Section 42: Enquiry by local authority

Care Act 2014 · 2014 c. 23View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 1: Care and support

This section applies where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in its area (whether or not ordinarily resident there)—

has needs for care and support (whether or not the authority is meeting any of those needs),
is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.

The local authority must make (or cause to be made) whatever enquiries it thinks necessary to enable it to decide whether any action should be taken in the adult's case (whether under this Part or otherwise) and, if so, what and by whom.

"Abuse" includes financial abuse; and for that purpose "financial abuse" includes—

having money or other property stolen,
being defrauded,
being put under pressure in relation to money or other property, and
having money or other property misused.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.