The Care Act marks the most significant reform of social care legislation in over 60 years by simplifying over 30 acts into a single, modern law. It aims to make care and support easier to navigate and understand. Key changes under the new Act include establishing a national minimum standard of support and requiring local authorities to provide assessments for both those who need care and unpaid carers to help meet their needs and support their wellbeing. The new Act is intended to benefit both recipients of care and their unpaid carers by making the system of support clearer, more comprehensive, and better tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

1. THE Care Act marks the
most significant reform in
social care for over 60
years and simplifies
legislation from more than
30 acts of Parliament into
one modern law.
If you need care and support
orifyouareacarer,it’simportant
toknowhowthechangescoming
into effect from April 1 will help
you.Whetheryouneedpractical
oremotionalsupport,oursimple
guide (right) aims to show how
the new Care Act may benefit
you and your loved ones.
One woman who knows all
about caring for a loved one is
Barbara Barrett.
Shehasbeenlookingafterher
mum, Bess, in her home for the
pastsevenyears.Bess,whoturns
100 in March, has advanced
dementia and is blind.
Besscanrememberthedistant
past really well and she knows
she had four children. But
things she has been told just
momentsearliercanbeforgotten
almost instantly.
‘Mum gets the higher
level attendance allowance
every week. She also gets a
monthly direct payment from
the council to go towards her
care costs,’ says Barbara from
Kemsing in Kent.
This enables Bess to get help
from Bluebird Care, a private
companythat providescareand
support for clients at home.
Bluebird Care is approved by
the council, and its team have
been a great support to Barbara
and her mother, helping them
with all sorts of practicalities.
Barbara finds how mornings
arethemostdifficulttime,soshe
arrangedforhelptogetBessup,
washed and dressed.
‘If the new Act makes things
easier, it will be very welcome
indeed,’ Barbara says.
FAQs ON CARE AND SUPPORT
What is care and support?
Care and support is the help some
adults need to live as well as
possible with any illness or
disability they may have. It can
include help with things like
getting out of bed. It
might include
emotional support
at a time of
difficulty or helping
people who are
caring for a family
member or friend.
It can also mean
support from
community groups
and networks.
Who receives care
and support?
Around 1.5 million people
receive care and support (both
in their own homes and in
residential settings). This
number is made up of older
people (65+), particularly the
very old (85+), and working age
people who receive help for a
variety of reasons,
including physical or
learning disabilities,
mental health
issues and social
problems, such as
drug abuse.
Is care and
support free?
Unlike healthcare,
care and support has
never been free. Sometimes
people pay the full cost and
sometimes the cost is shared with
the local authority, depending on
their circumstances.
To find out more about the changes and how you might benefit, visit gov.uk/careandsupport or speak to your council
THE CARE
ACT and YOU
England’s care and
support system is
changing for the better.
The new Care Act...
■ Is built around people
– their needs and
outcomes – rather than
based on disability or
types of service.
■ Is clearer and
easier to navigate
creating a simple legal
framework that people
can understand.
■ Modernises the
law to help people to
stay healthy and
independent for as
long as possible.
What are the
main changes?
From April 2015:
■ All councils will be
legally required to meet
a national minimum
level of care and
support needs.
■ Carers will be
entitled to an
assessment of their
needs, irrespective of
whether the person
they care for has eligible
needs. For the first time,
if a carer has eligible
needs of their own,
they will have the
right to support from
their council to help
them carry on caring
and look after their
own wellbeing.
■ Deferred payment
agreements will be
available everywhere
in England.
Care and Support
and You:
■ To find out more
about the changes to
care and support in
England and how
people might benefit,
they should visit
gov.uk/careandsupport.
■ People can also
speak to their council
for more information
and to get advice about
their circumstances.
BOB ATKINS lost the use of
his legs in 2006 when an
abscessonhisspineburst.
After a needs assessment
by the council Bob, 70,
from Wellesbourne in
Warwickshire, was given
advice about benefits to
fund his mobility aid. He
also pays for Home Instead
Senior Care, who visit each
morning to help him get up,
washedanddressed.
Bob’s daughter lives near
his home and his other
daughter is based in Surrey.
Bob knew they would help
but it was vital for him to be
asindependentaspossible.
‘Every year I take the
family on a UK holiday,’ he
says, ‘so I arrange for Home
Instead Senior Care to help
mewhilewe’reaway.
‘Fourcareworkersandtheir
families came to celebrate
my 70th birthday. They’ve
become partofmyfamily.’
ROY TOON has been his
wife June’s full-time carer
since a series of strokes left
her disabled and unable to
speak or swallow.
‘I’m grateful for all the
help I’ve had,’ says Roy.
‘Everyonefromcareworkers
to charities.
‘The local council and
health authority came
to assess June’s needs,
and we talked about what
we bothwanted.Theythen
createdapersonalcareplan
for June.’
In April, when the new
Care Act comes into effect,
Roy will be entitled to a
carer’sassessmenttoreview
his needs and wellbeing.
He says: ‘In the first two
years I focused entirely
on June’s needs. Now I feel
that I need an assessment
for my needs.
‘Hopefully the new Act
will help people like me,
whosetimerevolvesaround
helpingtheirotherslivethe
best life they can.’
NewActwill
helpmeout
They’repart
ofthefamily
Helping you care
5.4 million people
provide unpaid care
in England
CARING June with Roy
SUPPORTBobandcareworker
ThenewCareActisdesigned
tosupportthelikesof
BarbaraandhermumBess
Special feature
DEVOTED: Barbara and
mum Bess, 100 in March