The Scottish Government

A

Acquired Brain Injury

Damage to the brain, sudden in onset, and occurring after birth.

Amenity housing Rented accommodation provided by local authorities and housing associations which is particularly suitable for older people. There may be an emergency alarm, but no other housing support is provided.

Assisted living A general term for 'housing with care' designed for older people.

B

BME Abbreviation for Black and Minority Ethnic. The term is used to describe people from black, Asian or other minority ethnic communities.

C

Care and Repair Care and Repair services help older and disabled owner occupiers and crofters to stay in their own homes by providing practical help with housing repairs, adaptations and improvements.

Care Commission Independent regulator for care and housing support services in Scotland. Established in 2002.

Care leaver A person who was accommodated by a local authority when they turned 16 and is now moving to live independently.

Client group A group of people who receive services such as homeless people or older people.

Common Housing Register Simplifies the process of applying for social housing in an area. A group of landlords agree to have one housing register and one application form. Applications can then be considered for housing by all participating social landlords in that area.

Community alarm Can be used to summon help in an emergency. The system links to a 24 hour monitoring service which can be alerted by pulling a cord; pressing a button on a neck pendant; or pressing a button on a wrist band. Enables people to live independently in the knowledge that assistance can be called when needed.

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Direct payments

Also known as self directed support. Cash payments made to people who need care by a local authority which enable them to buy their own services, e.g. the employment of a personal assistant.

Disability A significant and long term physical and/or mental impairment which makes it difficult for someone to carry out day to day activities.

Domestic abuse May involve physical violence, sexual assault or threats. The victims are usually women, and men are usually responsible, although this is not always the case.

Drug problems The harmful use of street drugs and misuse of prescribed drugs

E

Extra care housing Also known as very sheltered housing. Sheltered or retirement housing for frail older people. It suits less mobile people and wheelchair users. Schemes may have their own care staff and usually provide some meals.

F

Floating support Also known as outreach support. Housing support services provided in people's own homes and are not linked to any particular accommodation.

G

Generic services

Services that are not restricted to specific client groups.

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H

Home care Also known as personal care. Care provided in a person's home, normally of a personal nature, e.g. help with dressing, washing, etc.

Hostel accommodation Usually short term shared accommodation with on-site support, mainly for people who have been homeless.

Housing Association Independent not-for-profit organisation that provides affordable homes for rent or sale, including shared ownership.

Housing support services Services which help people to live as independently as possible in the community. May be provided in a person's own home or may be linked to specific accommodation such as a hostel. A range of assistance may be provided, including advice on home management, budgeting, home safety and help with shopping.

L

Learning disability A life-long condition, affecting a person's intellectual development and sometimes their physical development. Covers a range of conditions, including Down's syndrome, Asperger syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Looked after young people Children and young people who are looked after and accommodated by social work and related services because their families are unable to do so.

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M

Mental health problems A broad range of conditions from day to day worries and anxieties to suicidal depression or completed loss of touch with reality.

N

National care standards Standards that describe what people who receive care and housing support services can expect from service providers.

O

Offender A person who has been convicted of one or more recordable criminal offences.

Older people People who are above a certain age, usually a minimum of fifty years old. Different organisations have different minimum age criteria, often fifty-five or sixty years old.

Outreach support See floating support.

P

Personal Assistant A person employed, using self directed support (direct payments), to provide personal care and support

Personal care See home care.

R

Refuge A furnished safe house for women and any accompanying children escaping domestic abuse. Addresses are usually kept secret to protect clients.

Refugee A person who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country, due to a well-founded fear of persecution.

Resettlement support Assistance to help people move from temporary accommodation into more permanent housing. May include assistance with claiming benefits or getting furniture and appliances.

Retirement housing Housing developments, similar to sheltered housing, built for sale.

Retirement village A large group of retirement or sheltered housing dwellings.

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S

Scottish Secure Tenancy

Established by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 as the tenancy for all tenants of social housing in Scotland.

Self directed support See direct payments.

Sensory disability A sight or hearing impairment that has a substantial and long-tem effect on a person's ability to carry out day to day activities.

Shared equity Also known as shared ownership. Schemes aimed at helping people on low incomes to own their own homes. Equity is usually shared between the purchaser and a registered social landlord, such as a Housing Association.

Shared ownership See shared equity.

Sheltered housing Housing for older people which contains features designed to make life easier for them and usually has some communal facilities, such as a residents' lounge. There is usually a community alarm service, and many schemes have their own warden or Sheltered Housing Manager.

Sheltered housing scheme manager Also known as a warden. A person who is responsible for managing a sheltered or retirement housing scheme. May be resident or non-resident and full or part-time.

Substance misuse The harmful use of any substance, such as alcohol, street drugs, or misuse of a prescribed drug.

Supported housing Accommodation where receipt of housing support services is a condition of residence.

Supporting People A programme of housing support services which ran in Scotland from April 2003 to March 2008. It brought together a number of funding streams into one national budget. From April 2008, funding for housing support services forms part of the main local government, enabling local authorities to make decisions on which services to fund according to local needs and priorities.

T

Telecare

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Alarm and monitoring devices to assist a wide range of people, including those with dementia, to live safely in their own homes for longer. Usually linked to a central monitoring centre. Devices are usually linked to a central monitoring centre and can include movement sensors, temperature, flooding, gas escape and falls monitors. Telehealth equipment can be used for the remote monitoring of medical conditions.

Throughcare Support services for young people leaving care to help prepare them for independent living. Similar services are also available for prisoners and their families.

V

Very sheltered housing See extra care housing.

W

See sheltered housing scheme manager

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