The Care Act - The Care & Support Process Explained

Introduction

The Care Act 2014 governs the provision of social care to adults.

It enables local councils to provide a range of services in order to assist older and disabled adults (as well as their family and other unpaid carers).

In some cases, adults can establish enforceable rights to services.

These are established through a formal process, commonly referred to as the ‘care and support’ process.

The process starts from when the duty to assess is triggered, involves consideration of national eligibility criteria, and continues through a financial assessment and care and support planning.

The process can be complex and is contained in in a range of statute law, regulations, and guidance.

With an increasingly aging population it is vital that lawyers have a clear understanding of how the care and support process works, so that they can support their clients, challenge local authority decision-making and swiftly identify flawed decisions.

This webinar explains the care and support process in straightforward and comprehensible terms.

It will be particularly useful for private client lawyers whose clients may need or already be in receipt of adult social care services.

It will also be important for local authority lawyers and other advisers who come into contact with older and disabled people or family carers.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• When a local council must assess your client and their carer(s)
• How assessments must be conducted in law
• How eligibility determinations should be made
• The responsibilities to carry out a financial assessment
• The care and support planning process
• Adult safeguarding

This webinar was recorded on 3rd May 2023