Published: March 2025
Overview
Legal literacy refers to the ability to understand and apply legal rights, responsibilities, and procedures. In the UK, multiple resources are available to improve public and professional access to legal information, particularly within adult social care.
Introduction
Legal literacy is defined as “the ability to connect relevant legal rules with the professional priorities and objectives of ethical practice” (Braye, S., and Preston-Shoot, M. (2016). Practising social work law, 4th edn. London: Palgrave Macmillan). It plays a crucial role in safeguarding and social care decision-making. The Second National SAR Analysis has highlighted the value of legal literacy in terms of supporting good practice and equally the challenges when professionals do not consider legal interventions, or poorly apply them. Furthermore, the report emphasises that “knowing and using legal powers and duties in the pursuit of practitioner goals is a central element of practice” (p.132).
To support staff within the sector in improving legal literacy, SCIE conducted a survey to identify and compile resources that can assist social care professionals in understanding and applying legal frameworks effectively. The resources listed below have been identified by survey respondents.
Key resources (free and paid)
The following resources provide legal guidance, training, and support for social care professionals. Where applicable, details of costs are included.
Access Social Care
Provider: Access Social Care
Description: Provides free legal advice for individuals with social care needs and offers a resource library.
Cost: Free individual advice, and paid membership services for organisations.
Access: Access Social Care
Centre for Adults’ Social Care – Advice, Information & Dispute Resolution (CASCAIDr)
Description: A UK-based charity offering legal advice, online Q&A services, and training to individuals and professionals on social care law.
Cost: Free legal advice and paid alert service for legal updates (£25/year as of March 2025).
Access: CASCAIDr
Legal literacy practice tool
Provider: Research in Practice for Adults (RiPfA)
Description: Developed in 2016, this tool supports adult social care practitioners in integrating legal knowledge with ethical and human rights considerations. It provides a useful framework for teams/organisations to work through. Note: This resource has not been updated since initial publication.
Cost: Freely accessible.
Local Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs)
Role: Local SABs play a critical role in legal literacy by ensuring professionals, organisations, and the public understand their legal duties under safeguarding laws. They offer a variety of guidance, and training to staff working in the sector and oversight to improve compliance with safeguarding legislation.
Finding your local SAB: All boards have webpages, some boards have their own website which can be found via internet searches, others will have pages on the local authority website.
Cost: Freely accessible.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
Description: NICE sets clinical, public health, and social care guidelines around the legal responsibilities in the following subjects:
- safeguarding
- mental capacity
- adult social care.
Cost: Freely accessible.
Access: NICE guidelines
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Description: SCIE provides free and paid-for guidance, training, and consultancy services on legal frameworks governing health and social care, including:
- Care Act 2014 – legal duties for local authorities in adult social care
- Equality Act 2010 – consolidates and strengthens previous anti-discrimination legislation to promote fairness and equality
- Human Rights Act 1998 – rights-based approaches in care
- Mental Capacity Act 2005 – decision-making for individuals lacking capacity
- The Children Act 1989 & 2004 – safeguarding laws for children’s services
Cost: Freely accessible resources and training, and paid training and consultancy services.
Access: SCIE
Other resources (free)
The following free resources provide legal guidance, training, and support for social care professionals.
General legal guidance
Advice Now – public legal education charity offering guides and training.
Citizens Advice – free legal guidance on consumer rights, employment law, benefits, and housing.
Legal aid, GOV.UK – helps individuals access free or subsidised legal aid.
Rights of Women – legal advice for women, covering domestic violence, family law, and immigration.
Community legal support
ACAS – employment law guidance on unfair dismissal, discrimination, and pay disputes.
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) – guidance on discrimination laws and human rights.
Legal Ombudsman – assistance with complaints against solicitors.