| Care management | One person takes overall responsibility for commissioning, managing and co-ordinating the care of an individual. |
| Care Programme Approach | The Care Programme Approach is the support planning process applied by social care authorities to keep contact with, and provide appropriate services to people with severe mental health problems. |
| Care Trusts | The development of Care Trusts was announced in the NHS Plan. The legal framework for Care Trusts is set out in Section 45 of the Health and Social Care Act, and builds on existing partnership working afforded by the Health Act 1999 flexibility arrangements. Care Trusts are important vehicles for modernising both social and health care, helping to ensure integrated services that are focused on the needs of patients and users. |
| Chartered Institute for Housing | The CIH is a registered charity dedicated to helping to raise the standards of housing management. |
| Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) | Launched in April 2004, CSCI is the single, independent inspectorate for social care services in England, whether these are provided by local authorities, private sector or voluntary organisations. |
| Commissioning | Arranging for care or health services to be provided, either for an individual or for a group of service users. |
| Community Equipment Services | Community Equipment Services enable adults and children who require assistance to perform essential activities of daily living to maintain their health and independence. Community equipment includes equipment for home nursing, equipment for daily living, minor adaptations and communication aids. . The Department of Health-funded initiative Integrated Community Equipment Services (ICES) has been working with health and social services to enable them to provide a more integrated service. A wide range of equipment and adaptations can now be provided from 138 services in England. |
| Continuing care | Continuing NHS health care describes a package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. It does not include the provision by local councils of any social services. |
| Council Tax | A property-based tax paid to local councils to help pay for the services it provides. |
| Council Tax Benefit (CTB) | CTB helps people on low incomes and with few savings to pay their council tax. |
| Department for Education & Skills (DES) | The DES will focus on raising educational standards, and creating opportunities for releasing potential and achieving excellence. |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) | It has a crucial role in promoting sustainable development, whether in the UK or internationally. DEFRA's aim is to enhance the quality of life through promoting: a better environment; thriving rural economies and communities; diversity and abundance of wildlife resources; countryside for all to enjoy; and sustainable and diverse farming and food industries that work together to meet the needs of consumers. |
| Department of Health (DH) | The aim of the Department of Health is to improve the health and well-being of people in England. It sets the standards and broad working practices of the NHS and local social services. The Department monitors how the standards are being met at local level and takes action to improve services when they are poor or failing. It works on ways to prevent disease and help people live longer healthier lives. |
| Department for Trade & industry (DTI) | DTI works to increase competitiveness and scientific excellence in order to generate higher levels of sustainable growth and productivity in a modern economy. It has a wide range of responsibilities, which include industrial relations and sponsorship, government policy on trade, energy, science, engineering, technology, consumer and industrial protection. Since June 2001 construction policy and regional development have been transferred from DTLR. |
| Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) | Formed in June 2001 combining parts of the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and the Department for Education and Employment (DFEE). The department is committed to providing people of working age, pensioners and children with the advice and help they need to achieve financial independence and make the most of life. |
| Direct payments | Cash payments made to care users (following an assessment) to enable them to buy their own care services. Care cannot be bought from the local authority. This is not to be confused with Direct Payment, the system whereby state pensions and other benefits are paid to individuals by DWP. |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA) | This is a tax-free non-means-tested benefit for adults and children with disabilities. It is for people who need help looking after themselves and those who find it difficult to get around. |
| Disabled Facilities Grants | Government funding to local housing authorities to provide and improve adaptations services to disabled people enabling them to continue to stay in their own homes. |
| Domiciliary care | Personal and practical care provided to support an individual living in his or her own home, either alone or with a relative or other carer. Can include home care services (e.g. meals on wheels) as well as day care (e.g. going to a day centre or club). |
| Extra Care Housing | See Very Sheltered Housing |
| Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) | Guidance that provides local councils with a framework for determining eligibility for adult social services, and also sets out the review process and supporting individuals through the assessment process. |
| Framework for Housing with Support | A guide produced by the National Housing Federation, which sets out a framework of standards for housing with support and a process to enable providers to establish maintain, and improve service standards. |
| Health Action Zone (HAZ) | A Government initiative to improve the health of local people through changes to the way that health, local authorities and other agencies work together with local communities to find ways of reducing health problems and health inequalities. |
| Health Authorities | In England and Wales, health authorities identify the health needs of local people and make arrangements for services to be provided by NHS trusts, primary care and other agencies, using funding provided by the Government. |
| Health Inequalities | Differences in peoples' health between geographical areas and between different groups of people. It is accepted now that the causes are not only differences in access to health services between areas, but also poverty, housing, education and lifestyle. |
| Health Service Ombudsman/Commission | The Ombudsman is independent of both the NHS and Government and will deal with complaints that cannot be resolved locally through the NHS complaints procedure. The Ombudsman does not have to investigate every complaint put to him, but will do so if there is evidence of hardship or injustice and that an investigation may be of benefit. He has jurisdiction over complaints in all aspects of NHS care, including complaints about clinical judgement and family health services. |
