The Care Act 2014

The Purpose of the 2014 Care Act

The Care Act aims to ensure people needing care and receive the support they need and that their wellbeing is at the centre of the process. The Act also aims to bring personalisation to care services, giving greater control and influence to those in need of support.

If you need care and support or if you are a carer, you could benefit from the Care Act. It is designed to help you plan for the future, giving you control over the help you receive. The Act outlines obligations for local authorities and guidelines to carry out needs and carer’s assessments and for the charging of residential and community care.

Summary of the Care Act 2014

Implemented on 1 April 2015, the Care Act gives local authorities a responsibility to assess the level of support that a carer may need.

To do this, the local authority will undertake an assessment with the carer to decide whether the carer has needs that require support. Previously, carers did not have a legal right to receive support, however on occasion the local authority was able to offer support at their discretion.

Once a carer’s assessment has been completed, the local authority will then decide whether the carer is eligible for support. The carer will be entitled to support if they meet the eligibility criteria and the person they care for lives in the local authority area.

The Care Act 2014 explained

This helpful video explains the key changes to the Care Act.

2016 changes to the Care Act

Amendments to the Care Act were published on 10 March 2016 to take into account regulatory changes, as well as feedback from stakeholders and the care sector. Read details of the changes below:

Care and Support Statutory Guidance: Changes in March 2016

Health and Care Act 2022

The Health and Care Act 2022 has added further revision to care legislature. The HCA 2022 aims to make it easier for health and care organisations to deliver joint care to people who require multiple services, building on earlier recommendations by NHS England and NHS Improvement. Read the Act in detail here:

Health and Care Act 2022