NHS Continuing Healthcare Procedure

NHS Continuing Healthcare (sometimes called fully funded NHS care) is care outside of hospital that is arranged and funded entirely by the NHS.

NHS Continuing Healthcare can be provided in any setting, including:

1. A care home;
2. A hospice; or
3. The person's own home.

Where NHS Continuing Healthcare is provided the NHS must fund all of the services and support that the person requires to meet both their:

1. Health needs; and
2. Associated Care and Support needs; which includes
3. Accommodation related costs of a care home.

If a person receiving Care and Support from the Local Authority under the Care Act is found to be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare all legal responsibilities for arranging, funding and reviewing their care transfer to the NHS.

NHS Continuing Healthcare is only available for people:

1. From the age of 18 who
2. Need ongoing healthcare as a result of disability, accident or illness and
3. Have a 'Primary Health need', as determined by a comprehensive eligibility assessment process (as set out in the Framework).

The process normally commences with completion of the NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist by a health or social care professional, although there are circumstances when the checklist does not need to be completed. In all cases, it is the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) that must determine if a person is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

This is the threshold that must be met in order for a person to be found eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Under the Framework a Primary Health need exists if, having taken into account all of a person's needs, it can be said that the main aspects or majority part of the care they require is focused on addressing and/or preventing health needs.

It is the responsibility of a multidisciplinary team to recommend to the ICB whether or not the threshold is met.

If a person receives NHS Continuing Healthcare they should be provided with a Personal Health Budget, in much the same way as they would be provided with a Personal Budget if the Local Authority were meeting their needs.

The allocated health professional should then plan with the person how best to use this budget to meet their needs, which could include through a Direct Payment. This process is similar to Care and Support Planning in adult social care.

For further information about personal health budgets see: NHS-What is a personal health budget? 

Following a referral the local ICB must;

1. Decide whether a full assessment of eligibility is required; and
2. Notify the person of their decision.

If a full assessment is required the ICB must appoint a suitably qualified practitioner (normally a health professional) to coordinate the process set out in the Framework.

After the assessment process is completed and the multidisciplinary team has made their recommendation the ICB must then make a decision about whether or not the person is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

If a full assessment of eligibility is carried out and the person is deemed not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare the ICB should consider whether the person may be eligible for either NHS-funded Nursing Care or a joint package of health and social care.

If a full assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is not required the ICB should still consider whether the person may be eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care. 

Practitioners carrying out Local Authority functions should, through any assessment or review process;

1. Identify when a person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare; and
2. Provide information to the person (and their family) about NHS Continuing Healthcare (whenever it is requested or would be beneficial); and
3. Seek the person's consent to complete the NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist (of if they lack capacity decide whether it is in their Best Interests to continue); and
4. Complete the NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist; and
5. If the need for full assessment is indicated, make a referral to the ICB; and
6. Provide relevant information about the person's needs (for example a needs assessment, Care and Support Plan or risk assessment); and
7. Where requested, be part of the multidisciplinary team; and
8. If NHS Continuing Healthcare is awarded, take steps to transfer Local Authority funded services and support to the health professional that will be assuming care management responsibilities.

Note: Under section 9 of the Care Act where it appears that a person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare the Local Authority must refer them to the ICB.

The practitioner appointed by the ICB to coordinate the process set out in the framework should;

1. Explain the NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment process to the person (and/or their representative);
2. Decide who should be part of, and establish the multidisciplinary team;
3. Ensure the process is completed in a timely way;
4. Present the recommendation of the multidisciplinary team to the ICB; and
5. Notify the person (and/or their representative) and the Local Authority of the ICB's decision.

Note: Under the Framework the coordinator may also assume a role as part of the multidisciplinary team if they deem this to be appropriate.

When the MDT recommends that the person is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare the coordinator should also make a recommendation to the ICB about the person's eligibility for NHS-funded Nursing Care or a joint package of health and social care.

