Find out about the Care Act 2014 and what it means for you. This information applies to people living in England.
What is the Care Act?
The Care Act 2014 came into effect in April 2015 and replaced most previous law regarding carers and people being cared for. It outlines the way in which local authorities should carry out carer’s assessments and needs assessments; how local authorities should determine who is eligible for support; how local authorities should charge for both residential care and community care; and places new obligations on local authorities.
The Care Act is mainly for adults in need of care and support, and their adult carers. There are some provisions for the transition of children in need of care and support, parent carers of children in need of care and support, and young carers. However the main provisions for these groups (before transition) are in the Children and Families Act 2014.
Some key aims of the Care Act are to make sure that:
- everyone can get the information, advice and guidance they need to make good decisions about care and support
- people are supported to stay independent and as healthy as possible for as long as possible
- people can get the services they need to help prevent or delay their care needs from becoming more serious
- people can achieve the needs and goals that matter to them. and their wellbeing is the driving force behind their care and support
- there is a range of good quality care providers to choose from
- the same eligibility threshold for receiving funded social care is applied across the whole country
- different agencies co-operate and work together to improve people’s wellbeing
The Department of Health and Social Care has produced a series of factsheets to explain different parts of the Care Act.
There is also a plain English easy read booklet about the Care Act which can be downloaded.
For residents of North East Lincolnshire
In North East Lincolnshire, most adult social work is provided by focus independent adult social work on behalf of North East Lincolnshire and NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Statutory Guidance
To find out your rights as a carer, eligibility criteria, the ‘wellbeing’ principles, capital limits and much more please read the care and support statutory guidance.
Social care handbook
The Social Care Handbook offers information about your journey through Adult Social Care in North East Lincolnshire.
Useful websites
BBC – media coverage ‘Care system gets biggest shake up in 60 years’
Department of Health and Social Care
Focus independent adult social work
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)
North East Lincolnshire Council
Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
Page last updated: 06 Oct 2023