Factsheet: Overviewof

Introduction

The CareAct 2014builds onrecentreviewsandreforms,replacingnumerouspreviouslaws, toprovidea coherentapproach toadult social care inEngland.PartoneoftheAct (and itsStatutoryGuidance)consolidatesandmodernises theframeworkofcareandsupportlaw; it set outnewdutiesfor localauthoritiesandpartners,andnewrights for service users andcarers.

WhatdoestheActaimtoachieve?

  • Clearer,fairercareandsupport
  • Wellbeing–physical,mental andemotional–ofboththepersonneedingcare andtheircarer
  • Prevention and delayoftheneedfor careandsupport
  • Peoplein controloftheircare.

Anewemphasisonwellbeing

ThenewstatutoryprincipleofindividualwellbeingunderpinstheAct,and is thedrivingforcebehindcare andsupport.

“The general duty of a local authority, … in the case of an individual, is to promote that individual’s wellbeing”.

Wellbeing is a broad concept, and the statutory guidance defines it as relating to the following nine areas in particular:

personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect)

physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing

protection from abuse and neglect

control by the individual over day-to-day life (including over care and support provided and the way it is provided)

participation in work, education, training or recreation

social and economic wellbeing

domestic, family and personal relationships

suitability of living accommodation

the individual's contribution to society.

Prevention

Localauthorities(andtheirpartnersinhealth,housing,welfareandemploymentservices) must nowtakesteps toprevent, reduceor delaythe needfor careandsupportforall local people.

Integration

The Actincludes astatutoryrequirementfor localauthoritiestocollaborate,cooperateand integratewith otherpublicauthoritiese.g.healthandhousing.Italso requires seamlesstransitionsfor youngpeoplemoving to adultsocial careservices.

Information, adviceand advocacy

The Actplaces adutyon localauthoritiestoensurethatinformationandadvice oncare andsupport isavailable to alland when theyneedit.Independentadvocacymustalsobearrangedif a personwouldotherwise be unabletoparticipatein, orunderstand,thecareandsupportsystem.

Diversecaremarkets

Theremustbediversityand qualityin themarketofcareproviders so thatthereare enoughhigh-qualityservices forpeopletochoosefrom.Localauthoritiesmustalso step intoensurethatno vulnerableperson is leftwithoutthecare theyneediftheirservice closes due tobusinessfailure.

Safeguarding

A newstatutoryframeworkprotectsadults from neglectand abuse.Safeguardingadultsboardswill be set up ineveryarea

Assessmentand eligibility

Anybody, includingacarer,whoappearstoneedcare or support isentitled to anassessment,regardlessof financial contactwith the council,mustfocus onoutcomesimportanttotheindividual.Anyneedscurrentlybeingmet byacarershouldstill be includedin theassessment.The localauthoritymust thenapplyanational eligibilitythresholdtodeterminewhethertheindividualhaseligibleneeds.

  • Their needs are caused by physical or mental impairment or illness.
  • Their needs stop them achieving 2 ( 1 for carers) or more specified outcomes
  • As a consequence there is or likely to be a significant impact on their wellbeing.
  • Needs will be eligible or not eligible.
  • LA will have a duty to meet unmet eligible needs

Specified outcomes:

a) Managing and maintaining nutrition

b) Maintaining personal hygiene

c) Managing toilet needs

d) Being appropriately clothed

e) Being able to make use of the adult’s home safely

f) Maintaining a habitable home environment

g) Developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships

h) Accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering

i) Making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community including public transport and recreational facilities or service

j) Carrying out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child

Charging and financial assessment

If thetypeof carebeingconsideredischargeable,thenthelocalauthoritymust carryoutafinancialassessment.From April2015, all councils must offerdeferredpaymentsandfromApril 2016,all peoplewitheligibleneedswill have a careaccounttosetoutthenotional costsaccumulatedtodatetowardstheircap on carecosts.

Careand supportplanning

A local authoritymusthelpa persondecideresources.Theassessment,which startsatfirst howtheireligibleneedswillmetthrough thepreparationof acare andsupportplanor supportplanforcarers, andreviewit regularly.

Personal budgets and direct payments

Apersonalbudgetwill formpart ofthecareand supportplanor supportplan.Wherea person,including acarer,hasa personalbudget,theycanhave adirectpayment.FromApril2016,self-funderswitheligible needswillhaveanindependent personalbudget(IPB)torecordthenotional costof meetingtheireligibleneeds.

Whenwill theActbecomeeffective?

Mostof the changestakeeffectfromApril 2015. However, themajor reforms tothewaythat social care isfunded–including thecare capand careaccount–will notcomeinto operationuntilApril 2016.

Summary

The CareAct consolidatesgoodpractice in statute aswell as bringing in newreforms.It shouldembedandextendpersonalisationin social careas well asincreasingthefocusonwellbeing andprevention.It should alsoenablelocalauthoritiesandpartners to haveawiderfocus on thewholepopulationin needofcare, ratherthanjustthosewitheligibleneeds and/or who are state-funded.

For peoplewho needcareand support,and their carers,there will be:

  • better access to information and advice,preventative services,andassessment of need
  • an entitlement to care and support
  • a newmodel ofpaying for care,with acapon the carecostsforwhichan individual isliable
  • a common system across thecountry (nationaleligibilitythreshold).