OpenLegislation

Care Act 2014

2014 c. 23 · Enacted 14 May 2014 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 15 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 15 July 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 21(2)substituted for s. 21(2)(3)Immigration Act 2016 Sch. 11 para. 44
s. 24(3)substitutedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(3)
s. 26(1)-(2A)substituted for s. 26(1)(2)Health and Care Act 2022 s. 166(4)
s. 28(1)substitutedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(5)(a)
s. 28(3)omittedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(5)(b)
s. 29(1)words substitutedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(6)
s. 31(1)(a)substitutedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(7)
s. 32(1)(a)substitutedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(8)
s. 37(15)(a)omittedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(9)
s. 80(1) Tablewords insertedHealth and Care Act 2022 s. 166(10)
s. 15(2)-(3B)substituted for s. 15(2)(3)Health and Care Act 2022 s. 166(2)
s.0039(1)-(6)applied by 1983 c. 20, s. 117(3A) (as inserted)Mental Health Act 2025 s. 46(3)
Sch. 1 para. 1(1)applied by 1983 c. 20, s. 117(3A) (as inserted)Mental Health Act 2025 s. 46(3)
Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(2)applied by 1983 c. 20, s. 117(3A) (as inserted)Mental Health Act 2025 s. 46(3)
Sch. 1 para. 8applied by 1983 c. 20, s. 117(3A) (as inserted)Mental Health Act 2025 s. 46(3)
An Act to make provision to reform the law relating to care and support for adults and the law relating to support for carers; to make provision about safeguarding adults from abuse or neglect; to make provision about care standards; to establish and make provision about Health Education England; to establish and make provision about the Health Research Authority; to make provision about integrating care and support with health services; and for connected purposes.[14th May 2014]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Care and support
  2. General responsibilities of local authorities
  3. 1Promoting individual well-being
  4. 2Preventing needs for care and support
  5. 3Promoting integration of care and support with health services etc.
  6. 4Providing information and advice
  7. 5Promoting diversity and quality in provision of services
  8. 6Co-operating generally
  9. 7Co-operating in specific cases
  10. Meeting needs for care etc.
  11. 8How to meet needs
  12. Assessing needs
  13. 9Assessment of an adult's needs for care and support
  14. 10Assessment of a carer's needs for support
  15. 11Refusal of assessment
  16. 12Assessments under sections 9 and 10: further provision
  17. 13The eligibility criteria
  18. Charging and assessing financial resources
  19. 14Power of local authority to charge
  20. 15Cap on care costs Not yet in force
  21. 16Cap on care costs: annual adjustment Not yet in force
  22. 17Assessment of financial resources
  23. Duties and powers to meet needs
  24. 18Duty to meet needs for care and support
  25. 19Power to meet needs for care and support
  26. 20Duty and power to meet a carer's needs for support
  27. 21Exception for persons subject to immigration control
  28. 22Exception for provision of health services
  29. 23Exception for provision of housing etc.
  30. Next steps after assessments
  31. 24The steps for the local authority to take
  32. 25Care and support plan, support plan
  33. 26Personal budget
  34. 27Review of care and support plan or of support plan
  35. 28Independent personal budget Not yet in force
  36. 29Care account Not yet in force
  37. 30Cases where adult expresses preference for particular accommodation
  38. Direct payments
  39. 31Adults with capacity to request direct payments
  40. 32Adults without capacity to request direct payments
  41. 33Direct payments: further provision
  42. Deferred payment agreements, etc.
  43. 34Deferred payment agreements and loans
  44. 35Deferred payment agreements and loans: further provision
  45. 36Alternative financial arrangements Not yet in force
  46. Continuity of care and support when adult moves
  47. 37Notification, assessment, etc.