A core value and principle of the Framework is to ensure the involvement and participation of the person at all stages of the process, from completing the checklist to the point where a decision is made about eligibility and beyond.

As a minimum the MDT should;

1. Ensure that the person and/or their representative is fully and directly involved in the process and any decision making (to the extent that it is possible to do so);
2. Take full account of the person's own views and wishes, ensuring that their perspective is the starting point of every part of the process;
3. Address communication and language needs;
4. Seek consent to assessment and sharing of records;
5. Deal openly with issues of risk; and
6. Keep the person (and/or their representative) fully informed.

The Framework requires that practitioners involved in the process have received the necessary training to fulfil their role and meet their responsibilities.

You should speak with a line manager if you are concerned about your skills or knowledge around the NHS Continuing Healthcare framework.

As a social care practitioner it is important that you understand when a person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, for both person centred and statutory reasons.

There are also very significant financial consequences for the person and their family as NHS Continuing Healthcare is provided free of charge whereas Care and Support provided by a Local Authority is means-tested and can involve substantial charges.

Person centred benefits

It is unlikely that practitioners based in the Local Authority will:

1. Understand how best to meet complex health needs; or
2. Have access to appropriate services to meet the needs.

Statutory implications

Under section 9 of the Care Act where it appears that a person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare the Local Authority must refer them to the ICB.

In addition to this requirement under section 22 of the Care Act the Local Authority is not permitted to provide services and support to people when it is the legal duty of the NHS to provide them unless;

1. The support being provided is merely incidental or ancillary (secondary) to doing something else to meet Care and Support needs; or
2. The support is of a nature that the Local Authority could be expected to provide.

The result of this can be that some of the person's needs may go unmet if suitable NHS provision is not made.

It is important that no assumptions or generalisations are made about a person's possible eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare. However, where a person's needs appear to include significant health needs, they may be eligible, and steps should be taken to consider eligibility.

If you are not sure of a person's possible eligibility you should seek the support and advice of your line manager.

When you have identified that a person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare you should:

1. Provide information to them (or their representative) about NHS Continuing Healthcare; and
2. Seek their consent to complete the NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist; and
3. Complete the checklist to determine whether a referral for a full assessment of eligibility by the ICB is indicated.

Guidance on each of these steps can be found below.

Under the Framework, the consent of the person is not required before completing a NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist or making a referral to the ICB. However, this does not mean that it should not be sought.

Consent should be sought to:

1. Complete the Checklist; and
2. Provide a copy of the Checklist to the ICB; and
3. If positive, make a referral for full assessment by the ICB.

Consent should be:

1. Explicit;
2. Specific;
3. Informed; and
4. Freely given.

If the person refuses to give consent, or if consent cannot be sought (for example the person is unconscious), then a checklist should still be completed and, if positive, a referral made to the ICB.

The nature of the consent given (or not given) must be clearly recorded on:

1. The person's file;
2. The checklist; and
3. Where required, the referral.

For further information about consent please refer to the Framework.

If you believe that the person may lack capacity to consent this must be formally established through a proportionate Mental Capacity assessment.

If a person who lacks capacity to consent has a Lasting Power or Attorney or Deputy with the relevant authority, they should be consulted about the matter. However, regardless of their view, if the local authority deems it to be in the person’s best interests, the checklist should still be completed and, if positive, a referral made to the ICB.

Information and practice guidance regarding the requirements and processes of mental capacity assessment and Best Interests decision making can be accessed in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Resource and Practice Toolkit.

This section of the procedure should be used when:

1. The person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare; and
2. Information about NHS Continuing Healthcare has been provided to them (or their representative).

The checklist is a screening tool for use by practitioners who believe that a person may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare to:

1. Establish whether a referral for a full assessment of eligibility should be made; and
2. To help the ICB direct NHS Continuing Healthcare resources towards those persons most likely to be in need of them.

The person completing the NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist must be trained in its use and familiar with the NHS Continuing Healthcare framework, particularly the role of the multidisciplinary team in agreeing a recommendation about eligibility.

