| Abnormal behaviour |
Behaviour that does not conform to what is considered acceptable by people in society. |
| Abuse |
Treatment of an individual to cause them harm. |
| Active listening skills |
listening skills that are used during interactions. |
| Ageing process |
Changes in the human body over time. |
| Amniocentesis |
A method of genetic screening of a foetus inside the womb. |
| Anorexia nervosa |
an eating disorder that results in severe weight loss |
| Antenatal |
Period of foetal development in the womb |
| Apgar score |
A point score used to assess the health of a baby directly after birth |
| Balanced diet |
A daily diet that contains all the groups of nutrients in the correct amounts to maintain health and fitness |
| Behaviour |
The way in which people conduct themselves. |
| Body mass index |
A measure calculated from a person’s height and weight to assess whether they are underweight, of normal weight, overweight or obese |
| Bonding |
Parental response to child attachment. |
| Bulimia nervosa |
A compulsive eating disorder characterised by periods of overeating followed by self-induced vomiting. |
| Care settings: |
Any setting that provides care for clients such as nurseries, residential homes, hospitals and hospices. |
| Centile charts |
Charts used to measure such parameters as a child’s physical growth against the accepted norm for the age of the child |
| Confidentiality |
Maintaining the privacy of all information about any client. This is a basic principle of all good health and social care practice |
| Day care |
Care provision for certain clients such as young children and the elderly that supports client need during certain times such as nursery provision for under 5’s and day centres for the elderly |
| Dependant |
A person who relies on another for physical, emotional, social, intellectual or economic support. |
| Development |
The acquisition of new skills and abilities. |
| Domiciliary care |
Home care services within the private sector |
| Early Years Curriculum |
The programme that all children follow in primary school. It provides a foundation for their learning |
| Early Years workers |
Professionals who work in child care and early years education with clients aged 8 and under. |
| Educational Psychologist |
A professional who is responsible for assessing and supporting children with special needs education |
| Egocentrism |
Unawareness that others may have different viewpoints to yourself |
| Empathy |
The ability to sense what other people are feeling and to be able to give adequate support as necessary |
| Ethics |
Moral codes of practice based on the care value base |
| Ethnic groups |
groups of people who belong to the same race or religion |
| Family |
Individuals who are related by birth, adoption or marriage |
| Indirect Care |
Support given to care for individuals that is not part of their medical care e.g. caterers in a hospital |
| Informal Care |
The support and care given by non professionals on an unscheduled basis e.g. supporting a sick relative by helping with household chores etc. |
| Midwife |
A nurse who specialises in care during pregnancy, birth and the short period after birth |
| NHS |
National Health Service, government funded health care which is free at the point of need |
| Obstetrician |
A Doctor who specialises in care during pregnancy and birth |
| Paediatrics |
Care: Doctors and nurses who specialise in the care of children |
| Private sector |
Care provided by businesses who intend to make profit e.g. BUPA |
| Statutory sector |
Care provided by the government usually through the NHS as it is a legal entitlement. |
| Voluntary Sector |
Care provided by not for profit organizations usually charities e.g. NSPCC, Help the Aged, Turning Point etc |
