Children and Young People’s Continuing Care/Continuing Healthcare

Children and young people with complex health needs may require a package of care arranged and funded by the NHS.

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care (0–17)

What is Children and Young People’s Continuing Care?

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care supports those whose needs cannot be met by universal or specialist services alone.

It provides a personalised package of care considering health and medical needs, emotional wellbeing, development and family context.

Cheshire East pathway (0–17)

In Cheshire East, the pathway follows the national framework and is led by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) working with partners.

The process usually begins when a professional working with the child or young person recognises that they may have ongoing health needs that require additional support and makes a referral for further consideration.

A holistic, multi-agency assessment is then carried out, drawing on existing information from health, education and social care to build a full picture of needs, with families and young people closely involved throughout.

This information is used to inform a decision about eligibility, guided by national assessment tools and frameworks. Where a child or young person is found eligible, a personalised package of care is developed in partnership with the family, which aligns with any existing plans such as an Education, Health and Care Plan.

All packages of care are kept under regular review to ensure they continue to meet the child or young person’s changing needs.

What support may be provided?

Support is tailored and may include:

• Care at home
• Support in education settings
• Short breaks / respite
• Specialist nursing or therapy input

Care is usually delivered as close to home as possible.

Referrals are typically made by professionals already involved with the child or young person’s care. A range of local services may also be involved in supporting children and families, including the Cheshire East SEND Team, Family Hubs, and health professionals such as GPs, paediatricians and community nursing teams. Families are encouraged to speak with their lead professional or key worker if they feel a referral for continuing care may be appropriate.

Transition to Adult Services (14–25)

Transition planning should begin early, typically from around age 14, to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place as a young person approaches adulthood. In Cheshire East, this process is coordinated through existing planning arrangements, such as Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans where relevant, alongside input from health services. As part of this process, consideration will be given to whether a young person may be eligible for an assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) as they approach age 18. It is important to note that Children and Young People’s Continuing Care does not automatically transfer into adult services, and a separate assessment process is required.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (18+)

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare?

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of ongoing care that is fully arranged and funded by the NHS for adults aged 18 or over who have been assessed as having a “primary health need.” This means that a person’s main care needs relate to their health, rather than primarily to social care or support.

Eligibility for CHC is not based on a specific diagnosis or condition, but on the overall nature, complexity, intensity and unpredictability of a person’s needs, and the level of support required to manage them safely.

Where someone is found eligible, the NHS is responsible for funding the full cost of their care, including both health and associated social care needs. This support can be provided in a range of settings, such as the person’s own home, a care home, or other community-based environments, and is free at the point of delivery, unlike local authority-funded care which may be means-tested.

CHC is intended for individuals with significant and ongoing care needs, and eligibility is regularly reviewed to ensure that the support provided continues to reflect their current situation.

Cheshire East pathway (18+)

In Cheshire East, access to NHS Continuing Healthcare for adults usually begins with a referral from a health or care professional, such as a hospital team, GP or community practitioner. This is followed by an initial screening, often referred to as a checklist, to determine whether a full assessment is required. Where this is indicated, a comprehensive assessment is carried out by a multidisciplinary team, who consider the overall nature, complexity, intensity and unpredictability of a person’s needs. Based on this information, a decision is made by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) regarding eligibility. If a person is found to be eligible, the NHS will arrange and fund an appropriate package of care to meet their assessed needs.

Contact information

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care (0–17)
Email: AACC.CheshireCYP@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk

NHS Continuing Healthcare (18+)
Email: cheshire.chccc@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk