Care Free Health Mental

Introduction

Social care is defined as the provision of social work, personal care, protection or social support services to children or adults in need or at risk, or adults with needs arising from illness, disability, old age or poverty and their families and carers. That provision may have one or more of the following aims: to protect people who use care services, to preserve or advance physical or mental health, to promote independence and social inclusion, to improve opportunities and life chances, to strengthen families and to protect human rights in relation to people's social needs.

There are many different types of social care available. These include residential and domiciliary care, community support and activities, information and advisory services and advocacy, as well as support for carers.

Social care is frequently used as a synonymous term with social welfare, and as an alternative to social work. The term often implies informal networks of support and assistance as well as services provided by social services and other professionals.

Brief history

Social care has long existed as an informal concept, through family and community support and charitable works. The earliest Act in England to offer formal support was the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, which referred those in need of health or domestic care, housing, or employment to the care of their parish. This ‘care’ could include payments, food, apprenticeships, boarding or referral to a workhouse.

Social care became more formalised with the advent of social work in the USA and UK in the 19th century. This shift is attributed to the end of the feudal system and the rise of industrialisation, which bought greater social deprivation. It also bought a decline in the support provided by family and close-knit communities as people became more mobile and moved to different areas for work. Social care was often provided by voluntary organisations, but some services were financed through health insurance contributions collected through mutually owned societies.

The development of social sciences such as psychology and sociology in the early 20th century bought social structures under further scrutiny and opened the way for social work to become an area of academic study.

When the UK Liberal Government came into power in 1906, the first means-tested pension came into force for people aged 70 and over. Further formal health and social care provision followed with the creation of the NHS and the welfare state in England in the 1940s, making statutory health and social care free at the point of access.

Areas of work

Social care encompasses many areas of work, each with their own specialist services. These can be broadly categorised as follows:

Adults – this includes support for older people, people with mental health, learning or physical disabilities, those with alcohol and substance misuse problems, the homeless, victims of domestic abuse and families and carers

Children, young people and families – this includes fostering, adoption and child protection services, working with young offenders, young people who are unemployed or homeless and those who have learning or physical disabilities, as well as support for families and carers

Workforce – this includes the provision of resources, training and support for those working in social care

The care workforce

The social care workforce broadly encompasses those who work in public services that are provided, directly or commissioned, by local councils to discharge their personal social services (PSS) responsibilities.

In England, the social care workforce comprises over one and half million people. An estimated two thirds of the workforce work for some 25,000 employers in the private and voluntary sectors. The remaining third work in the statutory sector, largely for 150 local councils with personal social services responsibilities.

The range of work settings includes the community, hospitals, health centres, education and advice centres and people’s homes. Social care practitioners frequently work in partnership with staff from other professions, including health, housing, education, advice and advocacy services and the law.

Qualifications

The Care Standards Act 2000 bought greater recognition for the profession of social work with the introduction of a social work degree and social workers’ register. To become a social worker in the UK, you need to complete an Honours degree or postgraduate MA in Social Work. There are access courses for mature students, trainee schemes and employment based routes to gaining the qualification. Qualified social workers are required to register with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) before commencing practice. This membership must be renewed every three years. Social workers are also required to ensure that they keep their training and knowledge up-to-date with current developments in the field.

There are many other social care roles for which a social work qualification is not required, but other qualifications, experience and training may be necessary.

Examples of the range of professions within this field include policy makers, researchers, academics, project workers, support workers, carers (in residential or domiciliary care settings) and personal assistants.

Social care organisations

The Department of Health is the government body that delivers social care policy and guidance for England and Wales. In 2008 Phil Hope MP was appointed Minister of State for Social Care. This granted social care a higher government position than the previous Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for social care and mental health post held by Ivan Lewis MP. The Department for Children, Schools and Families is the government department with responsibility for children's services, families, schools, 14-19 education, and the Respect Taskforce in England and Wales.

UK Social workers are registered with the General Social Care Council, who set codes of conduct and practice, whilst social care services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission. The Care Quality Commission took over the work of CSCI, the Health Care Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission in April 2009.

