In response to the Law Commission’s consultation on social care law reform‚ Michelle Mitchell‚ Charity Director for Age Concern and Help the Aged‚ said:

“The Law Commission has taken on the enormous task of untangling the labyrinthine social care legislation and we welcome their proposals. Reforms must not undermine or dilute the existing rights of people who need care and support.

“Introducing a clear set of overarching principles for social care is an important step forward. The law needs to be accessible to the layperson‚ so that people can understand what they are entitled to and recourse to the legislation if the system fails them.

“We strongly support the Commission’s proposals to improve the way in which local authorities respond to allegations of abuse of vulnerable adults. These include a duty on local authorities to investigate claims and duties on other agencies to co-operate with local authorities in this work. We also warmly welcome clearer entitlements for carers with a duty to provide carers services.

“One area that has not been included in the reform of social care law is the complaints procedure.  It would seem sensible to wrap all the legislation together in one place and that should include how to make a complaint.

“We look forward to this consultation and helping formulate more coherent and understandable legislation which fits with a 21 century social care system as it develops.”