This Guidance has been prepared by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in order to assist in understanding the Carer’s and Direct payments Act 2002 and the policy behind it. The Act places new responsibilities on “an authority”. This term is defined in the Act as meaning either an HSS Board or an HSS Trust, though in practice it will mean an HSS Trust in virtually all cases. This guidance, therefore, refers throughout to assessments and services being provided by HSS Trusts. The Act was introduced into the N.I.