  48. 38Case where assessments not complete on day of move
  49. Establishing where a person lives, etc.
  50. 39Where a person's ordinary residence is
  51. 40Disputes about ordinary residence or continuity of care
  52. 41Financial adjustments between local authorities
  53. Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect
  54. 42Enquiry by local authority
  55. 43Safeguarding Adults Boards
  56. 44Safeguarding adults reviews
  57. 45Supply of information
  58. 46Abolition of local authority's power to remove persons in need of care
  59. 47Protecting property of adults being cared for away from home
  60. Provider failure
  61. 48Temporary duty on local authority
  62. 49Section 48: cross-border cases
  63. 50Temporary duty on local authority in Wales
  64. 51Temporary duty on Health and Social Care trust in Northern Ireland
  65. 52Sections 48 to 51: supplementary
  66. Market oversight
  67. 53Specifying criteria for application of market oversight regime
  68. 54Determining whether criteria apply to care provider
  69. 55Assessment of financial sustainability of care provider
  70. 56Informing local authorities where failure of care provider likely
  71. 56AProvision of information to the Secretary of State
  72. 57Sections 54 to 56: supplementary
  73. Transition for children to adult care and support, etc.
  74. 58Assessment of a child's needs for care and support
  75. 59Child's needs assessment: requirements etc.
  76. 60Assessment of a child's carer's needs for support
  77. 61Child's carer's assessment: requirements etc.
  78. 62Power to meet child's carer's needs for support
  79. 63Assessment of a young carer's needs for support
  80. 64Young carer's assessment: requirements etc.
  81. 65Assessments under sections 58 to 64: further provision
  82. 66Continuity of services under other legislation
  83. Independent advocacy support
  84. 67Involvement in assessments, plans etc.
  85. 68Safeguarding enquiries and reviews
  86. Enforcement of debts
  87. 69Recovery of charges, interest etc.
  88. 70Transfer of assets to avoid charges
  89. Review of funding provisions
  90. 71Five-yearly review by Secretary of State Not yet in force
  91. Appeals
  92. 72Part 1 appeals Not yet in force
  93. Default by local authority
  94. 72ADefault power of Secretary of State
  95. 72BDefault power of Secretary of State: supplementary
  96. Miscellaneous
  97. 73Human Rights Act 1998: provision of regulated care or support etc a public function
  98. 74Discharge of hospital patients with care and support needs
  99. 75After-care under the Mental Health Act 1983
  100. 76Prisoners and persons in approved premises etc.
  101. 77Registers of sight-impaired adults, disabled adults, etc.
  102. 78Guidance, etc.
  103. 79Delegation of local authority functions
  104. General
  105. 80Part 1: interpretation
  106. Part 2: Care standards
  107. Quality of services
  108. 81Duty of candour
  109. 82Warning notice
  110. 83Imposition of licence conditions on NHS foundation trusts
  111. 84Trust special administration: appointment of administrator
  112. 85Trust special administration: objective, consultation and reports
  113. Care Quality Commission
  114. 86Restriction on applications for variation or removal of conditions
  115. 87Rights of appeal
  116. 88Unitary board
  117. Increasing the independence of the Care Quality Commission
  118. 89Chief Inspectors
  119. 90Independence of the Care Quality Commission
  120. Performance ratings
  121. 91Reviews and performance assessments
  122. False or misleading information
  123. 92Offence
  124. 93Penalties
  125. 94Offences by bodies
  126. Regulated activities
  127. 95Training for persons working in regulated activity
  128. Part 3: Health
  129. Chapter 1: The Education and Training Functions of NHS England
  130. Establishment
  131. 96Health Education England Repealed
  132. National functions
  133. 97Planning education and training for health care workers etc.
  134. 98Ensuring sufficient skilled health care workers for the health service
  135. 99Quality improvement in education and training, etc.
  136. 100Objectives, priorities and outcomes
  137. 101Sections 98 and 100: matters to which NHS England must have regard
  138. 102Advice
  139. ... Repealed
  140. 103Local Education and Training Boards Repealed
  141. 104LETBs: appointment etc. Repealed
  142. 105LETBs: co-operation by providers of health services Repealed
  143. 106Education and training plans Repealed
  144. 107Commissioning education and training Repealed
  145. Tariffs
  146. 108Tariffs
  147. Chapter 2: Health Research Authority
  148. Establishment
  149. 109The Health Research Authority
  150. General functions
  151. 110The HRA's functions
  152. Regulatory practice
  153. 111Co-ordinating and promoting regulatory practice etc.
