The Care Act 2014 sets out the entitlement to care and support for adults in England. It applies to people who are aged 18 or over and who have care and support needs. The needs must be significant and the adult must not be able to meet those needs themselves.
The care and support needs must arise from:
• physical or mental illness or disability
• old age
• an accident or injury
• a particular event or set of circumstances, such as domestic abuse
The Care Act 2014 does not cover people under the age of 18. However, some of the principles in the Act, such as care and support being preventative and personalised, do apply to children’s services.
The principle of ‘wellbeing’ is at the heart of the Care Act 2014. This means that when assessors are working out what care and support an adult needs, they must take into account factors such as the adult’s physical and mental health, their relationships and their involvement in work, education or other activities.