National context
The following key legislation shapes our work.
The Care Act 2014 sets out our duties around assessing people's needs and their eligibility for council-funded care and support.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 is legislation that grants the government emergency powers to help the country deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many of the schedules have now expired.
The Data Protection Act 2018 controls how people’s personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities.
The Mental Health Act 1983 is the main legislation that covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people with mental ill health.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies to everyone involved in the care, treatment and support of people aged 16 and over living in England and Wales who are unable to make all or some decisions for themselves. The Act is designed to protect and restore power to vulnerable people who lack mental capacity.
The Human Rights Act 1998 sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that everyone in the UK is entitled to.
The Equality Act 2010 provides the legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and to advance equality and opportunity for all.
The Accessible Information Standard sets out the approach that organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly funded adult social care must use to make sure that people with a disability or sensory loss are given information and advice in a way that they can understand.
The Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 aim to ensure public sector websites and mobile apps meet common accessibility standards.
The Health and Care Act 2022 seeks to remove barriers to integrating services and makes it easier for health and care organisations to deliver joined-up care for people who rely on multiple different services.