  154. Research ethics committees
  155. 112The HRA's policy on research ethics committees
  156. 113Approval of research
  157. 114Recognition by the HRA
  158. 115Establishment by the HRA
  159. 116Membership of the United Kingdom Ethics Committee Authority
  160. Patient information
  161. 117Approval for processing confidential patient information
  162. Chapter 3: Chapters 1 and 2: supplementary
  163. Miscellaneous
  164. 118Transfer orders
  165. General
  166. 119Chapters 1 and 2: interpretation and supplementary provision
  167. Chapter 4: Trust special administration
  168. 120Powers of administrator etc.
  169. Part 4: Health and social care
  170. Integration fund
  171. 121Integration of care and support with health services etc: integration fund
  172. Information
  173. 122The Health and Social Care Information Centre: restrictions on dissemination of information
  174. Part 5: General
  175. 123Power to make consequential provision
  176. 124Power to make transitional etc. provision
  177. 125Regulations and orders
  178. 126General interpretation
  179. 127Commencement
  180. 128Extent and application
  181. 129Short title
  182. Schedule 1: Cross-border placements
  183. Placements from England to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
  184. 1Paragraph 1
  185. Placements from Wales to England, Scotland or Northern Ireland
  186. 2Paragraph 2
  187. Placements from Scotland to England, Wales or Northern Ireland
  188. 3Paragraph 3
  189. Placements from Northern Ireland to England, Wales or Scotland
  190. 4Paragraph 4
  191. Dispute resolution
  192. 5Paragraph 5
  193. Financial adjustments
  194. 6Paragraph 6
  195. 7Paragraph 7
  196. Provision of NHS accommodation not to affect deemed ordinary residence etc.
  197. 8Paragraph 8
  198. Direct payments Not yet in force
  199. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  200. Particular types of accommodation Not yet in force
  201. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  202. Regulations
  203. 11Paragraph 11
  204. Interpretation
  205. 12Paragraph 12
  206. Consequential provision
  207. 13Paragraph 13
  208. Transitory provision
  209. 14Paragraph 14
  210. Schedule 2: Safeguarding Adults Boards
  211. Membership, etc.
  212. 1Paragraph 1
  213. Funding and other resources
  214. 2Paragraph 2
  215. Strategic plan
  216. 3Paragraph 3
  217. Annual report
  218. 4Paragraph 4
  219. Schedule 3: Discharge of hospital patients with care and support needs Repealed
  220. Cases where hospital patient is likely to have care and support needs after discharge Repealed
  221. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  222. Assessment notice given by responsible NHS body to local authority Repealed
  223. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  224. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  225. Cases where discharge of the patient is delayed Repealed
  226. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  227. Delegation to management of independent hospital Repealed
  228. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  229. Adjustments between local authorities Repealed
  230. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  231. Meaning of “hospital patient”, “NHS hospital, “NHS body”, etc. Repealed
  232. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  233. Further provision about assessment notices, discharge notices, etc. Repealed
  234. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  235. Schedule 4: Direct payments: after-care under the Mental Health Act 1983
  236. Part 1: After-care under the Mental Health Act 1983: direct payments
  237. 1Paragraph 1
  238. Part 2: Provision to be inserted in Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014
  239. Paragraph Not yet in force
  240. Schedule 5: Health Education England Repealed
  241. Part 1: Constitution Repealed
  242. Membership Repealed
  243. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  244. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  245. Non-executive members: terms of office Repealed
  246. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  247. Non-executive members: suspension from office Repealed
  248. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  249. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  250. Non-executive members: pay Repealed
  251. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  252. Employees: terms of office Repealed
  253. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  254. Employees: pay Repealed
  255. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  256. Committees and sub-committees Repealed
  257. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  258. Procedure Repealed
  259. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  260. Seal and evidence Repealed
  261. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  262. Status of HEE Repealed
  263. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  264. Part 2: Functions Repealed
  265. Exercise of functions Repealed
  266. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  267. Help or advice for other public authorities Repealed
  268. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  269. Co-operation Repealed
  270. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  271. NHS contracts Repealed
  272. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  273. Arrangements with devolved authorities Repealed
  274. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  275. Failure to exercise functions Repealed
  276. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  277. Part 3: Finance and reports Repealed
