Care Act 2014: Implications for Councils with Housing

The Care Act 2014 provides a new statutory framework for adult care and support which, with limited exceptions, came into effect in April 2015. It applies primarily to unitary and county councils but has significant implications for all housing authorities. We summarise the implications of the Act for councils with housing:

Key points

·         Local authorities responsible for care and support are given an explicit duty to promote the well-being of every adult. The definition of well-being includes "suitability of living accommodation"

·         Local authorities responsible for care and support are expected to integrate their services with those provided by the NHS and other health-related services, including housing

·         Local authorities are required to provide an information and advice service on care and support, and related matters, including housing and finance

·         All local authorities, including housing authorities, are required to cooperate with each other in relation to the provision of care and support. This includes a duty on each local authority to secure cooperation between adult social care, housing, public health and children's services.

Read more on the ARCH website.