What does the Care Act 2014 require local authorities to do?

• A. Promote wellbeing, prevent needs, assess and provide care and support, safeguard adults at risk, and support carers
• B. Focus solely on hospital admissions
• C. Increase fees for services
• D. Centralize decision-making to a national body

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how the Care Act 2014 shapes local authorities’ duties in adult social care. Local authorities must promote wellbeing and take a preventative, person‑centred approach to care. They are responsible for assessing whether someone needs care and support, and for arranging or providing that support when needed. They also have a safeguarding duty to protect adults at risk from abuse or neglect, and they should actively support carers who provide unpaid care. This framework emphasizes early prevention, holistic well‑being, and safeguarding across community and social services, not just hospital care. It also avoids increasing fees as a mandated goal and does not place decision‑making under a single national body, since local authorities carry out these duties locally with partnership input.