  278. Funding Repealed
  279. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  280. Financial duties: expenditure Repealed
  281. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  282. Financial duties: use of generated income Repealed
  283. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  284. Financial duties: controls on total resource use Repealed
  285. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  286. Financial duties: additional controls on resource use Repealed
  287. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  288. Losses and liabilities etc Repealed
  289. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  290. Accounts Repealed
  291. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  292. Annual accounts Repealed
  293. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  294. Interim accounts Repealed
  295. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  296. Annual report Repealed
  297. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  298. Part 4: Consequential amendments Repealed
  299. Public Records Act 1958 Repealed
  300. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  301. Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 Repealed
  302. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  303. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 Repealed
  304. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  305. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 Repealed
  306. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  307. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Repealed
  308. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  309. Freedom of Information Act 2000 Repealed
  310. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  311. Equality Act 2010 Repealed
  312. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  313. Schedule 6: Local Education and Training Boards Repealed
  314. The area for which an LETB is appointed Repealed
  315. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  316. Assessment of whether the appointment criteria are being met in relation to LETBs Repealed
  317. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  318. Publication and review of the appointment criteria Repealed
  319. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  320. Exercise of functions Repealed
  321. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  322. Schedule 7: The Health Research Authority
  323. Part 1: Constitution
  324. Membership
  325. 1Paragraph 1
  326. Non-executive members: terms of office
  327. 2Paragraph 2
  328. Non-executive members: suspension from office
  329. 3Paragraph 3
  330. 4Paragraph 4
  331. Non-executive members: pay
  332. 5Paragraph 5
  333. Employees: terms of office
  334. 6Paragraph 6
  335. Employees: pay
  336. 7Paragraph 7
  337. Committees and sub-committees
  338. 8Paragraph 8
  339. 9Paragraph 9
  340. Procedure
  341. 10Paragraph 10
  342. Seal and evidence
  343. 11Paragraph 11
  344. Status of the HRA
  345. 12Paragraph 12
  346. Part 2: Functions
  347. Exercise of functions
  348. 13Paragraph 13
  349. Help or advice for other public authorities
  350. 14Paragraph 14
  351. Arrangements with devolved authorities
  352. 15Paragraph 15
  353. Failure to exercise functions
  354. 16Paragraph 16
  355. Part 3: Finance and reports
  356. Funding
  357. 17Paragraph 17
  358. Fees and indemnities
  359. 18Paragraph 18
  360. Accounts
  361. 19Paragraph 19
  362. Annual report
  363. 20Paragraph 20
  364. Part 4: Consequential amendments
  365. Public Records Act 1958
  366. 21Paragraph 21
  367. Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960
  368. 22Paragraph 22
  369. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967
  370. 23Paragraph 23
  371. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
  372. 24Paragraph 24
  373. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
  374. 25Paragraph 25
  375. Freedom of Information Act 2000
  376. 26Paragraph 26
  377. Equality Act 2010
  378. 27Paragraph 27
  379. Schedule 8: Research ethics committees: amendments
  380. Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1059)
  381. 1Paragraph 1
  382. Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000/194)
  383. 2Paragraph 2
  384. Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1438)
  385. 3Paragraph 3
  386. Nursing Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005/160)
  387. 4Paragraph 4
  388. Residential Care Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005/161)
  389. 5Paragraph 5
  390. Independent Health Care Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005/174)
  391. 6Paragraph 6
  392. Approval of Research on Organs No Longer Required for Procurator Fiscal Purposes (Specified Purposes) (Scotland) Order 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/310)
  393. 7Paragraph 7
  394. Human Tissue Act 2004 (Ethical Approval, Exceptions from Licensing and Supply of Information about Transplants) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1260)
  395. 8Paragraph 8
  396. Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (England) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2810)
  397. 9Paragraph 9
  398. Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Appropriate Body) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/833)
  399. 10Paragraph 10
  400. Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Disclosure of Information for Research Purposes) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/995)
  401. 11Paragraph 11
  402. Independent Health Care (Wales) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/734)
  403. 12Paragraph 12