The Lexicon for Social Care is an initiative by HIQA’s Chief Inspector of Social Service. The Lexicon provides a list of commonly-used words relevant to social care, along with a definition. The use of standardised language is important for clarity and consistency and all providers of social care are encouraged to use the Lexicon in their communications with HIQA. Below are links to useful documents as well as a search function for the Lexicon.

If you wish to comment or leave feedback on the Lexicon for Social Care then please click here or simply email socialcarelexicon@hiqa.ie.

  • Guidance for providers on submitting notifications

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  • Lexicon for Social Care (PDF)

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  • Infographic about the Lexicon

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Lexicon catalogue

Displaying 241 - 252 of 411 results.
Term Description

Notifiable disease

Diseases that health and social care services are required to inform to a designated authority when present in their service (country specific).

Notify

To tell someone officially about something.

Nurse on duty

A nurse nominated to oversee clinical care, attend to complex health care and co-ordinate staff.

Nursing care

Nursing procedures, other than personal care, that a registered nurse performs directly on or to a person.

Nutritional intake

The calories and nutrients a person consumes by any route over a given period of time.

Obvious sign of injury

Where it is clear from a brief observation that a person has sustained an injury.

Alternative term(s) not to be used : Visible injury

Occupational therapist (OT)

A specialist in rehabilitation who seeks to maintain or improve someone’s level of physical and/or psychological functioning.

Optician

Someone whose job is examining people's eyes and prescribing glasses or contact lenses to correct sight problems.

Organisation

A structured group of people who work together for a shared purpose.

Outbreak (disease)

The spread of a communicable disease among a defined number of people.

Pain relief

The alleviation of pain, typically by means of medication.

Palliative care

A holistic approach to the prevention and relief of suffering for people with advanced progressive illnesses that emphasizes identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and responsiveness to psychosocial issues.