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<p>The Department welcomes the report which was funded by the Department, NHS England
and Public Health England, as part of the Health and Social Care Voluntary Sector
Strategic Partnership Programme. The Department and its partners will use the findings
of the report to review relevant policies to improve experiences and outcomes for
people with disabilities.</p><br /><p>The Care Act 2014 put personal budgets on a
legal basis for the first time, including for disabled people and carers. This drives
a focus on personalisation and increases opportunities for greater control and independence,
so that people can choose care and support best suited to their needs.</p><br /><p>The
Care Act 2014 introduced a new national eligibility threshold which enables local
authorities to maintain continuity of access to support for service users who move
between local authorities. This threshold is set out in the Care and Support (Eligibility
Criteria) Regulations 2015, and local authorities cannot tighten eligibility criteria
beyond this threshold.</p><br /><p>The Care Act 2014 contains a new duty for local
authorities to provide independent advocacy to facilitate and support a person’s involvement
in the care and support assessment, planning and review processes. Local authorities
must also establish and maintain a service that provides information and advice relating
to care and support for adults and support for carers.</p>
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