April 24 2020 – Law Society Gazette : Councils move to ditch adult social care duties
One of the Coronavirus Act’s most controversial measures has been ‘switched on’ by at least six English local authorities, allowing these councils to suspend social care duties to those in need of care.
Where councils’ directors of adult social care at councils have introduced ‘easements’ to the Care Act 2014, they no longer have a duty to carry out assessments of individuals’ and carers’ needs, the provision of detailed care plans, or the duty to meet the needs of someone assessed as eligible for care and support. These duties are replaced by the ‘power’ to provide support and services.