The changes brought about by the Care Act 2014 are wide-ranging and cover all adults with care and support needs, and their carers.
Some of the changes strengthen the ways that councils already work and some are new responsibilities.
Prevention, information and advice
Councils have new responsibilities to make sure people:
- Receive services that prevent their care needs from becoming more serious
- Can get the information and advice they need to make good decisions about care and support
- Have a range of providers offering a choice of high quality, appropriate services
The Care Act helps to improve peoples independence and wellbeing. It makes clear that local authorities must provide a ranges of services that help prevent people developing needs for care and support or delay people deteriorating such that they would need ongoing care and support.