The Care Act 2014 is the primary legislation governing adult social care in England. It introduced a new legal framework built around a single, overarching principle: the promotion of an individual's wellbeing.
This sounds straightforward — of course support should promote wellbeing. But the Care Act's wellbeing principle is more specific than it might appear. It places individual autonomy, choice, and the person's own views at the centre of any assessment or support. It requires professionals to consider wellbeing in a genuinely holistic way — not just health and safety, but relationships, participation, quality of life, and the things that matter most to the individual.
This module is not a comprehensive guide to the Care Act. It is an introduction to the wellbeing principle and its practical implications for frontline homelessness workers. It is awareness-focused content; for complex care needs assessments, specialist knowledge and qualified professionals are required.
This is a Foundation-level module within Subject 4: Safeguarding.