We hope that these definitions of some of the terms and acronyms that are often used when talking about support, learning disabilities or autism is helpful. To read each definition, simply click on the relevant term or word.
Autism Friendly Environments
Autistic Spectrum Conditions
Circle of support
Community Care Assessment
Direct payments
Group living
Individual budgets
Individual Service Fund
Learning disability
Makaton
Personalisation/personalisation agenda
Personal budget/Individual budget
Person-centred approaches
Registered care home
Self-directed support
Shared housing
Support advisor
Support Plan
Supported living
Transitions
Definitions
This list is not intended to be exhaustive but if you think there are any terms that have been missed out here, then please get in touch with us using the details on the right.
Autism friendly environments are places or events that have been adapted to make them more accessible for people with sensory differences. This could include considerations about the layout, lighting, acoustics or signage used. It could also describe the way in which staff at a business are trained and a general workplace culture that promotes understanding and inclusivity.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability, sometimes referred to as Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC). Its causes are not fully understood, although there is some evidence that genetic factors are involved.
The term ‘spectrum’ is used because, while all people with autism share three main areas of difficulty (communication, interaction with other people, understanding and predicting others behaviour) their condition affects them in different ways.
A group of people that can be made up of family, friends and support staff who meet regularly to plan and review support for a person.
The local authority social services department must carry out an assessment for anyone who appears to need a community care service. This is called a community care assessment.
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These are payments given to choose, organise and pay for the social care services they need, rather than using the services offered by their local authority.
Group living is enables a small group of people to share a house of flat. They have their own tenancy, either with a housing association or landlord and we provide their support. Some people have 24 hour support, others need only a few hours a day.
A clear up-front allocation of money that can combine several funding sources that you can use, design and purchase support, from the public, private or voluntary sector. All funds are subject to eligibility criteria.
An Individual Service Fund is a sum of money managed by a service provider on behalf of an individual. The money is restricted for use on providing care and support services for that individual which meet the criteria set out in their support plan. It can include services purchased from other providers.
Disabilities that reduce a person's ability to understand new or complex information, learn new skills and cope independently. The degree of disability can vary greatly.
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Makaton is a program designed to provide a means of communication to individuals who cannot communicate efficiently by speaking.
A government led national policy to ensure that everyone who needs care has choice and control over their support. It is based on the principle that people with learning disabilities and their families should get to say what support, it allows people to shape their own lives and use all available resources to suit their needs and lifestyles.
Read our award-winning book; Making it Personal: A provider's journey from tradition to transformation
Personal budget
Like an individual budget, but solely made up of social care funding Personal budgets are given to people after an assessment of their support needs is made by the local council/health authority
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Person-centred planning is an approach to support which puts the individual at the centre of planning for their lives. There is an emphasis on the individual's choice and control and listening to what is important to them, both now and in the future.
People with very complex or high support needs may choose to or need to live in residential care. Care homes have a registered manager and a staff team.
A change to the way the social care system operates to give you choice, control and power over the support you receive.
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This is where a group of people live together but with individual tenancy agreements and support packages.
In Dimensions, a support advisor is someone who helps people with a personal budget choose and plan their support. Find out
how a support advisor can help you.
This is a document that describes what a person wants to change about their life and how they will use their individual budget to do this. The circle of support is usually involved and the plan is reviewed regularly.
This is where we support people living in their own homes, whether they live alone or with someone else.
Transitions describes the period from 14 – 19 when a child moves from child to adult services in social care and health, and the end of education in school into the next stage of education or employment.
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