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Social care glossary

The social care sector is filled with lots of jargon. We’ve created this handy glossary packed with common social care key terms that you and the person receiving care may need to understand. 

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A

B

C

Holistic Patient Care

Through collaboration, the team can address all aspects of a patient’s health and well-being, including physical, psychological, social, and sometimes spiritual needs.

Health & Social Care Recruitment

Healthcare recruitment services for healthcare and social care professionals. At Unity Plus, our recruitment team have strong backgrounds in healthcare and relevant qualifications allowing us to place healthcare professionals in the most suitable roles. 

D

E

F

Food Hygiene/Safety

Training in safe food handling practices to prevent foodborne illness, particularly relevant in settings where nurses might assist with patient feeding.

G

Governance (Healthcare)

The overall system of rules, practices, and processes by which a healthcare organisation is directed and controlled. It involves structures and processes for decision-making, accountability, transparency, and ensuring that the organisation achieves its objectives in a safe, effective, and ethical manner. This encompasses clinical governance, as well as corporate, financial, and information governance.

H

Manual Handling

See Hoisting and Moving & Handling.

Holistic Patient Care

Through collaboration, the team can address all aspects of a patient’s health and well-being, including physical, psychological, social, and sometimes spiritual needs.

Hoisting and Moving & Handling

Safe use of equipment (e.g., hoists, slide sheets) and techniques to move patients with limited mobility, minimising risk of injury to both patient and staff.

HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs)

The UK’s tax authority.

Health & Social Care Recruitment

Healthcare recruitment services for healthcare and social care professionals. At Unity Plus, our recruitment team have strong backgrounds in healthcare and relevant qualifications allowing us to place healthcare professionals in the most suitable roles. 

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is a legislation which covers responsibilities for maintaining a safe working environment, including risk assessment and incident reporting.

Head of Mental Health Services

A management role overseeing all mental health-related care services.

Hand Hygiene

A critical component of infection prevention and control involves specific techniques for hand washing and the use of alcohol-based hand rubs.

Governance (Healthcare)

The overall system of rules, practices, and processes by which a healthcare organisation is directed and controlled. It involves structures and processes for decision-making, accountability, transparency, and ensuring that the organisation achieves its objectives in a safe, effective, and ethical manner. This encompasses clinical governance, as well as corporate, financial, and information governance.

Food Hygiene/Safety

Training in safe food handling practices to prevent foodborne illness, particularly relevant in settings where nurses might assist with patient feeding.

I

J

L

M

Manual Handling

See Hoisting and Moving & Handling.

Hoisting and Moving & Handling

Safe use of equipment (e.g., hoists, slide sheets) and techniques to move patients with limited mobility, minimising risk of injury to both patient and staff.

Head of Mental Health Services

A management role overseeing all mental health-related care services.

N

O

P

Holistic Patient Care

Through collaboration, the team can address all aspects of a patient’s health and well-being, including physical, psychological, social, and sometimes spiritual needs.

R

Health & Social Care Recruitment

Healthcare recruitment services for healthcare and social care professionals. At Unity Plus, our recruitment team have strong backgrounds in healthcare and relevant qualifications allowing us to place healthcare professionals in the most suitable roles. 

S

Health & Social Care Recruitment

Healthcare recruitment services for healthcare and social care professionals. At Unity Plus, our recruitment team have strong backgrounds in healthcare and relevant qualifications allowing us to place healthcare professionals in the most suitable roles. 

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is a legislation which covers responsibilities for maintaining a safe working environment, including risk assessment and incident reporting.

Head of Mental Health Services

A management role overseeing all mental health-related care services.

Food Hygiene/Safety

Training in safe food handling practices to prevent foodborne illness, particularly relevant in settings where nurses might assist with patient feeding.

T

U

V

W