Reforming the legal framework for adult safeguarding: the Law Commission's final recommendations on adult social care

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out the Law Commission's final recommendations for the reform of adult social care, with a particular emphasis on the recommendations for a new legal framework for adult safeguarding in England and Wales.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses each of the Law Commission's recommendations for adult safeguarding and contrasts them with the proposals put forward at the consultation phase of the review.

Findings

The paper argues that a single legal framework for adult social care, including adult safeguarding, with have substantial benefits in terms of legal clarity, consistency and efficiency.

Social implications

A clear and single legal framework is important for older and disabled people, and their carers, in order to understand fully their entitlements, and for local authorities and partnership agencies (such as the NHS and the police) in order to understand fully their responsibilities.

Originality/value

The paper provides a clear summary of the Law Commission's final report – in particular the recommendations for adult safeguarding.

Citation

Spencer‐Lane, T. (2011), "Reforming the legal framework for adult safeguarding: the Law Commission's final recommendations on adult social care", The Journal of Adult Protection, Vol. 13 No. 5, pp. 275-284. https://doi.org/10.1108/14668201111178184