| Health Promotion England (HPE) | Established in April 2000 following the closure of the Health Education Authority. It develops and delivers public education campaigns and promotes healthy living. |
| Healthy Living Centres | Local 'flagships' for health in the community, with a common purpose of improving health by reaching out to those who have been excluded from opportunities for better health. They can be buildings, networks or groups of initiatives. |
| Healthcare Commission | The Healthcare Commission inspects NHS services in England and Wales such as hospitals and clinics. It also regulates and inspects private and voluntary health care services in England, under the Care Standards Act 2000. It aims to help improve the quality of these services, which must meet minimum standards. |
| Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) | Agencies that provide independent advice and assistance to older people and other vulnerable groups to help them through the process of repairs, improvements and adaptations to their homes. (Also known as Staying Put or Care & Repair) |
| Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) | The main elements of these are the provision of hospital services, and certain community health services, such as district nursing. These services are provided in the main by NHS Trusts. |
| Housing Benefit (HB) | Housing Benefit helps people pay their rent. It is also known as a rent rebate or rent allowance. In nearly all cases, local councils run the scheme for their tenants. But in a few cases, other organisations run the scheme for their tenants and in some areas the local councils have contracted out part of the administration to private firms. |
| Housing Corporation (HC) | The main government agency for supporting Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in England. It makes grants available to RSLs and supervises and regulates their work. |
| Housing Investment Programme (HIP) | Local councils programme for housing capital expenditure taking into account local, regional and national priorities |
| Independent Housing Ombudsman | Takes up housing complaints on behalf of people in the private rented sector |
| Intermediate Care | A short period (normally no longer than six weeks) of intensive rehabilitation and treatment to enable patients to return home following hospitalisation, or to prevent admission to long-term residential care; or intensive care at home to prevent unnecessary hospital admission. |
| Joint Reviews | Inspections of all activities of social services departments, carried out jointly by the Social Services Inspectorate and the Audit Commission. |
| Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) | Move of local authority social housing to a housing association or similar provider. |
| Local Action Plans (LAP) | Health authorities and councils with social services responsibilities have agreed joint LAPs. LAPs are short, punchy documents that outline how the whole system works together to deliver the agreed milestones and targets arising from the NHS Plan and set out in the NHS Plan Implementation Programme. LAPs supplement, and complement, the detailed health planning information in Service and Financial Frameworks (SaFFs). There is a LAP for each NHS Plan priority area (Access, Cancer, Children, CHD, Metal Health, Older People, Patient Satisfaction). |
| Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) | A capital grant paid by the local council for social housing development. |
| Local Government Association (LGA) | The representative body for local authorities in England. |
| Local Government Ombudsman | The Ombudsman will investigate complaints about council services, which cannot be resolved through the local complaints procedure. The Ombudsman can recommend that councils pay compensation if they find the councils are at fault. |
| Local Strategic Partnerships LSPs) | LSPs are effective partnerships working across the public, private, business, community and voluntary sectors at local level. The LSPs bring together local plans, partnerships and initiatives to provide a forum through which public services providers such as local authority, health services and police can work effectively to meet the local needs and priorities, improve the delivery of public services and the quality of life of local people. |
| Long-term care | Services for people who need ongoing support or care. |
| National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) | The NCSC was established in April 2002 as a non-departmental public body to take on the regulation of social care and private and voluntary health care in England. It was replaced in April 2004 by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) - see above. |
| National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA) | This national body is a division of the National Patient Safety Agency. It provides a central point of contact for the NHS when concerns about a doctor's performance are raised. The authority gives advice to NHS hospitals and health authorities to make sure the performance of doctors is checked and action taken to ensure doctors are practising safely. |
| NHS Direct - 0845 4647 |
NHS Direct is a 24-hour, nurse-led helpline providing confidential health care advice and information on:
|
| NHS Plan | The NHS Plan sets out how the Government intends to reform the NHS so that services are redesigned around the needs of the patient. It sets out proposals for monitoring national standards to provide a health service fit for the 21st Century. |
| NHS Trust | Hospital trusts offering a general range of services to meet most people's needs. Some trusts also act as regional or national centres of expertise for more specialised care, while some are attached to universities and help to train health professionals. NHS Trusts can also provide services in the community - for example through health centres, clinics or in people's own homes. |
| NHS walk-in centres |
These centres offer fast access to health advice and treatment. They are open and available to anyone and provide:
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| National Housing Federation (NHF) | NHF is a body that represents the independent social housing sector. It promotes, supports, represents and negotiates the strategic interests of its members. |
| National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) | NICE promotes the highest quality of treatment and technology in the NHS and the cost-effectiveness of NHS services. It gives advice on best clinical practice to the NHS, to those commissioning NHS services, patients and their carers. Guidelines set by NICE are used across the country, helping to end geographical variations in care. |
| National Priorities Guidance | Guidance from the Government on policies and priority areas. It sets out which area is to be led by the NHS, which by social services, and the shared lead priorities. |
| National Service Frameworks (NSF) | Guidance from the Government describing priorities for health and social services on joint action to improve and deliver services. They set national standards, programmes for implementation, and milestones. The National Service Framework for Older People was published in April 2001. |