Other social care organisations include the Social Care Institute for Excellence - an independent charity funded by the Department of Health which identifies and transfers knowledge about good practice, and Skills for Care, a government funded organisation which focuses on skills and training.

The National Skills Academy for Social Care, launched in 2009, will provide learning support and training practice for social care workers and employers in England.

In Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government controls health and social care. This is structured similarly to England, with local authorities commissioning and delivering services.

In Scotland, social care is delivered through the Scottish government Health and Community Care department.

In Northern Ireland, health and social care are provided as an integrated service, through four health and social services boards (North, South, East and West) under the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Health and social care services are monitored by a Health and social service council in each area.

There are many other voluntary and independent organisations that exist to support the delivery of social care. These exist to support both the social care workforce and people who use services, and include user-led organisations.

Future directions

Social care is high on the British government’s agenda, with a focus on the integration of health, social care and education to reflect the overlap between these areas of life.

Putting People First , launched by the British government in 2007, sets out a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social services in England. Changes include initiatives to place choice, independence and dignity at the heart of service delivery. The personalisation of services and the growing population of older people and people who need to access care services will impact on both the structure of the social care workforce and the funding of social care. As such, the Department of Health published Shaping the Future of Care Together - a green paper on the funding of social care for adults (2009).

New Horizons (England) is the government's new 10-year strategy for mental health. Published in December 2009, it aims for effective joined-up services across the different areas of people's lives and throughout the lifespan, by 2020.

Dementia care is another area receiving increasing attention, following the launch of the National Dementia Strategy in February 2009. This strategy focuses on ‘living well’ with dementia and aims to provide those living with dementia and their carers information and support that maintains dignity and increases choice.

In children’s services, work on implementing Every Child Matters will continue to be taken forward, to realise the Government's aim for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. (Barker, R. (2009), > The establishment of the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children’s and Young People’s Services (C4EO) will support this agenda in England.

Develop

Green Mental Health Care and Holistic Mental Health

Visit this page to get: green mental health care and holistic mental health ... interacting with one another to rebuild a vibrant social environment free ...

...

Health Care News & Information, Daily Videos ...

Mental Health; Suicide; Pregnancy. Birth Control Pills; Epidural; Fertility; First Trimester ... The non-insured have a chance to get health care at free clinics just as the national health ...

...

Mental Health Services Act (MHSA): MHSOAC Meeting ...

... Health - Your resource for information on Mental Health in ... LA Care 555 West Fifth St., 29th Floor Los Angeles, CA ... It is a free call. The number to call is 1-877-287-0283.

...

Mental Health Social | Mental Health Social Network ...

Mental Health Social is a Mental Health Social Network/Community Support with features such as;Chat rooms,forums,blogs,groups,events,video and more!

...

Mental health - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ... Origins of Mental Health. Retrieved June 1, 2007, from JHSPH.edu ... Health literacy • Health policy (Health care system • ...

...

Free Mental Health Consultation Westside Behavioral ...

Free Mental Health Consultation Denver, Colorado ... Westside Behavioral Care, Inc. Denver, Colorado 80210 (303) 986-4197 . Privacy ...

...

Free Cuban Health Care « John Stossel

January 17, 2010 07:34 AM EST by John Stossel. Free Cuban Health Care ... I also wonder if Moore saw the news that 26 patients in a Cuban mental hospital ...

...

San Francisco Free Mental Health Chart

Free . VeraMax House. 1006 Bush (at Jones). 817-1832. Women 55+. Drop in or call for appt WF 9am-4pm. Mental health care and total case management ... Page 2 San Francisco Free Mental Health ...

...

Mental Health Care Now Provided at Western Tidewater ...

The Western Tidewater Free Clinic is pleased to offer Mental Health Outpatient Care on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 - 7:15pm. In August, we will be adding another counselor to serve ...

...

Mental Health Act 2007 - overview : Department of ...

You are here: Home >>Health care >>Mental health ... It amends the Mental Health Act 1983 (the 1983 Act), the Mental Capacity Act 2005 ...

...