The policy clarifies the Isle of Wight council’s (IWC) position regarding the time period up to receiving a Court Order for safeguarding properties of adults being cared for away from home as identified in the Care Act 2014.

If someone is being cared for away from their home, for example they are in hospital

or temporarily supported in a care home, and they are unable to make arrangements themselves or arrange for someone else to protect and secure their property contents or pets, the IWC will take reasonable steps identified in Section 5.3 of the Policy to protect their property, contents and pets. The council’s duty to protect the property ends when the person returns home, or when they are able to make their own arrangements for the protection of their property. The council will recover from the person all reasonable expenses incurred in protecting their property.