Draft Care and Support Bill

This paper is published alongside the Government white paper "Caring for our future: reforming care and support" (Cm. 8378, ISBN 9780101837828). The draft Bill takes forward the recommendations of the Law Commission report on adult social care (Law Com. 326, HC 941, session 2010-12, ISBN 9780102971682) which concluded that existing care and support legislation was outdated and confusing, making it difficult for people who need care and support, and carers, to know what they are entitled to and for local authorities to understand their responsibilities.

The Bill will: modernise and consolidate the law, clarify entitlements; support broader needs of local communities; simplify the care and support system and processes.

Key provisions include: statutory principles which embed the promotion of individual well-being; clear legal entitlements; everyone, including carers, should have a personal budget as part of their care and support plan; duties to ensure care and support continues when a person moves to a different local authority area; a new statutory framework for adult safeguarding. Others sections cover the establishment of Health Education England and the Health Research Authority, and allow for the abolition (subject to consultation) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and Human Tissue Authority.