LA duties
What?
Who and when?
How to prepare
How to undertake
Next steps
The Care Act 2014 sets out local authorities’ duties when assessing people’s care and support needs.
This resource supports care practitioners and answers their questions about assessment and determination of eligibility under the Care Act. It also provides practical guidance over what they should do when applying the letter and spirit of this law.
For brevity and simplicity, throughout this resource the term ‘assessment under the Care Act’ is used to refer to either a Care Act assessment of:
an individual’s needs for care and support
a carer’s needs for support.
What duties do local authorities have in assessing people’s care and support needs, as set out in the Care Act 2014?
Section 9 of the Care Act 2014 informs that local authorities must:
carry out an assessment of anyone who appears to have needs for care and support, regardless of whether those needs are likely to be eligible
focus the assessment on the person’s needs and how they impact on their wellbeing, and the outcomes they want to achieve
involve the person in the assessment and, where appropriate, their carer and/or someone else they nominate
provide access to an independent advocate to support the person’s involvement in the assessment, if required
consider other things besides care services that can contribute to the desired outcomes (e.g. preventive services, community support).
The Health and Social Care Bill White Paper acknowledges that the spirit of the Care Act is not being fully realised with regard to promoting individual wellbeing, and supporting people with care and support needs to live their lives in the way that they want. There is still work to be done operationally, to understand the duty of promoting individual wellbeing underlying every care and support function. This resource provides operational guidance on how to do this.
What is an assessment under the Care Act?
What is an assessment under the Care Act 2014?
What is the purpose of an assessment under the Care Act?
Why is an assessment under the Care Act so important?
Who is involved in an assessment, and when should it happen?
Who should undertake an assessment under the Care Act?
Who can have an assessment under the Care Act?
What if someone does not want an assessment under the Care Act?
When should an assessment under the Care Act take place?
What is ‘appearance of needs for care and support’ under the Care Act?
What if someone has an urgent need for care and support?
How to prepare for an assessment under the Care Act?
What is the social care practitioner’s role when undertaking an assessment under the Care Act?
How should a social care practitioner prepare someone for an assessment meeting under the Care Act?
How should a social care practitioner prepare for an assessment under the Care Act?
What is a supported self-assessment?
How to undertake an assessment under the Care Act?
What does a social care practitioner need to do in an assessment under the Care Act?
What is an outcome under the Care Act?
Assessment under the Care Act: the next steps
What should a Care Act assessment record contain?
How does a social care practitioner determine when an assessment under the Care Act is complete?
What do social care practitioners need to do once an assessment under the Care Act is completed?
Other things to consider
Key Care Act duties for assessment and determination of eligibility
Key Care Act principles for assessment and determination of eligibility
Important concepts for assessment and determination of eligibility
Determination of eligibility under the Care Act 2014
Quick guide to eligibility outcomes under the Care Act 2014
The Care Act 2014: the assessment and eligibility process