(1)This section applies where—
(a)a local authority carries out an assessment under section 12AA of the 1968 Act of an adult’s ability to provide, or continue to provide, care for another person, or
(b)a local authority carries out an assessment under section 24 of the 1995 Act of an adult’s ability to provide, or continue to provide, care for a child.
(2)The authority must—
(a)consider the assessment, and
(b)decide whether the adult has needs in relation to the care which the adult provides, or intends to provide, to the person cared for.
(3)If the authority decides that the adult has those needs, the authority must consider whether the needs could be satisfied (wholly or partly) by the provision to the adult of any support.
(4)If the authority decides in pursuance of subsection (3) that an adult has needs which could be satisfied by the provision of any support, it may provide, or secure the provision of, support to the adult.
(5)In this section—
“person cared for” means the person in relation to whom the adult’s ability to provide or continue to provide care is assessed as mentioned in subsection (1),
“support” includes any form of services or assistance which will help the adult to provide, or continue to provide, care for the person cared for.