Ministers consult on key guidance for local authorities on Care Act obligations

The guidance relates to Part 1 of the 2014 Act, with the reforms coming into effect in April 2015. It covers:

• General duties and universal services;
• First contact and identifying needs;
• Charging and financial assessment;
• Person-centred care and support planning;
• Integration and partnership working;
• Adult safeguarding;
• Moving between areas: inter-local authority and cross-border issues;
• Other areas.

More information on the consultation, which runs until 15 August, the guidance and the draft regulations can be viewed here.

Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb said: “Care and support is something that nearly everyone in this country will experience at some point in their lives. Our Care Act will make the system fairer by putting people in control of their care and limiting the amount anyone may have to pay for the support they need.

“These regulations and guidance will help support councils in making these reforms a reality.”

Regulations and updated guidance to support implementation of the additional reforms which come into effect in April 2016 – such as the cap on care costs – will be subject to a separate consultation. This will be published later this year, the Department said.