Unit 15 - Adult and Child Social Care Flashcards
Which local authorities are responsible for adult social care? Which authorities provide sheltered housing for the elderly?
County councils, metropolitan districts, London boroughs and unitaries are responsible for adult social care. Sheltered housing is the responsibility of local authority housing departments (district councils, metropolitan districts, London boroughs or unitaries) or housing associations.
Explain what is meant by community care.
Community care is looking after the elderly, people with disabilities and children in the community, rather than in institutions.
Briefly distinguish between the role of local authorities as enablers and providers in adult social care. What are direct payments?
As enablers the local authority assesses the needs of the individual but does not necessarily provide the services required. These may be provided by private companies, voluntary bodies or indeed the local authority. A direct payment is where, rather than receiving a service, the client may opt to be given a sum of money by the local authority and to use the money to arrange his / her own care.
Outline the role of the Care Quality Commission in adult social care.
The Care Quality Commission is the regulator of adult social care. It inspects local authority adult social services to ensure that the authority meets its responsibilities and to determine its effectiveness. It sets standards for, and registers and inspects, care homes and domiciliary services.
Identify the main services provided by local authorities for the elderly, distinguishing between those that may or must be provided. Indicate those services for which a charge may be levied.
Social workers must be provided to assess the needs of the elderly person; residential accommodation must be arranged for those in poor health. The following may be provided – domiciliary care services; adaptations to the home; meals on wheels; luncheon clubs; social clubs. Means-tested charges may be levied for accommodation; domiciliary care services; adaptations to the home; meals on wheels; luncheon clubs; social clubs.
You have a story that an 85-year-old lady who previously was in receipt of free domiciliary care has had the care withdrawn despite there being no improvement in her physical condition. How is this possible? List five sources you would go to follow up the story.
The local authority in assessing need has to decide the authority’s ability to meet that need. If money is short and others are assessed to have greater need the support can be withdrawn. Follow-ups may include: the elderly person; family members; executive member for adult social care; senior officer in department of adult social care; old person’s clubs; Age UK; local voluntary groups supporting the elderly; local GP(s).
A relative of an elderly person comes to see you with serious concerns about the quality of care provided in a privately run old person’s home. Which body(ies) would you go to about this story?
The Care Quality Commission is the key body but a senior officer in the local authority responsible for adult social services would be worth contacting as would the executive member for adult social care.
What is respite care?
Respite care is giving carers a break by taking those for whom they care (elderly, children or adults) into a home for a short period or providing a residential carer.
Your local authority has announced that as from the start of the next financial year it will introduce charges for services for adults with severe learning disabilities, including the costs of transporting them to day centres. List five sources you would contact to follow up the story.
Carer(s) / families of adults with severe learning difficulties in receipt of services who will now be charged; executive member for adult social care; opposition spokespersons; officer to explain charges; local spokespersons for Mind, SANE and other bodies; local voluntary bodies.
What problems may face young people with severe learning difficulties when they reach adulthood?
Suddenly the comprehensive services they will have received as a child and young person will cease. Services for adults are not usually as good.
How and why has the administration of children’s social services changed in recent years, following the death of Victoria Climbié? Which local authorities are responsible for these services? Has the change been a success?
All services for children (education and child social services) were brought together in one department and local Children’s trusts were set up to deliver the services. The reason was that Victoria Climbié was one of far too many children who over the years have died because of the failure of a multitude of agencies to inform and alert each other of the dangers facing particular children. County councils, metropolitan districts, London boroughs, and unitaries are responsible for children’s services. There are still far too many cases where the services have failed to protect children, including vulnerable children in danger of sexual abuse.
Briefly explain the role of Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards.
Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards develop, promote, monitor and review the effectiveness of inter-agency child protection policies in their area and will mount an investigation if there is a failure in the procedures.
You have a tip off that two young children have been found alone in a block of flats and it would appear that their mother has gone out partying. Outline the procedures that are likely to be followed in protecting the children. What problems are you likely to have in reporting the story?
These children would appear to be at serious risk, so an emergency protection order is likely to have been issued, putting the children in a safe space. A case conference will be called, attended by all those who have had contact with the children and the family, to collect evidence and determine the level of risk. The children will become the subject of a child protection plan, laying down how they will be kept safe. Decisions will be made about where the children should live, who should have contact with them and what the mother should do. As this would appear to be a very serious case, the children may ultimately be the subject of a care order (issued by the courts) and fostered or even adopted. Major problems will be encountered in reporting this story, not only is there the question of client confidentiality, there are the legal restrictions relating to identifying young people. Care will have to be taken to ensure that nothing is reported that could lead to the identification of the children.
Explain the difference between adoption and fostering. Identify five issues relating to fostering and adoption.
Fostering is not permanent and may be short-term or long-term. Foster parents are vetted and paid by the local authority to look after children who are in care. The children retain their own surname and may have contact with their birth parent(s), to whom they may eventually be returned. Adoption is permanent. It requires the approval of the court and usually the agreement of the birth parent(s). Adopting parents are carefully vetted by the local authority and no payment is made. The child assumes the surname of the adopting parents, who assume all the rights and responsibilities of a natural parent.
Issues may include: shortage of foster parents; differential payments made by differing local authorities to foster parents; suggestions of poor vetting (because of shortage); over strict rules on vetting potential adoptive parents – age; weight; smoking; sexual orientation; cross- ethnic adoption; etc.
What is meant by the term “looked after children”?
Looked after children are children in the care of the local authority.
