Health and Social Care: Understanding Specific Needs - Report

This report delves into the crucial area of specific needs within health and social care, examining core concepts like health, disability, illness, and the behaviors associated with maintaining good health. It explores how societal perceptions of these needs have evolved over time, addressing the impact of stigma and discrimination. The report also analyzes the influence of legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998, the Mental Health Act 2007, and the Health and Social Care Act 2008, on the provision of care and the rights of individuals. It highlights the importance of understanding these factors to ensure effective and equitable healthcare services. The report references key academic sources to support its analysis, emphasizing the need for continued awareness and adaptation in the field.

UNDERSTANDING SPECIFIC
NEEDS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL
CARE

INTRODUCTION
Health care service related to individuals with
specific needs have gained prominence in
recent times. The changes in the perception of
society and concerns raised by policy makers to
bring more legislations catering to individuals
with specific needs has become a global trend.

1.1 CONCEPTS RELATED TO HEALTH, DISABILITY, ILLNESS AND BEHAVIOURHealth and behaviour
The maintenance of healthy behaviour includes action
and activities involved in up keeping of good health.
As seen in the case of Mr Benjamin, the health
behaviour adopted by him will lead him to lead a
health file.
As pointed by Mitchell et al. (2014), the action has
been centred on usage proper medication and wellness
program. The proper medications intake suggests that
the individual’s is a health conscious of his healthy
well-being. The health behaviour is highly dependent
on imbibing good habits that have association with
maintenance of healthy diet and exercise.

Disability
Disability refers to inability in performing certain task related to daily
activities and normal functioning undertaken by individuals and has negative
long term effect on the health status of individual (Jackson et al. 2016). Mr
Benjamin appears to health conscious individual and does not require
disability care since he is capable of complying his medical needs. The
disability needs can be taken care of through physical therapies and
equipment’s that essentially designed to provide ease in carrying out work.
The Medical model and Equality Act 2010 provides equal opportunity of
living and care to disable people and ensure appropriate services
(Legislation.gov.uk, 2019).

Illness
The illness states the level which is associated with disease or
other related issues and hinders the physical, emotional or
social development of the individuals. As seen in the case of
Mr Benjamin that he is suffering from diabetes and is on
medication. The mental illness requires care either through
medication or therapies which can help in achieving a
comfortable state of living. It is also essential to meet the
spiritual needs of the individuals (Mitchell et al. 2014).

1.2 PERCEPTIONS OF SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT
CHANGED OVER TIME
Stigma
The stigma attached to specific needs can deter the individuals from undertaking
care needs that will help them to improve their life. Stigma has a negative
connotation that impacts the identity of the Individuals. As seen in the case of Mr
Benjamin who has been diagnosed with mental illness which led to creating stigma
among people related mental illness.
Discrimination
Discrimination and socially excluded attitude can have an intense impact on the
individuals requiring specific needs. This also dents the confidence of individuals
with specific needs and creates extra mental pressure on them.

Changes in Attitudes over time
Social and political developments
As mentioned by Sallis et al. (2015), the rise in the level of education and creation of
general awareness has brought about significant changes in the perception related to
mental illness. There have persistent efforts from political front to draft legislation to
protect the rights of individual with specific needs and also provide them equal
opportunities. This has greatly improvised the condition of individuals with specific
needs. It has boosted their confidence to approach care needs to help them achieve a
better life.

Advancement in Medical and technology
There has been gamut of changes in the field of medical advancement and
technological changes which helped in providing better and advance care to
individuals. The advances in the medical equipment’s and discovery of
newer therapies have helped in changing the perception of society towards
mental illness. The technology also plays an important role in generating
awareness and creating an empathetic attitude among people towards
individual with specific needs (Gardner et al. 2016).

1.3 IMPACT OF LEGISLATION, SOCIAL POLICY,
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Human Rights Act 1998
As mentioned in the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42),
the health and care services must be affordable and free
of any bias practices that is being provided from the
healthcare facilities. The Rosemary community has to
abide by the legislation and is open to governmental
scrutiny for ensuring that law are being followed in
dispersing care services (legislation.gov.uk, 2019). The
health service users are entitled to quality healthcare
and without any discriminatory practices against them
while delivering of health care to them. According to
Brett et al. (2014), the health care organisations keep
themselves updated regarding the changes in the act
and legislation and bring about these changes in their
working as well.

The Mental Health Act 2007
In accordance with Mental Health Act 2007 (c.12), the health
care facilities see instructed to look after special needs
required for individuals with mental illness
(legislation.gov.uk, 2019).
It is essential that effective treatment see provided to
individuals with mental illness as seen in the case of Mr
Benjamin and the Rosemary community must prove the
needs in order to abide by the norms of the legislation. It is
required that safety and well-being is provided to individuals
with specific needs by the health care for maintenance of safe
and regulated environment of the healthcare organisation
(Iezzoni et al. 2015).

The Health and Social Care Act 2008
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), ensures that
individuals are not discriminated on any grounds for effective
delivery of the treatment and regulations (legislation.gov.uk,
2019). The legislation specifically mentions maintenance of
safety and providing of high quality care to the health service
user. According to Livingston et al. (2017), the legislation and
legal regularising helps in developing a responsible attitude
among people in the society and also ensures maintenance of
standard practices to be followed by health care organisation.

CONCLUSION
It can be safely concluded that it is essential to understand
concept of health, disability, behaviour and illness for
understanding the specific needs of individuals. The study
discusses the changes in the perception related to specific needs
in recent times and effective measurement and regulations that
have been inducted in the field of Health services provided by
Healthcare organisations and agencies.