Definition
Anyone who draws on social care services or support.
The bigger picture
This term is often used as a generic label to refer to people who are seeking or accessing care and support, regardless of whether people are actually using a service.
Although it is preferable to ‘service user’, the term often gets shortened to ‘users’, which is associated with drugs, exploitation and taking advantage of someone or something in an unacceptable or unethical way.
The term also groups people together and defines them in terms of their relationship with an organisation or service, and as a ‘consumer’ of services – not as a citizen with agency and equal rights. ‘Use’ implies people are passive, and have no choice and control over their care and support.
Saying it differently
People
People who access care and support
People who draw on care and support
People who require support