| Nursing care | Care requiring the skills or supervision of a qualified nurse. |
| Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) | ODPM was created as a central department in May 2002. It is responsible for policy, delivery and major spending programmes on housing and homelessness, planning and the fire service. Other policy areas ODPM oversees include devolution and regional and local government. It also takes responsibility for the Social Exclusion Unit, Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and the Government Offices for the Regions. |
| Partnerships for older people (POPP) | This Department of Health-led and funded initiative seeks to establish, through pilot projects between 2006-2008, innovative ways to sustain preventative work that supports older people. |
| Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) | PAF is a collection of statistical indicators that measure different aspects of performance. |
| Performance Measure/Indicator | Performance information is specific information used in planned ways to measure or assess performance. There are a range of Best Value Performance Indicators that have been defined by the Housing & Social Services Inspectorates. The Housing Corporation has also developed Best Value Performance Indicators for RSLs. |
| Preventive Technology Grant | This Grant from the Department of Health will be available between April 2006-2008, for local authorities to invest in Telecare and other SMART schemes |
| Primary, secondary and tertiary Care | Primary care is provided by people who can be contacted directly by the public, the first port of call for patients. Primary care includes GPs, health visitors, community nurses, dentists and opticians. Secondary care is provided by hospitals and other centres of health provision to which patients have to be referred, usually by their GP. Tertiary care is specialist care, usually provided for a large part of the country (e.g. a region). |
| Primary Care Trust (PCT) | These are freestanding NHS bodies with responsibility for delivering better health care and health improvements in the local area. They have their own budgets and commission services and/or directly provide a range of community health services as well as setting priorities. |
| Provider | Organisation providing housing, health or social care support services includes RSLs, voluntary sector organisations, local authorities and private sector. |
| Registered Social Landlord (RSL) | Term introduced by the 1996 Housing Act applying to housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation. RSLs have access to Social Housing Grant public funding for the capital costs of providing housing. |
| Rough Sleepers Unit (RSU) | Government task force based in ODPM. |
| Sheltered Housing | Sheltered housing covers a wide range of supported housing for older people. Generally it provides specially designed self-contained housing. Schemes may have communal facilities such as a common room, laundry and guestroom and the provision of warden services. Some have a warden service but no communal facilities. In these schemes the housing may be dispersed. Wardens do not provide personal care but offer low-level support including emergency support often through a linked alarm system. They also help older people to obtain the care and support they need, manage the scheme and organising activities. |
| Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) | (Part of ODPM.) SEU's remit is to help improve government action to reduce social exclusion by producing 'joined-up solutions to joined-up problems'. It works mainly on specific projects, chosen following consultation with other ministers and suggestions from interested groups. Older people's issues form part of SEU's interests and remit. |
| Social Housing Grant (SHG) | A capital grant paid by the Housing Corporation for social housing development. |
| SMART homes | The modern home contains a variety of systems, such as central heating, fire and security alarms, and devices, such as televisions and lights. SMART homes have a communications infrastructure that allows these systems and devices to communicate with each other - so that, for example, the security alarm can turn the lights on or off. In addition, plans to develop SMART homes include the individual resident being able to control the opening of windows, closing of curtains or switching on of ovens, through a computer. |
| Special Health Authorities | A health authority that provides health services to the whole population of England not just to a local community, i.e. the National Blood Authority. |
| Spot Purchasing | A contract that makes a payment for an individual to receive a specific service. |
| Staying Put | Term used to describe services that help older homeowners with repairs, improvements and adaptations (Home Improvement Agencies) - sometimes also called Care & Repair |
| Strategic Health Authorities | Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) develop plans for improving health services in their areas, and monitor the performance of local health services. SHAs became responsible for the performance management of Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts in April 2002. They are also responsible for setting the eligibility criteria for NHS continuing health care services across their areas. There are 28 SHAs in England. |
| Supported Housing Management Grant (SHMG) | This is a revenue grant paid by the Housing Corporation to RSLs to cover the additional running costs of supported housing schemes. |
| Supporting People | General term used to cover the programme of reform of funding for support services for vulnerable people to improve their quality of life and independence. It is a preventative service providing people with housing-related support services to remain independent or gain independence in their own home. Existing funding streams for these support services have been brought together and placed into a specified grant paid by Central Government to be administered by local authorities in partnership with NHS bodies and the probation service from April 2003, when the programme started. |
| Telecare | Telecare services are sometimes called social or community alarm, lifeline or careline services. Special equipment linked to people's telephone systems enables them to get help quickly, at the touch of a button, even if they are unable to speak. |
| Two - tier Authorities | A particular form of local government, where there is a county and district council structure. |
| Very Sheltered Housing | Covers a range of types of supported housing which provide a 'caring environment' for older people. It is often specially designed self-contained housing and may have a range of communal facilities sometimes available to older people in the local community as well as the scheme. There are dedicated care teams and personal care is provided either by the housing provider or on a contract with another agency or social services. Also known as Extra Care, it offers care services for older people to provide a 'home for life'. |
| Voluntary sector | Not-for-profit organisations, including charities. |
Published: 7 December 2005
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