Search Legislation

Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

Assessing adults

19Duty to assess the needs of an adult for care and support

(1)Where it appears to a local authority that an adult may have needs for care and support, the authority must assess—

(a)whether the adult does have needs for care and support, and

(b)if the adult does, what those needs are.

(2)The duty under subsection (1) applies in relation to—

(a)an adult who is ordinarily resident in the authority’s area, and

(b)any other adult who is within the authority’s area.

(3)The duty under subsection (1) applies regardless of the local authority’s view of—

(a)the level of the adult’s needs for care and support, or

(b)the level of the adult’s financial resources.

(4)In carrying out a needs assessment under this section, the local authority must—

(a)seek to identify the outcomes that the adult wishes to achieve in day to day life,

(b)assess whether, and if so, to what extent, the provision of—

(i)care and support,

(ii)preventative services, or

(iii)information, advice or assistance,

could contribute to the achievement of those outcomes or otherwise meet needs identified by the assessment, and

(c)assess whether, and if so, to what extent, other matters could contribute to the achievement of those outcomes or otherwise meet those needs.

(5)A local authority, in carrying out a needs assessment under this section, must involve—

(a)the adult, and

(b)where feasible, any carer that the adult has.

(6)The nature of the needs assessment required by this section is one that the local authority considers proportionate in the circumstances, subject to any requirement in regulations under section 30.

20Refusal of a needs assessment for an adult

(1)If an adult (or, where applicable, an authorised person) refuses a needs assessment under section 19, the duty under that section to assess the adult’s needs does not apply.

(2)But a refusal under subsection (1) does not discharge a local authority from its duty under section 19 in the following cases—

  • CASE 1 - the local authority is satisfied, in the case of a refusal given by the adult, that—

    (a)

    the adult lacks capacity to decide whether to refuse to have the assessment, but

    (b)

    there is an authorised person to make the decision on the adult’s behalf;

  • CASE 2 - the local authority is satisfied, in the case of a refusal given by the adult, that—

    (a)

    the adult lacks capacity to decide whether to refuse to have the assessment,

    (b)

    there is no authorised person to make the decision on the adult’s behalf, and

    (c)

    having the assessment would be in the adult’s best interests;

  • CASE 3 - the local authority suspects that the adult is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect.

(3)Where a local authority has been discharged from its duty under section 19 by a refusal under this section, the duty is re-engaged if—

(a)the adult (or, where applicable, an authorised person) subsequently asks for an assessment, or

(b)the local authority considers that the adult’s needs or circumstances have changed,

(subject to any further refusal under this section).

(4)In this section “authorised person” means a person authorised under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (whether in general or specific terms) to decide whether to refuse, or ask for, a needs assessment on the adult’s behalf.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. The revised version is currently only available in English.

Original (As Enacted or Made) - English: The original English language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Original (As Enacted or Made) - Welsh:The original Welsh language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Show Explanatory Notes for Sections: Displays relevant parts of the explanatory notes interweaved within the legislation content.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Welsh Government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes accompany all Acts of the Welsh Parliament.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources