On this page you will find information on rights for adults
and older people, carers, families, children and young
people. Plus, scroll down the page for a library of other useful
links.
Children & young people's rights

The links in this section apply to recipients under the
age of 25 and refer to Children and Families
legislation.
Introduction
to the Children and Families Act 2014
Since September 2014 there have been changes to the way children
and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
(SEND) are supported. This factsheet for parents, produced by
Contact a Family, summarises the legislation and what the SEND
reforms mean.
Get Your Rights
A helpful website with a focus on advising young people about
their rights in relation to health care, by the Council for
Disabled Children (CDC) and the National Children's Bureau
(NCB).
Requesting
an assessment - changes under the Care Act
The Care Act 2014 means that from April 2015, your local
council has changed the way in which it completes an assessment
with a member of the public when deciding whether that person will
be eligible for care and support from the council. Produced by
People First, this accessible page outlines the assessment process,
what has changed, and includes links to useful information.
SENDirect
SENDirect has worked in partnership with other organisations to
bring together and create information to help support children,
young people, parents, families and professionals. It includes a
wealth of information, from your rights under existing laws to
managing a personal budget and how to choose the right service.
Problem-Solving
Toolkit
This toolkit by Cerebra aims to support disabled people
and carers, as well as their families and advisers, who are
encountering difficulties with the statutory agencies in relation
to the provision of health, social care and education support
services. It will help to unpick these problems and develop
effective strategies for resolving them.
EHC Plan
Checklist
Produced by Independent Parental Special Education Advice
(IPSEA), this checklist outlines what legally must be included as a
minimum in any Education Health and Care Plan issued by a Local
Authority under Part 3 of the Children & Families Act 2014
(section 37) and the SEN Code of Practice when they are
implemented. The checklist is also based on the SEN Regulations and
SEN Code of Practice.
Preparing
for Adulthood: A Good Practice Toolkit
This guide focuses on young people, aged 14-25, who are
preparing for adulthood. It aims to help people use
person-centred approaches when developing Education, Health and
Care Plans and carry out transfer reviews. It also sets out their
responsibilities for the new preparing for adulthood reviews and
gives practical ideas on how to support young people to participate
fully in planning their lives and achieve better outcomes as they
move into adulthood.
Personal
Budgets for Post-16 Provision and FE Colleges
Produced by Preparing for Adulthood, this fact sheet gives
examples and scenarios of how personal budgets can be implemented
in further education colleges and post-16 provision.
Adults' rights

The links in this section apply to recipients over the age of 18
and refer to Care Act legislation.
What does the
Care Act mean for me?
Written specifically for older people, this accessible fact
sheet looks at getting social care support under the new law in
England.
Key messages of the Care Act
Produced by In Control, these key messages are a useful summary
of the things your local authority should have told you about the
care act. The document includes the responsibilities local
authorities have regarding assessment, eligibility decisions, the
definition of and entitlement to personal budgets, and the control
people should enjoy over their support.
Requesting
an assessment - changes under the Care Act
The Care Act 2014 means that from April 2015, your local
council has changed the way in which it completes an assessment
with a member of the public when deciding whether that person will
be eligible for care and support from the council. Produced by
People First, this accessible page outlines the assessment process,
what has changed, and includes links to useful information.
Carers' rights

Care Act FAQ For
Carers
Produced by Carers UK, this page contains a wealth of
information on the Care Act 2014 and how it applies to carers in
England, including rights and entitlement.
Carer's assessment
Produced by Which, this free carer's assessment gives unpaid
carers the opportunity to receive support either as part of the
needs assessment of your relative or according to your own needs.
It also explains the differences that the Care Act 2014 changes
have made.
Library of useful information

