Health and social careHow the pharmacist applies the care value base

Authors Avatar

The structure of social care in England

Parliament

Secretary of State for Health

Department of Health

Local Authorities

Social services committees

Social services department

Type of care services

HEALTH

Statutory – NHS Trusts – required by law

Private – Private companies – run on a profit

Voluntary – Charities – non-profit basis

Statutory sector organisations

 - organised at government (national), regional and local levels

National – Parliament, Secretary of State for Health, Department of Health, National voluntary organisations’ headquarters

Regional – NHS health authorities, voluntary organisations’ regional headquarters, regional offices of private health and social care agencies

Local – NHS Trusts, local voluntary organisations, local authorities, social services departments, primary care trusts, voluntary organisations’ local offices, private health and social care agencies, informal carers

The DOH (department of health) is responsible for:

  • deciding what needs to be done and how it will be put into practice
  • providing safe, quality services
  • deciding which part of the service gets what amount of money

The structure of health services

Before 1948, health services were provided in a mixture of ways, voluntary, local authorities, employers and private care. There was no co-ordination of services. usually people had to pay for health care. Many poor people couldn’t afford the services even if they urgently needed it.

NHS

Primary – family health, GPs, practice nurses, dentists, opticians, pharmacists, a lot of preventative work in primary (routine eye and dental checks)

Secondary and Tertiary – general hospitals, specialist centres, out patients clinics

Public health services – childhood immunisation programmes against illnesses, dental health care

Both health services and local authorities have many roles in promotion of better health.

NHS Trusts are self – governing units within the health service. They are managed by a board of directors and can either be a hospital in itself or a group of hospitals.

A Trust has the ability to employ staff under its own terms, buy, own and sell assets such as land, carry out research and decide its own management structure.

National Care Standards Commission is the name given to a new national organisation that started work in 2002. It has the responsibilities to inspect, regulate and enforce standards where necessary in a range of caring environments:

  • Private nursing homes
  • Home care agencies
  • Private hospitals
  • Adoption agencies
  • Boarding schools

NHS Direct -> is a telephone help line that provides information about health, illnesses and services.

NHS Walk-in Centres -> are available in a number of towns and cities, providing treatments for minor illnesses, advice on self-care and health promotion. Open 7am – 10pm (7 days a week).

SOCIAL SERVICES

Health and social services came under the direct control of the Minister of Health.

 

Social services are responsible for providing for the old and disabled people and children. Their role has changed as their function as direct providers decreased. Their main role now, is to offer advice and to provide access to services.

Services are those with mental health problems were strengthened through the Provisional Council for mental health.

In 1970, a new framework was set out. This framework required the local authorities in England to set up Social Services Committees.

 

Local authorities -> responsible for co-ordination of many aspects of social care in communities including children, learning disabilities, education, leisure facilities, refuse collection and highways.

Local authorities should appoint a director of social services and MUST have a board of committees. Some have separate directors for each responsibility, whereas others combine.  

EDUCATION

Early years services provide health, care and education services to children between the ages of 0 and 8 years when not at school.

Statutory

The government provides statutory services directly, or supervises services through government departments.

Local

The local education authorities are responsible for providing nursery, primary and secondary education.

Qualities                                                                         Skills

Enthusiastic                                                             Communication skills

Motivated                                                          Organisation skills

Dedicated                                                                 Good team player

Hard-working                                              Ability to work under pressure

Positive                                                       Ability to work independently                

Join now!

Helpful                                                                        Experienced

Responsible                                                                 Professional

Maturity                                                         ...

This is a preview of the whole essay