Anne's Law - code of practice: easy read
Easy read summary of the Anne’s Law Code of Practice. Anne’s Law gives care home providers new duties related to visiting. The Code of Practice explains how these duties should work day-to-day.
Introduction
Anne’s Law was created due to things that happened during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, people were told to not see each other as often.
This had a big impact on people living in care homes.
Some people in care homes could not see their friends or family.
Due to this, a new law has been made. This law is called Anne’s Law.
Anne’s Law helps make sure that people living in care homes can stay in touch with the people who matter to them.
The Act and Regulations
Anne's Law is named in memory of Anne Duke who lived in a care home in 2020.
Anne’s daughter started a petition. She wanted family to be allowed to visit people living in care homes to provide care and support even during infectious outbreaks.
Anne's Law gives people living in care homes stronger rights to see people who are important to them.
This document explains how Anne's Law should work.
What Anne’s Law does
Anne's Law says that care homes must allow and support visits to happen.
Visits can only be stopped if there is a serious risk to life, health or wellbeing.
There may sometimes be exceptions.
Exceptions are special cases where there is a good reason to do something different.
This could be because:
- someone is going to die soon
- or there will be serious harm caused to the health and wellbeing of a person living in a care home if they cannot see the person or people most important to them
Each person living in a care home will have a personal plan.
The people who are most important to them will be named in this plan.
These people are called Essential Care Supporters.
An Essential Care Supporter is someone important to a person living in a care home. It would be likely to cause serious harm if the person living in the care home was not able to see them.
Anne's Law does not mean people can always visit people living in care homes.
This is because sometimes other laws need to be considered too.
Essential Care Supporters will be told if visits are stopped.
They will be able to challenge this decision if they do not think it is right.
The Care Inspectorate must be told when visiting is stopped.
The Care Inspectorate make sure care homes follow the rules properly.
Anne’s Law Code of Practice
The Code of Practice explains how Anne's Law should be used.
It gives examples to help make sure it is done properly.
It has been made to help:
- care home staff
- people living in care homes
- families and carers
understand what rights they have and what they should expect.
Care homes must follow the Code of Practice when deciding how care home visits will work.
