Reforming the Adult Social Care and Support System - The Draft Care and Support Bill

As announced in the Queen's Speech in May 2012, the government has confirmed its intention to reform the UK's adult care and support system by publishing a draft Care and Support Bill). Also published alongside the Bill are the Care and Support White Paper and a Progress Funding Report.

The proposed reforms have been informed by two separate reviews into the existing care and support system. The Law Commission looked into the existing legislative framework while the Commission on Funding of Care and Support (the Dilnot Commission) considered the funding aspects of the system.

The Department of Health has said that the draft Bill represents the most comprehensive review of adult social care law for 60 years. It includes a number of notable new duties on local authorities and makes some significant changes to the existing regime - some of which are in line with the funding reform recommendations of the Dilnot Commission.

Wragge & Co's Public Law & Regulation experts analyse the draft Bill.