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Amendments

2025

April 2025

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Procedure

In April 2025, the link to the ADASS Priority Tool for Deprivation of Liberty Requests was updated in Section 5, Receiving a Standard Authorisation Request.

Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

In April 2025, the link to SCIE: Equality Act 2010 – overview for social care was removed in Section 6, Further Information and Guidance, as the page is no longer available.

Joint Packages of Health and Social Care

In April 2025, an amendment was made to Section 3, Local Joint Package of Care Arrangements to clarify that the Care and Support Statutory Guidance requires the Local Authority and ICB to agree a local dispute resolution process to resolve any disputes regarding the apportionment of funding in joint funded care and support packages.

Recording and Keeping Records

In April 2025, Section 3, Principles of Good Recording was updated to include links to resources that support anti-discriminatory recording.

NHS Continuing Healthcare Procedure

In April 2025, amendments were made to Section 2, An Introduction to NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding and Section 5, Providing Information and Advice about NHS Continuing Healthcare. This included adding information about PUPoC (Previously unassessed periods of care).

Co-production

In April 2025, this new chapter was added to the Universal Procedures section.

Providing Information about a Person or Carer

In April 2025, this chapter was updated throughout following a full tri.x legal review. Section 1, Maintaining Confidentiality about a Person or Carer was amended to clarify that the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR do not prevent the sharing of information for safeguarding purposes.

Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Spaces) Procedure

In April 2025, amendments were made to Section 5, Applying for a Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space. This was to reflect the changes to the definition of mental health crisis treatment that were made following the case Kaye v Lees [2023] EWCH 152.

Direct Payments

In April 2025, information about prepaid cards was added into Section 1, What is a Direct Payment.

Protecting Moveable Property

In April 2025, a full tri.x review of the chapter, Protecting Moveable Property and Belongings was carried out. The chapter was renamed, and all content was updated. This included incorporating amendments made to the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter, Protecting Property of Adults being Cared for Away from Home following a recent full legal review.

Actions and Next Steps

In April 2025, this chapter was replaced with an updated version.

End of Life Procedures and Practice Guidance

In April 2025, The Skills for Care Common Core Principles and Competencies in Section 7, Good Practice Guidance for End of Life Care was removed and replaced with The Universal Principles for Advance Care Planning. Information about The Victoria and Stuart Project end of life care planning toolkit was added to Section 12, Learning Disability.

Contact and Referral Adult Care and Support Procedures (CMHT)

In April 2025, Section 10, Providing Information about a Person was updated to reflect amendments made to the chapter Providing Information about a Person or Carer following a full tri.x legal review.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

In April 2025, Section 11, Meeting Needs and Review was updated to include information about alternative temporary housing options that can be explored. Additionally, Section 13, People with NRPF who are Receiving After-Care under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 was refreshed and a link added to the Section 117 Aftercare chapter.

Care and Support Planning

In April 2025, Section 12, The Skilled Conversation: Risk and Contingency, was updated to include transport arrangements in contingency planning.

The Skilled Conversation (Carers)

In April, Section 8, Good Information and Advice and Prevention was updated to include information about carers leave.

Actions and Next Steps (Carers)

In April 2025, Section 4, Providing Information about a Carer was updated to reflect amendments made to the chapter Providing Information about a Person or Carer following a full tri.x legal review.

The Light Touch Review Conversation (Carers)

In April 2025, Section 8, Good Information and Advice and Prevention was updated to include information about carers leave.

AMHP Procedure

In April 2025, Section 5, How to Contact the Service, was updated to clarify that a request for a Mental Health Act assessment should be made at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Full Review Conversation (Carers)

In April 2025, Section 8, Good Information and Advice and Prevention was updated to include information about carers leave.

2024

October 2024

Care and Support Planning

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

Signing off a Support Plan and Agreeing a Final Personal Budget

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

Understanding and Applying Eligibility Criteria

Section 3, Applying the Eligibility Criteria was updated in October 2024 to include information from the Care and Support statutory guidance about establishing whether the person's needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness.

Support Planning

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

Setting an Indicative Budget

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

Legal Requirements of a Support Plan Review and Tools

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

Death of a Person or Carer

In October 2024, information about notifications that may need to be made when a person/carer dies, including the requirement that local authorities should notify Ofsted of the death of any care leaver under the age of 25, where it is aware of their care leaver status was added to Section 2, Notifying Others.

Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Spaces) Procedure

In October 2024, Approved Mental Capacity Professionals were removed from the list of individuals that can apply for a Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space.

Understanding the Mental Health Act 1983

In October 2024, text improvements were made to this chapter. This included adding information about the Right Care Right Person guidance used by the police and the interface between the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Legal Requirements of a Care and Support Plan Review and Tools

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

The Light Touch Review Conversation

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

End of Life Procedures and Practice Guidance

In October 2024, the SCIE End of Life Hub was removed from Section 7, Good Practice Guidance for End of Life as it is no longer available. It was replaced with BASW guidance: The role of social workers in palliative, end of life and bereavement care.

