What are care needs, why do people need care, and how are needs identified?
What is meant by a care need, why people need care, the main types of need (physical, intellectual, emotional and social), and how methods of assessment are used to identify a person's needs.
An SQA National 5 Care answer on care needs and assessment, covering what a care need is, why people need care, the physical, intellectual, emotional and social types of need, and how methods of assessment identify a person's needs.
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What this dot point is asking
Before you can support someone, you have to know what they need. The SQA wants you to explain what a care need is, why people come to need care, the types of need a person can have, and how assessment is used to identify those needs. This is the starting point of all care: needs are assessed first, then a plan is made to meet them.
What is a care need
A care need is something a person cannot fully manage alone and needs support with in order to stay healthy, safe and well. A need is not the same as a problem to be solved once: it is an area where the person requires help, which the care service then meets.
Why people need care
People come to need care for many different reasons, and a person can have more than one at once:
- Age. Very young children need care because they cannot yet look after themselves; some older people need care as health and mobility change.
- Illness or disability. A long-term condition, illness or disability can mean a person needs help with daily tasks or health care.
- Injury or recovery. Someone recovering from an accident or operation may need care for a time.
- Circumstances. Poverty, family breakdown, isolation or a crisis can create needs even when a person is healthy.
This is why care looks at the whole person and their situation, not just one problem.
The types of care need (PIES)
Needs are grouped into four types. The same letters used for the aspects of development, PIES, work for needs too.
- Physical needs relate to the body and health: food, warmth, shelter, hygiene, mobility, medication and personal care.
- Intellectual needs relate to the mind: learning, stimulation, information, and the chance to think and make decisions.
- Emotional needs relate to feelings and wellbeing: reassurance, security, affection, and support with anxiety or low mood.
- Social needs relate to relationships: company, friendship, contact with family, and being part of a group rather than isolated.
How needs are identified: assessment
To find out a person's needs, care workers carry out an assessment. Assessment is the process of gathering information to build a clear, full picture of the individual before planning their care.
Common methods of assessment include:
- Talking to the person (interview). Asking the individual about their needs, wishes and daily life. This respects the right to choose and puts the person at the centre.
- Observation. Watching how the person manages tasks such as walking, eating or dressing to see where help is needed.
- Reading records and reports. Using medical notes, referrals and reports from other professionals to understand the person's history and health.
- Working with family and other professionals. Talking to relatives, doctors, social workers and other staff who know the person, so nothing is missed.
Why assessment matters
Assessment makes care fit the individual. It means care is based on real needs rather than assumptions, that all four types of need are considered, and that the person is involved in decisions about their own life. A care plan built on a good assessment is the basis of person-centred care, and it is reviewed and updated as needs change.
Try this
Q1. Name the four types of care need. [1 mark]
- Cue. Physical, intellectual, emotional and social (PIES).
Q2. State one method a care worker could use to assess a person's needs. [1 mark]
- Cue. Any one of: talking to or interviewing the person, observation, reading records and reports, or working with family and other professionals.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA N5 style4 marksDescribe two different types of care need an individual might have. Use examples in your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark describe question needs two types of need, each developed with an example, to score four marks.
Type 1. A physical need is a need linked to the body and health, for example needing help to wash, dress, move around or take medication. Meeting it keeps the person clean, safe and well.
Type 2. An emotional need is a need linked to feelings and wellbeing, for example needing company, reassurance and someone to talk to so the person does not feel lonely or anxious.
Markers reward each type that is clearly described and linked to an example. You could equally use intellectual or social needs. Naming a type with no description or example would not gain full marks.
SQA N5 style3 marksExplain why a person's care needs should be assessed before care is provided.Show worked answer →
This is an explain question worth 3 marks, so give developed reasons.
Reason 1. Assessment finds out exactly what the person needs, so the care provided fits the individual rather than guessing or giving everyone the same.
Reason 2. It makes sure nothing important is missed. Looking at physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs together gives a full picture, so the person is supported in every area.
Reason 3. It supports person-centred care and the right to choose, because the person is involved in the assessment and their own wishes shape the care plan.
Markers reward reasons that link assessment to giving the right, individual care, not just "to know about them".
Related dot points
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An SQA National 5 Care answer on the care values and principles that underpin positive care practice, covering dignity and respect, choice, confidentiality, equality, safety, independence and realising potential, and what person-centred care means.
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Sources & how we know this
- National 5 Care Course Specification — SQA (2017)