Social Worker's Guide to the Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 is arguably the most significant piece of legislation in relation to adults who have social care needs since the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. It is particularly important for social workers as it sets out the legislative context for the core social work processes that apply to all adults. The Social Worker's Guide to the Care Act 2014 considers the act and the statutory guidance from the perspective of what is most important and relevant for social workers. It covers the key stages of what is known as the 'customer journey' - first contact, assessment of needs, prevention, consideration of eligibility, charging and financial assessment, care and support planning, and review. In addition, other chapters look at significant issues that cut across several stages of the customer journey, such as safeguarding and working with NHS colleagues. To provide a broader context for the Care Act there is a consideration of how it consolidates and modernises social care law and codifies good practice, and there is also an examination of how the new legislation is reshaping the language of social care.
This book provides qualifying social workers with a working knowledge of what the Care Act and the accompanying statutory guidance says about their professional role and how professional judgments are to be made, and helps them to understand the good practice that is codified in the statutory guidance.