Adult social care

DISCLAIMER
The duties listed below are currently under review and have not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.

Provide or arrange home care where it is required due to assessed need

Councils have a responsibility to ensure that people who need help at home receive the right support.
Provide or secure residential care with nursing

Councils must ensure that people who require residential care with nursing receive the appropriate level of support.
Plan and commission integrated health and social care services

Councils must work with NHS boards through IJBs to plan and deliver joined-up health and social care services.
Provide assistance with adaptations and equipment

Councils must ensure that people who need help to live safely and independently at home can access necessary equipment and adaptations.
Offer self-directed support options

Councils must offer people Self-directed Support (SDS) options if they are eligible for social care.
Provide support and protection to adults at risk

Councils, health services, and the police must work together to protect adults who cannot keep themselves safe because of things like disability, illness, or being more vulnerable.
Prepare and offer Adult Carer Support Plans

Councils must prepare and offer Adult Carer Support Plans (ACSPs) to anyone who provides unpaid care for another adult.
Assess community care needs

Councils must assess community care needs when an adult might need support to live safely and well in the community.
Safeguard adults with incapacity

Councils must protect the rights, welfare, and safety of people who cannot make some or all decisions for themselves because of illness, disability, or other conditions that affect their capacity.
Prepare and review Carer Support Plans

ouncils must prepare and review Carer Support Plans (CSPs) for people who provide unpaid care.
Set, review, and publish local eligibility criteria for carers

Councils must set, review, and publish local eligibility criteria for carers.
Prepare, publish, review, and consult on a local carer strategy

Councils and health boards must work together to create and share a plan for how they will support carers in their area.
Provide access to recreational and educational facilities for disabled persons

Councils must provide access to recreational, sporting, and educational facilities for disabled people.
Assist disabled persons in accessing holidays and leisure activities

Councils must assist disabled people in accessing holidays and leisure activities.
Provide meals for chronically sick and disabled persons

Councils must provide meals for chronically sick and disabled people.
Promote employment opportunities for disabled persons

Councils can promote employment opportunities for disabled people.
Recover expenditure for residential accommodation

Councils are responsible for recovering expenditure for residential accommodation.
Provide Educational Maintenance Grants to former looked after young people

Councils must provide Educational Maintenance Grants (EMGs) to former looked-after young people who are continuing their education.
Co-operate in community mental health services provision

Councils must co-operate in providing community mental health services.
Assess and provide aftercare support for care-experienced young adults

Councils must assess and provide aftercare support for care-experienced young adults.
Consider short breaks as part of carer support

Councils must consider short breaks as part of carer support.
Provide advocacy services

Councils provide advocacy services to ensure that people are supported to have a voice in matters that affect their lives.
Provide information and advice to carers

Councils should provide clear, accurate, and accessible information and advice to carers.
Promote social welfare

Councils should promote social welfare, which means taking proactive steps to improve people’s wellbeing, safety, and overall quality of life, particularly for those who are vulnerable, ill, disabled, or disadvantaged.
Support transition planning

Councils must help young people, particularly those leaving school, care, or children’s services, to move smoothly into the next stage of their life.
Provide services under self-directed support

If a person chooses to let the council manage their support, the council arranges and oversees the services on their behalf.
Prevent needs for care and support

Councils must take steps to prevent needs for care and support. This means taking action early to stop or reduce problems before they become serious enough to require formal care.
Make inquiries where an adult may be at risk of harm

Councils must make inquiries when an adult may be at risk of harm.
Provide support without full assessment in urgent cases

Councils must provide support without a full assessment in urgent cases.
Provide emergency assistance in cash or kind

Councils can provide emergency assistance in cash or kind to people facing urgent need.
Involve people in decisions about their care

Councils must work with the person who needs support—not simply make decisions for them.
Explain self-directed support clearly

Local authorities must make sure people understand their options for getting support.
Promote independent living

Councils must help people live as independently as possible, especially if they need care or support.
Promote variety in support provision

Councils must make sure there’s a wide range of care and support options available to meet different people’s needs and preferences.
Make arrangements with voluntary organisations

Councils can work with voluntary organisations—like charities, community groups, and non-profits—to help deliver care and support services.
Cooperate with other bodies in delivering adult social care

Councils must work together with other organisations—like the NHS, housing services, charities, and other public bodies—to make sure people get the right care and support.
Consider advocacy and communication needs

Councils must make sure that people who need care and support can understand their options and speak up about what matters to them.
Coordinate and deliver local domestic abuse support

Councils are responsible for organising and providing help for people affected by domestic abuse within their area.
Safeguard and manage property, financial affairs, and personal welfare of adults lacking capacity

When an adult cannot make decisions for themselves due to illness or disability, councils must step in to protect their rights and wellbeing.
Provide or arrange care and support services for people who have or have had a mental disorder

Councils must offer or arrange care for individuals living with mental health conditions, whether current or past.
Support adult and young carers through support plans and provision of services

Councils must support people who care for others - whether they’re adults or young carers - by offering a personalised support plan.
Publish local carers eligibility criteria and details of support available

Councils must decide and share the rules they use to work out when carers can get support.