Adults & Older People
Getting
the right care and support for you
This Department of Health leaflet provides a brief overview of
the Care Act for recipients.
Care Act Part 1
Fact Sheets
These factsheets by the Department of Health accompany
Part 1 of the Care Act and reflect changes made to the Care Act
statutory guidance in March 2016. They also include the
duties and powers of local authorities under the
Act.
Information and Advice:
Care Act 2014
This presentation by the
Department of Health provides information and advice on the
Care Act, covering the duty of local authorities.
What is the
Care Act?
The Care Act changes the way councils, care providers and user
organisations work. It changes peoples roles in the delivery of
care, and the expectations and duties placed on people. A
short introductory video to the Care Act, predominantly aimed
at staff, made by Skills For Care.
Care Act Overview
Course
CPD-accredited training on the Care Act by the Social Care
Institute for Excellence, including wellbeing principles and duties
of local authorities. Contains valuable information on
strength-based and person-centred assessments.
Guide to the Care Act 2014 and the implications for
providers
Produced by the Local Government Association (LGA) and
the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS),
this guide for providers sets out the implications of the Care Act
for them.
Care
and Support Statutory Guidance
Produced by the Department of Health, this provides statutory
guidance and the legal framework issued under the Care Act
2014.
Care Act Fact
Sheets
Produced by the Department of Health, these thirteen fact
sheets reflect changes made to the Care Act statutory
guidance in March 2016.
Care Act 2014
Guidance
Produced by Think Local Act Personal, this professional
resource provides useful information about the Care Act
2014.
Care Act
Statutory Guidance
A response from the Association of Directors of Adult
Social Service (ADASS) in relation to information and advice on the
Care Act 2014.
Care Act 2014
Legislation
Legal guidance on the general responsibilities of local
authorities in regards to the Care Act 2014.
What the
Care Act 2014 means for social workers
The draft statutory guidance for the Care Act 2014 provides
a blueprint for how councils should implement the legislation in
April 2015 and how they should deploy social workers and other
staff in doing so. Aimed at professionals, this page sets out some
of the key provisions for social workers and what the draft
guidance has to say about their role.
Social
Workers and the Care Act 2014
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is
highlighting a risk of the principles of the Care Act being lost
due to patchy training for social workers. This page is aimed at
professionals.
Cuts
to Addiction Services Since 2010
A report and infographic detailing the cuts made to addiction
services in recent years and the effect this has had.
Making the case for integrated, impartial information and advice
about housing and care for older people
One of the few resources on this theme, this report looks at how
housing factors play a critical role in determining health,
well-being, independence, and interaction with the wider community.
The report is aimed at service planners, commissioners and
providers to support integrated information and advice solutions
that offer joined up help for older people, their families and
carers, whilst giving the best possible value to both commissioners
and providers across health, housing, and social care.
A practical guide to implementing the Care Act for deafblind
people
Produced by Sense, this guide is intended to support
professionals, senior managers and policymakers involved in
implementing the Care Act, to enable them to understand the key
aspects of the Act that have a bearing on care and support for
deafblind people and people with complex needs. It will also be
useful to anyone working in deafblind care and support to
understand how the Care Act will impact on their work.
Information,
advice and brokerage
Geared towards implementation and best practice, this
information and advice by Think Local Act Personal can help
people find ways to meet their support needs and reduce reliance on
formal services.
Inclusive
Solutions
Inclusive Solutions offer a range of inspiring inclusion
oriented services, including casework, person-centred planning,
innovative training and community building. Here is a page
of free resources.
Children & Families
The young person's guide to the Children and Families Act
2014
Aimed at young people, this guide summarises the key points of
the Children and Families Act 2014 in accessible language,
including the changes the Act makes.
Children and
Families Act 2014
Read the Children and Families Act 2014 in full. An Act to
make provision about children, families, and people with special
educational needs or disabilities; to make provision about the
right to request flexible working; and for connected
purposes.
The Children and Families Act 2014 Part 3: Children and young
people with special educational needs and
disabilities
Produced by the Council for Disabled Children, this
summary of the Children and Families Act 2014 is aimed at
health professionals to highlight and explain the most significant
requirements of the new legislation.
Using the Children and Families Act 2014 to improve outcomes for
children and young people with SEN and disability: a briefing for
health services
Produced by the Council for Disabled Children, this
briefing highlights the key reforms in the Children and Families
Act 2014 and some of the key issues professionals in health
services should be addressing as they prepare for the
implementation of the reforms.
The
Information, Advice and Support Services Network
The Information, Advice and Support Services Network
(IASS Network) supports and promotes the work of Information,
Advice and Support (IAS) Services across England. IAS
Services have a duty to provide information, advice and support to
disabled children and young people, and those with SEN, and their
parents. They are statutory services which means there has to be
one in every local authority.
Get in on
the Act
This publication aims to provide readers with an introduction to
the Children and Families Act 2014 and summarises the main
issues and principles of relevance to local government within it.
It highlights the role of the Local Government Association (LGA)
and summarises the implications for local authorities.
Children
and Families Act Briefing
Produced by Families Need Fathers (FNF), this guide focuses on
the changes to the Children and Families Act regarding family
justice court and private family law, and the implications for
parents, especially fathers.
SEN
and the Law: Education Rights Fact Sheet Series
The Downs Syndrome Association offers a range of fact sheets
with specific emphasis on education rights for young people and
families, including: Young People over 16 with SEND (Special
Educational Needs and Disabilities), School Transport, Transfer
Reviews, and Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments.
Moving House with
Special Needs Kids - A Guide for Parents
When moving house with a special needs child, it's
important you make the transition as smooth as possible by taking a
number of things into consideration before and during the move.
This page includes tips to help with the moving process, ensuring
that your child's needs are met throughout.
Creating a Home Where Your Child Can Thrive
This page includes tips regarding home modifications for
children with disabilities (whether in a wheelchair, visiual
impairments or sensory difficulties) to ensure your home is a place
where your child is safe, comfortable and thriving.
Last Updated : 21 December 2017. Page Author: philippa.barker.