Direct Payments

In October 2024, this chapter was replaced with an updated version following a full review. This new version reflects feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Direct Payments’.

Deputyship and Financial Affairs

In October 2024, information about fixed costs and Deputy renumeration was updated in Section 5, Exploring all Available Options. Information was also added to Section 4, Concerns About an Appointee, Deputy or Donee and Section 5, Exploring All Available Options to clarify that the Court of Protection can also revoke a Deputyship or Lasting Power of Attorney. Further information was also added to Section 6, Making a Property and Affairs Deputyship Application regarding notifications.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Procedure

Section 4, Understanding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards was updated in October 2024 to provide additional clarity about continuous supervision, free to leave and state imputability. A ‘need to know’ box with information about responding to requests from an eligible person was added in Section 5, Receiving a Standard Authorisation Request.

Signing Off a Care and Support Plan and Agreeing a Final Personal Budget

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

The Light Touch Review Conversation (Carers)

In October 2024, this chapter was amended to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section ‘Meeting Needs’.

Arranging Support and Services

Section 8, Out of Area Services was updated in October 2024 to clarify that Extra Care Housing is classified as specified accommodation.

Recognising and Responding to Deprivations of Liberty

In October 2024, this chapter has been updated following a full tri.x legal review.

April 2024

Preparing to Carry out a Support Plan Review

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Review and Preparing the Carer' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Understanding and Applying Eligibility Criteria (Carers)

In April 2024, minor text amendments were made to the 'Applying the Eligibility Criteria' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'The National Eligibility Criteria'.

Preparing to Establish Needs (Child's Needs Assessment)

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Assessment and Preparing the Young Person' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Understanding and Applying Eligibility Criteria

In April 2024, minor text amendments were made to the 'Applying the Eligibility Criteria' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'The National Eligibility Criteria'.

Preparing to Carry out a Care and Support Plan Review

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Review and Preparing the Person' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

The Reablement Review

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Preparing for the Review' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Preparing to Establish the Needs of Young Carers

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Assessment and Preparing the Young Carer' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Preparing to Establish the Needs of Parent Carers

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Assessment and Preparing the Parent Carer' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Introduction, Legal Requirements and Tools (Carers)

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'The Purpose of any Assessment' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'The Purpose of Assessment'.

Introduction, Legal Requirements and Tools (ILS)

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'The Purpose of any Assessment' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'The Purpose of Assessment'.

Introduction, Legal Requirements and Tools

In April 2024 , text amendments were made to the 'The Purpose of any Assessment' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'The Purpose of Assessment'.

Preparing to Establish Needs (Carers)

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Assessment and Preparing the Carer' section. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Joint Packages of Health and Social Care

In April 2024, relevant text amendments were made throughout to reflect the feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the NHS Continuing Healthcare Procedure.

NHS Continuing Healthcare Procedure

In April 2024, relevant text amendments were made throughout to reflect the feedback received following a full tri.x legal review.

Service Interruptions and Provider Failure

In April 2024, minor text amendments were made to Section 3, Failure of a Regulated Provider. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Commissioning Responsibilities under the Care Act'.

Continuity of Care Arrangements

In April 2024, text amendments were made to Section 1, An Introduction to Continuity of Care Arrangements. These amendments were made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Continuity of Care when a Person Moves'.

NHS-funded Nursing Care Procedure (FNC)

In April 2024, relevant text amendments were made throughout to reflect the feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the NHS Continuing Healthcare Procedure.

Recognising and Responding to Deprivations of Liberty

In April 2024, relevant text amendments were made throughout to reflect the feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Procedure.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Procedure

In April 2024, relevant text amendments were made throughout to reflect the feedback received following a full tri.x legal review. In addition to this, information about use of the ADASS Priority Tool for Deprivation of Liberty Requests was added to Section 5, Receiving a Standard Authorisation Request.

Preparing to Establish Needs

In April 2024, text amendments were made to the 'Arranging the Assessment and Preparing the Person; section. These amendments were been made to reflect feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource chapter 'Carrying Out an Assessment'.

Deputyship and Financial Affairs

Section 6, Making a Property and Affairs Deputyship Application was updated in April 2024 to include more information about notifications. Information about Carer's Card accounts was added to Section 2, Identifying Support Needs.

Arranging Support and Services

 Section 9, Out of Area Services was updated in April 2024 to reflect amends made previously to Ordinary Residence chapters following a legal review.

Ordinary Residence Procedure

In April 2024, a link to the Section 117 Aftercare chapter section on ordinary residence was added.

Social Media (use of)

In April 2024, Twitter was changed to X (formerly Twitter).

Financial Assessment

In April 2024, this chapter was replaced with an updated version following a full review. This new version reflects feedback received following a full tri.x legal review of the Care Act 2014 Resource section 'Charging and Assessing Financial Resources'.

Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

In April 2024, this new chapter was added to the 'Universal Procedures' section.

Prisons and Approved Premises

In April 2024, this chapter was fully reviewed and refreshed.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

In April 2024, the Home Office Status, Verification, Enquiries and Checking service email was updated.

A link to the government guidance 'Asylum support' was added to Section 7, 'Providing Information and Advice'.

The Transition Plan

In April 2024, the government toolkit 'Making Finance Decisions for Young People: Parent and Carer Toolkit' was added to the list of tools to support the Transition Plan conversation.

Monitoring Actions (Reablement)

In April 2024, Section 8, 'Reporting Concerns about a Service Provider' was revised to better reflect the remit of the reablement team.

Receiving a Contact or Referral

In April 2024, a new section was added 'Identifying Carers'.

Acting as an Appropriate Adult

In April 2024, this new chapter was added to the Specialist Procedures section.

Requesting a Financial Assessment

In April 2024, text amends were made to reflect changes made to the chapter 'Financial Assessment'.

Section 117 Aftercare

In April 2024, a scope box has been added to top of this chapter, alerting and signposting practitioners to the statutory guidance issued in January 2024: Discharge from mental health inpatient settings. The chapter has also had a full legal review and additional information has been added in Section 5, 'Aftercare Planning and Assessment' around support to claim benefits in line with the findings of the ombudsman decision NHS Devon ICB (22 008 927b).

Social Circumstances Report

In April 2024, this chapter was fully reviewed and refreshed.

2023

October 2023

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Procedure

Section 15, Challenging an Authorisation using Section 21A and Section 16, The Future of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were added in October 2023. Section 4, Understanding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards was also updated to provide greater clarity on state imputability.

NHS Continuing Healthcare Procedure

In October 2023, this chapter was fully reviewed and refreshed.

Joint Packages of Health and Social Care

Deputyship and Financial Affairs

NHS-funded Nursing Care Procedure (FNC)

Actions and Next Steps (Carers)

In October 2023, information about the Caldicott Principles was added into the 'Providing Information about a Carer' section.

Providing Information about a Person or Carer

In October 2023, information about the Caldicott Principles was added.

Actions and Next Steps

In October 2023, information about the Caldicott Principles was added into the 'Providing Information about a Person' section.

Contact and Referral Adult Care and Support Procedures (CMHT)

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

In October 2023, this chapter was refreshed throughout and amended to reflect changes to the immigration status requirements for people from EEA countries. It was also updated to include Shared Lives Placements.

End of Life Procedures and Practice Guidance

Section 10, Advance Care Planning was refreshed in October 2023 to include information about the Universal Principles of Advance Care Planning.

Ordinary Residence Procedure

Section 5, Meeting the Urgent Needs of a Person who is not Ordinarily Resident was reviewed and refreshed in October 2023.

Deciding the Outcome of a Contact or Referral (ILS)

In October 2023, the 'Ordinary Residence' section was reviewed and refreshed.

Deciding the Outcome of a Contact or Referral

Deciding the Outcome of a Contact or Referral (Hospital Discharge)

Deciding the Outcome of a Contact or Referral (Customer Liaison)

Deciding the Outcome of a Contact or Referral (Carers)

Recognising and Responding to Deprivations of Liberty

In October 2023, this chapter was fully reviewed and refreshed. This included moving information about Best Interests into Section 6, Applying to the Court, adding information about the National Deprivation of Liberty Court and adding a new Section 8, Challenging a DoLS Authorisation using Section 21A. Section 2, Identifying Deprivations of Liberty (ages 18 and over) and Section 5, Identifying and Responding to Deprivations of Liberty (ages 16 and 17) were both updated to provide greater clarity on state imputability.  

Understanding the Mental Health Act 1983

In October 2023, this new chapter was added to the Community Mental Health Team section.

Community Mental Health Framework

Section 117 Aftercare

In October 2023, references to the Care Programme Approach (CPA) were removed. In addition, links to the Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults documents was added into Section 9, Further Information. Section 3, Ordinary Residence was also updated to reflect the Supreme Court judgement R (Worcestershire County Council) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2023] UKSC 31.

Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Spaces) Procedure

In October 2023, a new Section 2, Final Demand Guide was added. Updated in May 2023, the Final Demand Guide provides basic advice for health and social care workers, describing how they can practically help people with debt and mental health problems.

April 2023

Section 117 Aftercare

In April 2023, this new chapter was added to the Community Mental Health Team section.

Joint Packages of Health and Social Care

In April 2023, a link to the new Section 117 Aftercare Procedure was added into Section 1, Section 117.

AMHP Procedure

In April 2023, changes were made to make the information more localised.

The Community Mental Health Team

Provider Services in Blackburn with Darwen

Section 4, Hopwood Court Day Sevices and Section 5, St Aidans Short Term Breaks Service were both updated in April 2023 with local information.