The public consultation on the proposed Welfare of Adults Ordinance is now in its second week, and SHG is encouraging the community to share views on how adults who need care and support, and the people who care for them, would be assessed, supported and heard under the new law.
At present, there is no legal duty on Government to assess adults in need and no legal rights for carers. Adult social care relies on a 1990 UK Act and local policies that guide practice but carry no legal force.
What would change?
- Government would have a legal duty to assess adults who appear to need care and support.
- Carers, including family members and friends who look after a loved one, would have a legal right to be assessed for their own support needs.
- Where care and support is to be provided, a written plan would be agreed and reviewed at least once a year.
- Government would be required to promote the wellbeing of adults in everything it does under the law.
- Adults who find it hard to take part in decisions about their care would have a right to an independent advocate.
What the proposals do not mean
The proposed law is not a promise of unlimited services. Eligibility for Government-funded care and support would be set out in regulations, taking account of the island’s resources and the support available from family and community. The law would not take responsibility away from families. It would recognise and support the role they already play.
Worried About an Adult Now?
The consultation is about future law and does not change how to get help today. If you are worried about an adult, please contact Adult Social Care / safeguarding team on 22920. If someone is in immediate danger, contact the Police on 999.
How to Share Your Views
The consultation paper is available on the SHG website at https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/st-helena/government/public-consultation/. Please share your views by emailing Minister for Health and Social Care, Martin Henry, at martin.henry@sainthelena.gov.sh.
The consultation closes at 16:00 on Tuesday 8 December 2026. No final decisions have been made, and this is a genuine opportunity to shape the law before it is drafted. All responses received by the closing date will be considered, and a summary of responses will be published after the consultation closes.
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