Care

Who, What, Where, How, Why? – Handout 1

1. What is Social Care?

For all sorts of reasons and at all stages in their lives people need help coping with everyday life. Social care work is about helping people with their lives and supporting them to maintain their independence, dignity and control.

Typical job titles include:
    • personal assistant
    • care worker/care assistant
    • support worker
    • care manager
    • trainer
    • administrator

2. Roles in Social Care:

Home Care or Domiciliary Care
Home support workers enable people who have disabilities or health problems to live more independently in their own homes. For many people, this will prevent them from needing to go into a care home.
Home care workers give the practical support and regular contact that can matter so much to people that rely on help to live at home. Providing someone with care gives them dignity, the independence and the confidence to continue living in their own home.

Day Care
Day service workers provide opportunities for people to take part in activities, meet others and learn skills that can lead to greater independence.

Community Support and Outreach Workers
Support workers help people in the community who have a physical disability, mental health problem, learning disability or sensory impairment. Their main task is to work with people to support them to live independently. As part of an outreach team, for example, social care workers may visit people in their own homes to support them to use resources in the community such as libraries or leisure facilities.

Residential Care and Supported Housing
Residential care, nursing care or supported housing can provide solutions to people who are no longer able to cope in their own homes. Workers help to provide a safe and homely place where people can live in comfort and be treated with dignity and respect.

Independent Living
A newer role in social care is the personal assistant who works with...