Principles of Health & Social Care Management - Introduction and Foundations

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the core concepts, management functions, care settings, and stakeholder perspectives introduced in Module 1, Lesson 01 of Principles of Health & Social Care Management.

Health and Social Care Management

The coordination of people, resources, and processes to deliver appropriate services, balancing individual needs with service capacity, safety, and fairness within professional and ethical boundaries.

Direct Care

The frontline practice of assessing, supporting, treating, or assisting an individual service user, distinct from managerial enabling and organisation.

Health Care

Services and interventions that primarily concentrate on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Social Care

Services that primarily support daily living, social participation, protection, and personal independence.

Person-Centred Management

An approach that places the service user at the center of care delivery by identifying individual goals, preferences, abilities, and risks, while protecting dignity, privacy, and informed choice.

Mater Dei Hospital & Gozo General Hospital

Key acute care hospital settings providing acute, specialist, and outpatient care within the Maltese health and social care continuum.

St Vincent de Paul

A care institution within the care continuum specifically providing long-term and older-person care.

Primary HealthCare

The community-level health service network operating health centres and community clinics.

Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC)

A service organisation dedicated to delivering home-based and residential support for community members.

Planning (Management Function)

The initial management function of recognising a service need or problem, setting clear and realistic objectives, establishing timeframes, and agreeing on actions, responsibilities, and review points.

Organising (Management Function)

The management function of arranging staff, workflows, facilities, and information, including allocating roles according to competencies, scope, schedules, and space.

Leading (Management Function)

The management function of explaining purpose, decisions, and expectations, listening to staff, encouraging speaking up, and modeling fair, professional, and accountable behaviour.

Monitoring / Control (Management Function)

The management function of verifying whether agreed activities were completed, reviewing performance indicators, feedback, and near misses, and adjusting plans when outcomes fall short.

Ward or Shift Level Management

The operational management level responsible for immediate, day-to-day coordination, typically held by a senior staff nurse, charge nurse, or unit lead.

Service Level Management

The tactical management tier overseeing service delivery and coordination across clinics or departments, represented by nursing management and care-service coordinators.

Organisation Level Management

The highest administrative management tier carrying directorate or executive responsibilities across an entire healthcare organization.

Closed-Loop Communication

A communication sequence designed to ensure reliable information flow and escalation by stating concerns with facts, identifying the responsible party, confirming receipt and timeframe, and documenting follow-up.

Service User Priorities

The key expectations held by service users and informal carers, specifically timely, respectful, and effective support.

Staff Priorities

The key operational priorities of frontline care workers, including safe workloads, role clarity, adequate resources, and professional development.

Organisation Priorities

The primary institutional objectives of care providers, focusing on service quality, continuity, regulatory compliance, and sustainability.