3.2 Explain roles and responsibilities of others who provide support to individuals with multiple conditions and/or disabilities

This guide will help you answer 3.2 Explain roles and responsibilities of others who provide support to individuals with multiple conditions and/or disabilities.

Supporting individuals with multiple conditions and disabilities often involves a wide network of professionals and support workers. Each person in this network has their own role and set of responsibilities. Clear communication and coordinated actions between these roles can help make sure the individual receives safe, consistent, and person-centred care.

This guide covers who these people are, what they do, and how their work links together to support the person’s needs.

General Practitioners (GPs)

GPs are the first point of contact for most health concerns. They provide medical assessments, prescribe medication, and arrange referrals to specialists.

Their responsibilities include:

• Monitoring ongoing health problems
• Adjusting medication where needed
• Making referrals to hospital departments or community services
• Advising on lifestyle changes to support health
• Keeping the individual’s medical records accurate and up to date

A GP plays an important part in coordinating care and ensuring all relevant information gets passed to other professionals involved.

Specialist Doctors and Consultants

Specialists work in specific areas of medicine such as cardiology, neurology, or oncology. A person with multiple long-term health conditions may see more than one specialist at different times.

Their main responsibilities can include:

• Diagnosing specific conditions
• Planning specialised treatment
• Carrying out detailed assessments
• Providing expert advice to other professionals
• Reviewing treatment progress and making changes where needed

Specialists often work closely with GPs so that treatment plans fit with the person’s overall health status.

Nurses

Nurses support individuals in a range of settings such as GP surgeries, hospitals, community clinics, and at home. They may be general nurses or have specific training, for example as district nurses or learning disability nurses.

Their roles often cover:

• Carrying out assessments of physical health
• Giving treatments such as wound dressings or injections
• Monitoring symptoms and looking for changes
• Supporting with pain management
• Educating the person and their family on managing conditions

Community and district nurses often link home care and clinical care, giving updates to doctors and therapists.

Allied Health Professionals

Allied Health Professionals cover a wide group of occupations that support health, rehabilitation, and independence.

Physiotherapists

They assess movement and physical function. They plan exercise or mobility programmes to maintain or improve movement. They may give advice on mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walking frames.

Occupational Therapists

They help individuals develop or maintain everyday skills. This could mean adapting a home to make it easier to move around, suggesting special equipment, or teaching new ways of doing tasks after illness or injury.

Speech and Language Therapists

They assess and support people with communication and swallowing difficulties. They may give exercises to improve speech or recommend communication aids.

Dietitians

They offer specialist advice on food and nutrition. If a condition affects what a person can eat, they can plan a safe and healthy diet.

Care Workers and Support Workers

Care workers help with personal care and everyday tasks. Support workers may also help with accessing the community and pursuing hobbies or social activities.

Key responsibilities:

• Assisting with washing, dressing, and eating
• Supporting medication routines (where trained and authorised)
• Helping with mobility and transfers
• Providing companionship and emotional support
• Reporting changes in mood or health to supervisors or healthcare professionals

They often spend more time with the individual than other professionals, so they play a key role in spotting changes early.

Social Workers

Social workers assess needs linked to health, safeguarding, housing, family circumstances, and financial support.

Their roles include:

• Carrying out needs assessments under the Care Act 2014
• Arranging support packages
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults or children
• Coordinating between different services
• Supporting access to benefits and housing

They act as a link between health and social care to make sure all aspects of the person’s well-being are considered.

Psychologists and Counsellors

Emotional and mental health support is an important part of care for individuals with multiple conditions and disabilities.

Psychologists may assess memory, thinking, and mental health needs. Counsellors provide talking therapies that help the person cope with loss, stress, anxiety, or changes to their lifestyle.

Both roles include:

• Assessing emotional well-being
• Providing therapy or mental skills support
• Liaising with GPs or psychiatrists if medication or further medical input is needed

Advocacy Services

Advocates speak up for individuals who may have difficulty expressing their needs or wishes.

An advocate may:

• Help the individual understand information about their care
• Attend meetings to represent the person’s views
• Make sure choices are respected
• Support the person to access complaints procedures

Some advocates are independent, while others work within charities or statutory services.

Housing Officers and Adaptation Specialists

Living arrangements can have a big impact on health and independence. Housing officers assess housing needs and help arrange suitable accommodation. Adaptation specialists recommend and organise changes to the home environment to make it safer and more accessible.

Examples of adaptations include:

• Installing ramps or stairlifts
• Creating level-access showers
• Fitting handrails or grab rails

Pharmacists

Pharmacists provide expert advice on medicines.

They can:

• Check prescriptions are safe and suitable for the person
• Give information about possible side effects or interactions
• Advise on correct storage and timing of medicines
• Offer support services such as medication reviews or dosette box filling

Pharmacists in the community often have regular contact with individuals, making them a key source of information and support.

Education and Employment Advisers

For individuals in education or employment, specialist advisers can help make adjustments so that health conditions or disabilities do not limit participation.

They may:

• Liaise with schools, colleges, or employers
• Arrange reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010
• Provide equipment or support staff
• Help with vocational rehabilitation after illness or injury

Voluntary and Community Organisations

Charities and community groups often provide extra services to fill gaps in statutory provision. They may offer peer support groups, befriending services, transport to appointments, or respite for carers.

Their responsibilities can involve:

• Giving emotional support
• Running social activities to reduce isolation
• Offering specialist information about certain conditions
• Providing practical help with day-to-day tasks

Coordinating Roles

One of the biggest challenges in supporting individuals with multiple needs is making sure everyone works together. Roles that focus on coordination include:

• Case Managers who oversee the whole care plan
• Senior Care Coordinators who track progress and arrange reviews
• Multidisciplinary Team Leaders who manage meetings between different professionals

These roles help avoid confusion and duplication by ensuring all involved know their responsibilities.

The Role of Family and Informal Carers

Family members or friends may provide unpaid care. They often have in-depth knowledge of the person’s likes, dislikes, and daily needs.

Their work can include:

• Assisting with personal care
• Supporting with medication reminders
• Providing transport to appointments
• Offering companionship and encouragement
• Helping the person communicate with professionals

They may also need support themselves to manage the pressures of caregiving.

Communication and Record Keeping

No matter what the role, good communication and accurate record keeping are important. Keeping clear notes allows other workers to pick up where one has left off without confusion. Sharing information appropriately under data protection law keeps care safe and coordinated.

Risk Assessment and Safeguarding

Many of these roles share responsibilities for spotting and reporting risks. This could be risk to safety from the home environment or safeguarding concerns around abuse or neglect. Everyone involved must know how to report these concerns within organisational policy and legal requirements.

Training and Professional Standards

Each role has its own qualification and training requirements. Many have codes of conduct or professional standards set by regulatory bodies. This keeps practice safe and ensures decisions are made in the person’s best interest.

Final Thoughts

Supporting a person with multiple conditions and disabilities involves many people, each bringing their own knowledge and skills. By understanding each role and its responsibilities, you can work more effectively as part of a team.

The best outcomes happen when all these roles value the input of others, keep communication clear, and put the individual’s needs and choices at the centre. As a worker in this sector, knowing who does what will help you give better support and know where to go for advice or assistance.