Care trusts are organisations that work in both health and social care. They carry out a range of services, including social care, mental health services and primary care services.
Care trusts are set up when the NHS and local authorities agree to work together, usually when it is felt that a closer relationship between health and social care is needed or would benefit local care services.
There are 11 official care trusts although NHS Choices currently publishes more trusts under this category to enable those organisations to list all of their health and social services.