The Care Act 2014 is one of the most significant pieces of legislation shaping adult social care in England. It sets out clear duties for local authorities, defines the rights of individuals and carers, and establishes wellbeing and prevention as the guiding principles for care and support.
This free Care Act online course helps care professionals, managers, and support staff understand the law, their responsibilities, and how to apply the principles of the Act in everyday practice.
Why Take This eLearning Course?
The Care Act 2014 ensures that everyone involved in adult social care understands their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of promoting independence and wellbeing. For professionals, it provides the legal framework that underpins all care decisions.
By completing this course, you will:
- Gain a clear understanding of the Care Act 2014 and its purpose.
- Learn about the duties of local authorities in assessing and supporting individuals.
- Understand the rights of adults and carers under the Act.
- Explore how the Act strengthens safeguarding and partnership working.
- Apply the principles of wellbeing, prevention, and person-centred care in your role.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the purpose and principles of the Care Act 2014.
- Describe the responsibilities of local authorities in assessing and meeting care needs.
- Understand the eligibility criteria for adults and carers.
- Recognise the rights of individuals to advocacy, assessment, and review.
- Apply the six safeguarding principles in line with the Care Act.
- Describe how the Act promotes partnership working between agencies.
- Understand the importance of information sharing and coordinated care.
- Reflect on how to apply person-centred and inclusive practices in everyday work.
Care Act 2014 Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to the Care Act 2014
Learners will understand the purpose and scope of the Care Act 2014 and why it was introduced to modernise and simplify adult social care law. The module explains core principles—promoting wellbeing, prevention, and person-centred care—and how the Act aims to ensure consistency and fairness in access to care and support across England.
Module 2: Duties of Local Authorities
This module outlines local authority responsibilities, including providing information and advice, preventing or delaying needs, and assessing the needs of adults and carers. Learners will explore how national eligibility criteria are applied and how decisions are made and recorded to support lawful, transparent practice.
Module 3: Rights of Individuals
Learners will examine who is entitled to a needs assessment and what it involves, the right to independent advocacy during assessments and reviews, and how personal budgets and care plans promote choice and control. The module also covers routes to challenge decisions and request reviews to uphold rights.
Module 4: Safeguarding Adults
This module introduces safeguarding under the Act, covering the six principles of empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership, and accountability. Learners will understand the role of Safeguarding Adults Boards, recognise common safeguarding concerns, and apply appropriate multi-agency responses.
Module 5: Impact on Carers
Learners will identify who is considered a carer under the Act and the rights of carers to assessment and support, including eligibility. The module explains how carers’ wellbeing is promoted through support planning, services, and access to information, advice, and respite.
Module 6: Integration and Partnership Working
This module highlights duties to cooperate with health services and other agencies, focusing on effective information sharing and coordinated care. Learners will review practical examples of joint working that improve outcomes, reduce duplication, and support seamless experiences for individuals and carers.
Module 7: Applying the Care Act in Practice
Learners will connect the Act’s principles to day-to-day practice in health and social care settings. The module explores person-centred approaches, involvement in decision-making, and how the Act underpins equality, diversity, and inclusion. Learners will reflect on applying these principles within their own roles and services.
Target Audience
This free course is ideal for anyone working in or supporting adult social care, including:
- Care workers, support workers, and key workers
- Supervisors, senior care staff, and registered managers
- Local authority social care teams
- Advocates and safeguarding leads
- Students and trainees in health or social care
No prior legal knowledge is required — the course provides a clear, accessible explanation of the Act and its application.
FAQ
Who needs to understand the Care Act 2014?
Everyone working in adult social care should understand the Act, as it shapes all decisions about assessment, eligibility, safeguarding, and care planning.
Does the course cover carers’ rights?
Yes. It explains the equal legal rights of carers to assessment and support, as set out in the Act.
How long does the course take?
The course takes approximately 1 hour, depending on your learning pace.
Is it relevant to my role if I work in residential or community care?
Absolutely. The Care Act underpins all adult care services in England, including community, domiciliary, and residential care.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. You’ll receive a Care Act 2014 Training Course certificate upon completion, suitable for CPD portfolios and compliance records.
The Care Act 2014 ensures that every adult — regardless of their circumstances — receives fair, person-centred, and transparent care. It promotes wellbeing, dignity, and independence, ensuring that individuals and carers are supported to live the lives they choose.
By completing this course, you’ll gain the knowledge to apply the Act confidently, ensuring your practice meets legal standards and reflects the values of modern, compassionate care.
Enrol on the Care Act Training Course today
Understand the law that defines adult social care in England — and learn how to apply its principles to provide fair, person-centred, and legally compliant support.
Care Act Training Course CPD Accredited and Government Funding
We’re working on getting this Care Act Training Course CPD accredited, and any course that’s approved will be clearly labelled as CPD accredited on the site. Not every health and social care course has to be accredited to help you meet CQC expectations – what matters is that staff are competent, confident and properly trained for their roles under Regulation 18. Our courses are built to support those requirements, and because they’re not government funded there are no eligibility checks or ID needed – you can enrol and start learning straight away.
