Accessing Health and Social Care
Continuing Care
This is an NHS-funded care package for children and young people under 18 with complex needs that a GP, hospital or community/specialist service cannot meet. In order to access continuing care, your child will need to be referred for assessment by a health or social care professional. Decisions are made by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). This website has a helpful overview for families in England: https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/secondary-care/continuing-care/ More detailed information can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80e998ed915d74e623126b/children_s_continuing_care_Fe_16.pdf
A similar care package is available to children in Wales. For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-03/the-children-and-young-peoples-continuing-care-guidance.pdf
In Scotland, there is a related scheme called Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC) available to people who need hospital care. Further information is available here: https://www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/nhs-continuing-healthcare-in-scotland/
The programme in Northern Ireland is currently under development. In the meantime, you can contact your local Health and Social Care Trust for information: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/health-and-social-care-trusts
Social Care
Social care services provide additional support to families who have children with additional needs. In England, Scotland and Wales, it is provided by local authorities. In Northern Ireland, it is arranged through Health and Social Care Trusts. This support might include:
Assistance with personal care
Equipment and housing adaptations
Help with accessing leisure activities
Education support
Travel assistance
Holidays
Meals
If your child already has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), this should include provision for their social care needs. If not, you can find out about which social care services may be available to you by contacting your local authority (details can be found here: www.gov.uk/find-local-council) or Health and Social Care Trust (details can be found here: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/health-and-social-care-trusts)
Once you have contacted the relevant authority or trust, you can ask them for a needs assessment for your child and a carer’s assessment for your own needs. It is best to do this in writing, and there are example letters on the Contact website for England, Scotland and Wales: https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/social-care/needs-assessments/ This link also has information about preparing for the assessments and what to expect. It also explains how to make a complaint if you are unhappy with your local authority’s or trust’s decision.
Families in Northern Ireland may find this example letter helpful, but it is written with a focus on a child with autism, so will need some re-working to make it relevant to your child’s needs. It is available here: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/social-care/social-care-northern-ireland-children/assessments-and-care-plans There is also more information about the assessment process on this page.
More information
England: https://contact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Services-and-support-from-your-local-authority.pdf
Scotland: https://handbook.scot/sds-handbook/article/assessment-of-your-childs-needs/