b2 - issues that affect access to services

Question 1

referral

Answer 1

self-referral -
- when someone contacts a provider personally
- by letter, email, making an appointment etc.
- access to primary healthcare services such as dentist is usually done by self-referral
- many social care services for adults and children are accessed by self-referral

third-party referral -
- when a friend, neighbour or relative contacts a provider on behalf of someone else
- for example, a neighbour may ring social services on behalf of a frail elderly person to request support
- referrals are usually to services that are also accessible by self-referral

professional referral -
- when a health or care professional contacts another provider to request support for a service user
- for example, a GP referring a service user to a hospital consultant

Question 2

assessment

Answer 2

• local authorities must carry out a community care assessment for anyone finding it difficult to look after themselves
• adult social services are usually responsible for this, normally social workers complete the assessment

service user may need -
- reassurance and info about local or national organisations
- simple devices that help with independence
- a higher level of care

• if someone is supported in their home by family, friends or neighbours, these carers have a right to a carer’s assessment to see if they need support with the care they are providing
• when assessment is complete, service users must be provided with written copy of report outlining needs and action

Question 3

eligibility criteria

Answer 3

a social services department assessor has to consider whether needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness, plus an inability to complete at least two of the following -
- prepare and eat food
- wash themselves or their clothes
- manage their toilet needs
- dress appropriately
- move around their house easily
- keep their house safe and clean
- maintain family or other close relationships
- access work, training, education or volunteering
- use local facilities such as shops
- carry out caring responsibilities
- meet outcomes likely to affect health and wellbeing

• if a person meets these criteria, the local authority has a duty to ensure that needs are met
• social care is not usually free of charge, local authority will carry out a financial assessment to decide whether and how much the service user will contribute
• if eligible, service users will receive a personal budget, available to all client groups in the UK

Question 4

barriers to accessing health and care services

Answer 4

barriers include -
- language, for example if english is not the service user’s first language and an interpreter is not available
- inconvenient location of the service, particularly if the service users relies on public transport
- financial, such as cost and difficulty in providing care for children
- scarce resources, for example long waiting times for hospital appointments or treatment
- communication, such as service users feeling unable to communicate easily with others, perhaps due to discrimination or prejudice