Key Questions
- What is the Care Act?
- Why do we have the Care Act?
- How is it put into practice?
- When is it important?
- Who is responsible for putting it into practice?
What is the Care Act?
The Care Act 2014 came into effect on 1st April 2015. It changes the way care and support is delivered.
It aims to put people in control of the help they receive and ensure that people:
- are supported to keep safe and as well as possible;
- get the services they need to stop their care needs from becoming more serious;
- can get the information, advice and guidance they need so that they can make decisions about their own care; and
- have a good range of services to choose from.
Why do we have the Care Act?
Before the Care Act, people had different entitlements to different types of care and support. There were a number of different Acts, some over 60 years old. The law was confusing and complex.
The Care Act provides a single, modern law that makes it clear what kind of care people should expect.
The Care Act was introduced to enable people to have more control over their own lives.
How is it put into practice?
Key areas where the Care Act will affect practice include:
- New set of criteria for providing support to people to ensure a fairer national system;
- Outcome based assessments – focusing on the outcomes the person wants to achieve;
- New rights for carers – a legal right to a carers assessment and;
- Changes to when and how people will be asked to contribute towards the cost of support – arranged in conjunction with their local authority. A Green paper will be published in the summer of 2018 regarding new legislation for social care reform.
Greater emphasis on:
- Protecting the most vulnerable people in our society from abuse and neglect;
- Prevention – encourage and assist people to lead healthy lives, which will reduce the chances of them needing more support in the future;
- Providing clear information and advice;
- Personal Budgets;
- Independent Advocacy and;
- Greater Regulation for Provider agencies.
