Unit 2- Learning Aim B: The roles of
organisations in the health and social care sector
Roles of organisations in providing health and social
care services
Health and social care services are provided and managed by different organisations.
Some services are directly funded and delivered by government or public sector
organisations.
Other services are provided by independent charitable organisations.
Services can also by provided by private companies, these are profit making business.
The public sector
They are financed directly managed by the government.
Primarily funded by taxation and a smaller proportion of funds come from National
Insurance contributions.
The majority of the services are available for free to service users when they need them but
pay for them through taxes and National Insurance contributions.
Organisations: National Health Service England (NHS England), Health and Social care in
Northern Ireland, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales.
Primary health care- provided by GPs, dentists, opticians, pharmacists. Normally accessed
directly by the service user when needed.
Secondary health care- hospital services, mental health services, community health services.
Accessed via the GP, makes appropriate referrals to a consultant. Members of the public
have access to accident and emergency services.
Tertiary health care- provides specialist and complex services. Referral to these services is by
health professionals who have identified the need.
NHS foundation trusts
Largely financed by government, they are independent organisations.
Managed by a board of governors, which may include patients, staff, members of the public
and members of partner organisations.
The aim is to move decision making from a centralised NHS to local communities, in order to
respond to local needs and wishes.
Mental health services may be provided through your GP, or support may be needed for
more specialist service providers.
Mental health trusts are managed by the community. The members elect governors who
have responsibility for the quality and range of care provided.
Services provided include psychological therapies, psychiatric nurse support and very
specialist support for people with sever mental health problems.
Community health foundation trusts work with GPs and local authority social services
departments to provide health and care support.
Services include: adult and community nursing services, health visiting and school nursing,
physiotherapy and occupational therapy and speech therapy services, palliative/ end of lie
, care, walk in/urgent care centres, specialist services, such as managing diabetes, sexual
health or contraceptive services.
Aim: to provide care for service users that will enable them to live as independently as
possible in the community.
Adult social care
For people over 28 who have disabilities, mental health problems or are frail due to age or
other circumstances.
Support provided: care in their own home, day centres (to provide care, stimulation and
company), sheltered housing schemas, residential care (for elderly, people with disabilities
and mental health problems), respite care (short-term residential care to give families a
break from responsibilities), training centres (for adults with learning difficulties).
Children’s services
The responsibilities of local authorities.
Their aim is to support and protect vulnerable children and young people, their families and
young carers.
The local council’s children departments are required to work in close collaboration with
other care providers.
Support available: safeguarding for those at risk of abuse or harm, day care centres for
under 5, after-school support for older children, help with ‘parenting skills’, practical help in
the home, support of a children’s centre, arrangements for fostering and adoption.
GP practices
The first point of access of health care provision.
They have an extensive knowledge of medical conditions and work in the local communities.
Their role is to make initial diagnosis and refer individuals to a specialist for further
investigation and treatment.
They work closely with other agencies.
They aim to use a holistic approach to care.
They are funded from central government as part of the NHS services.
They are funded according to the age of their patients, their gender, levels of morbidity and
mortality in the area, the number of people who live in residential care, patient turnover.
They receive further payments if they have high quality service, any additional services they
provide, based on s GPs length of service, to support the costs of equipment, to cover costs
of medicine.
Voluntary sector (charities)
Groups: Shelter, the NSPCC, the Samaritans.
They rely heavily on charitable donations but also receive support from central or local
government.
They are managed independently from government.
The often provide services for the NHS, adult social services and children’s services.
They are not run for personal profit.
They usually use volunteers for some of their services.
Private sector
Managed by commercial companies.
They need to make profit in order to stay in business.
organisations in the health and social care sector
Roles of organisations in providing health and social
care services
Health and social care services are provided and managed by different organisations.
Some services are directly funded and delivered by government or public sector
organisations.
Other services are provided by independent charitable organisations.
Services can also by provided by private companies, these are profit making business.
The public sector
They are financed directly managed by the government.
Primarily funded by taxation and a smaller proportion of funds come from National
Insurance contributions.
The majority of the services are available for free to service users when they need them but
pay for them through taxes and National Insurance contributions.
Organisations: National Health Service England (NHS England), Health and Social care in
Northern Ireland, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales.
Primary health care- provided by GPs, dentists, opticians, pharmacists. Normally accessed
directly by the service user when needed.
Secondary health care- hospital services, mental health services, community health services.
Accessed via the GP, makes appropriate referrals to a consultant. Members of the public
have access to accident and emergency services.
Tertiary health care- provides specialist and complex services. Referral to these services is by
health professionals who have identified the need.
NHS foundation trusts
Largely financed by government, they are independent organisations.
Managed by a board of governors, which may include patients, staff, members of the public
and members of partner organisations.
The aim is to move decision making from a centralised NHS to local communities, in order to
respond to local needs and wishes.
Mental health services may be provided through your GP, or support may be needed for
more specialist service providers.
Mental health trusts are managed by the community. The members elect governors who
have responsibility for the quality and range of care provided.
Services provided include psychological therapies, psychiatric nurse support and very
specialist support for people with sever mental health problems.
Community health foundation trusts work with GPs and local authority social services
departments to provide health and care support.
Services include: adult and community nursing services, health visiting and school nursing,
physiotherapy and occupational therapy and speech therapy services, palliative/ end of lie
, care, walk in/urgent care centres, specialist services, such as managing diabetes, sexual
health or contraceptive services.
Aim: to provide care for service users that will enable them to live as independently as
possible in the community.
Adult social care
For people over 28 who have disabilities, mental health problems or are frail due to age or
other circumstances.
Support provided: care in their own home, day centres (to provide care, stimulation and
company), sheltered housing schemas, residential care (for elderly, people with disabilities
and mental health problems), respite care (short-term residential care to give families a
break from responsibilities), training centres (for adults with learning difficulties).
Children’s services
The responsibilities of local authorities.
Their aim is to support and protect vulnerable children and young people, their families and
young carers.
The local council’s children departments are required to work in close collaboration with
other care providers.
Support available: safeguarding for those at risk of abuse or harm, day care centres for
under 5, after-school support for older children, help with ‘parenting skills’, practical help in
the home, support of a children’s centre, arrangements for fostering and adoption.
GP practices
The first point of access of health care provision.
They have an extensive knowledge of medical conditions and work in the local communities.
Their role is to make initial diagnosis and refer individuals to a specialist for further
investigation and treatment.
They work closely with other agencies.
They aim to use a holistic approach to care.
They are funded from central government as part of the NHS services.
They are funded according to the age of their patients, their gender, levels of morbidity and
mortality in the area, the number of people who live in residential care, patient turnover.
They receive further payments if they have high quality service, any additional services they
provide, based on s GPs length of service, to support the costs of equipment, to cover costs
of medicine.
Voluntary sector (charities)
Groups: Shelter, the NSPCC, the Samaritans.
They rely heavily on charitable donations but also receive support from central or local
government.
They are managed independently from government.
The often provide services for the NHS, adult social services and children’s services.
They are not run for personal profit.
They usually use volunteers for some of their services.
Private sector
Managed by commercial companies.
They need to make profit in order to stay in business.
