Getting the right support in a time of need is essential. But navigating the different options can be daunting.
The last ten years have seen major policy initiatives to integrate health and social care. These include screening for social risk factors in clinical settings; building new cross-sector collaborations; and financing community services with healthcare dollars.
What is social care?
Social care is a wide-ranging term for services which help people in society who need specialised support to live a comfortable, healthy and fulfilling life. These may include individuals who have mental health or learning disabilities, are vulnerable adults or children, or are elderly.
It is the responsibility of your local authority to assess whether you have eligible needs for social care. They will decide if you require assistance with your daily living activities, how much this will cost, and whether you need to pay for it.
Many countries are developing strategies to integrate social care into healthcare systems. These range from individual-level approaches such as screening for social risk factors, to community-level initiatives such as cross-sector technology referral platforms and health clinic-food bank partnerships.
Who needs social care?
A health and social care assessment looks at your needs – like your ability to cope with everyday tasks, get enough healthy food, have an affordable home or travel independently. You may need specialist equipment, help at home or residential care if you meet certain criteria.
Some large health care organizations and local communities are experimenting with ways to integrate social care into their patient services. For example, they may offer people access to community advocates who can help them find and manage the right services for their unique needs.
However, it is important to recognize that integrating health and social care requires more than just the right tools. It also requires a change in the way we work together. This includes focusing on authentic relationships, broadening the membership of care teams, communicating across sectors and co-locating health and social care. It also involves removing barriers that prevent providers from engaging in the required practices.
What is the difference between health care and social care?
The health and social care sector offers a wide range of services for adults and children, including training and employment, safeguarding, carers support, housing and community development, statutory mental health assessment, and personal care. It is also an essential part of healthcare. It can help prevent people from having to spend their lives in hospital or in need of costly medical intervention.
Attempts to integrate health and social care can be difficult to implement, especially in areas where budget constraints restrict the number of services that can be offered. Despite this, some skills and experiences are easily transferable between the two settings.
The NHS, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is the main organisation for health care. It is publicly funded and, with the exception of some private contracts with GPs, it is free at the point of access. Local authorities are responsible for social care, and they arrange short-term support or reablement and commission a wide range of services to meet people’s needs.
How can I get social care?
People with social care needs may be able to get help from their local authority (LA) in England, Wales and Scotland. This might include things like care at home, equipment and adaptations to your home or housing options that allow you to live independently but have support on site.
Your LA should carry out an assessment of your needs and agree a care plan with you. They should tell you how they will make this decision and if you don’t agree with the outcome you can ask for an independent review.
Health and social care is a popular school subject, with students taking courses to gain qualifications that can lead to careers in hospitals and other caring settings. It’s also an important topic for policymakers. They’re working to integrate health and social care to improve the quality of care for everyone. This includes screening for social risks in primary care and sharing information between health and social care.