Social care
Social care is the support people need to live their lives, and includes help in your home or in other places such as a care home or day centre. It can include physical and emotional support, for example when you need help with washing or dressing or have someone to talk to.
There are many different types of social care. It's important to understand what each one does and how it works.
Adult Social Care
As an adult, you may need social care if you're a long-term disabled person, have a mental health problem or are recovering from illness. This can involve short-term care, such as support in your own home, or longer-term care, like living in a care home or supported housing.
You can ask your local council for a care assessment. This can help you to know if you need social care and which kind of support will be most suitable. You can also make a complaint if you think your social care isn't meeting your needs.
The Social Worker
The main role of a social worker is to support and advise individuals and families. They can arrange home visits, carry out social assessments and provide other advice. They also provide support with housing issues and family law issues.
They can act as an advocate on your behalf if you have difficulties talking to people about your care or want someone else to make decisions for you. They can also help you to manage your money if you have problems with debt or money management.
Personal Social Services (PSS)
Personal social services, or PSS, are a category of service provided by local authorities to people who are in need of care. The recipients of these services include children, the elderly, people with disabilities and families who are at risk of abuse or neglect.
There are many different kinds of personal social services, some funded by public bodies after assessments, and others on a self-funding basis. They are regulated by the Care Quality Commission in England.
Some of these services are specialised, and others cover a wide range of activities. They can include home/domiciliary care or daycare, community support and activities, advisory services and advocacy, equipment to help people manage their disability, alarm systems to prevent falls, and residential nursing home care.
A lot of the work in this sector is carried out by social workers, but some other people also help deliver the services. This can include a range of support workers, carers and nurses.
Job Opportunities and Regulation
Social care is a very large area of the economy, and there are many jobs available. The sector is growing, and it will need more than half a million extra workers by 2035.
The social work profession is regulated by Social Work England, which sets codes of practice and conduct. It also sets out the qualifications required to work as a social worker in England and Wales.
It is a hugely complex and demanding area of work, and there is a great deal of overlap between the social care and health sectors.
