Appendix 1 – definition of terms

Care home 

Care homes provide accommodation and personal care, for example support with washing, dressing or moving around. 

Some homes can provide nursing care as well as personal care because they employ registered nurses. The term care home does not include NHS hospitals, private hospitals and clinics. 

Care homes are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who is responsible for regulating care and support in England. 

Legally appointed representative

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) applies throughout England and Wales to protect adults who lack mental capacity. Among other things, the MCA provides for adults who lack capacity to be legally represented either by: 

•  someone they chose and appointed through a Lasting power of attorney (an attorney) while they still had capacity, or  

•  if the adult did not appoint an attorney,  by a deputy appointed by the Court of Protection

Shared Lives Scheme

Shared Lives Schemes are an alternative to care in a care home or other more formal care arrangements.  

Schemes offer people who need care the opportunity to live in a family environment rather than a formal care setting.  

Schemes are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who are responsible for regulating care and support in England.  

Significant benefit 

In this context, ‘significant  benefit’ means that the assessment should occur at a time when: 

• it is possible to predict the young person’s care and support needs when they turn 18 with reasonable confidence 

• the assessment won’t unnecessarily disrupt the young person’s life (for example when they are in the middle of exams or undergoing medical treatment would not be the best time) 

• information will help the young person (or their family / carers) to consider options for meeting care and support needs when the young person turns 18.   

Supported self assessment 

Supported self-assessment is carried out jointly between the adult and a social worker from the Council. It gives adults the opportunity to complete some of the paperwork themselves in their own words.  

The council’s role in a supported self-assessment is to assure the information provided to us. This means ensuring we have a full picture of the adult’s situation before making an eligibility decision or providing advice based on the information supplied. 

 This may involve talking to someone involved in the adult’s day to day care, or a health professional or another person who understands the impact of their condition on day to day life.  

Wellbeing

Wellbeing under the Care Act relates to: 

• personal dignity and the right to be treated with respect 
• physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing 
• protection from abuse and neglect  
• the person’s control over day to day life, including over any care and support provided  and the way it is provided 
• participation in work, education, training or recreation 
• social and economic wellbeing 
• domestic, family and personal relationships 
• suitability of living accommodation 
• the person’s contribution to society