You should speak with a line manager if you are concerned about your skills or knowledge around the NHS Continuing Healthcare framework before completing the NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist.

Under the Framework it is important to maximise the participation of the person in all parts of the process, including the Checklist stage. The minimal requirements of the Framework are explained above in section 3 of this procedure.

You should establish whether the person wishes to have (or needs) representation. If so you should:

1. Consider whether there is a family member or friend able to represent them; and
2. If not, arrange advocacy support whenever time allows.

When the checklist is completed the following people should be present:

1. The person; and
2. Any representative or advocate.

No other person is required to be present, but it is usual for any informal carers to be consulted. If you feel it would be beneficial to consult with somebody else you may do so, as long as:

1. The person consents to their involvement; or
2. The person lacks capacity and a decision is made in their Best Interests.

The NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist can be printed, e-mailed and saved as required.

The NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist is divided into 11 sections, covering each of the 11 static care domains of the framework. These are:

1. Breathing;
2. Nutrition;
3. Continence;
4. Skin Integrity;
5. Mobility;
6. Communication;
7. Psychological/Emotional;
8. Cognition;
9. Behaviour;
10. Drug therapies and medication (symptom control); and
11. Altered states of consciousness.

Each section contains a range of statements (A, B or C), similar to the example below (which is a replica of the Breathing section of the checklist);

You must:

1. Circle or highlight the individual statement that best matches the needs of the person; and
2. Write the corresponding letter (either A, B or C) in the box; and
3. Provide a brief and concise summary of the person's needs in that domain and the evidence upon which you have based your judgement.

Copies of the evidence used do not have to be provided in any referral made but the manner in which you reference the evidence on the Checklist should make it easy for the ICB to locate if required.

If you are of the view that the person's needs are likely to increase in the next 3 months, this should be reflected by the statement that you select.

The equality monitoring data form

The equality monitoring data form at the end of the checklist should be completed by the person, with your support as required. This form must be submitted to the ICB with the other areas of the checklist.

When you have circled a statement in each of the care domains you must record the total number of A's, B's and C's selected in order to establish whether the threshold upon which a referral must be made to the ICB has been met.

A referral to the ICB for a full eligibility assessment must always be made when there are:

1. 2 or more domains selected in column A; or
2. 5 or more domains selected in column B, or 1 selected in A and 4 in B; or
3. 1 domain selected in column A where the domain has an asterisk with any number of selections in the other 2 columns.

If the above does not apply it may still be appropriate to make a referral to the ICB if the overall level of need is deemed to be complex, intense or unpredictable in nature.

In this case you should seek agreement from your line manager and follow local protocols.

When making the referral, you must ensure that a clear explanation is provided as to why it is being made when the person does not apparently meet the threshold.

There are 2 statements at the end of the checklist, one of which you must circle:

1. Referral for full assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare is necessary (known in the Framework as a 'positive' Checklist); or
2. No referral for full assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare is necessary (known as a 'negative' Checklist).

The rational for the decision should be clearly recorded, especially if the threshold upon which a referral must be made has not been met.

When the checklist is complete you must sign and date where specified, and make a record of your contact details.

A record of the outcome, and the rational should also be recorded on the person's electronic file.

As the person completing the checklist it is your role to notify the person of the outcome, specifically:

1. Whether a referral to the ICB for a full assessment is required; or
2. Whether a referral to the ICB is not required;
3. The rational for the decision; and 
4. Information about how the person (or their representative) can request that the ICB review the decision.

Reviewing the decision

All requests to review NHS Continuing Healthcare decisions must be made to the ICB, even if it was your decision not to make a referral.

It is therefore best practice that if a decision is made not to refer, a copy of the checklist is still provided to the ICB, so that it is available should the person decide to complain.

The person (and any representative) should be provided with a copy of the checklist, regardless of whether a referral to the ICB is to be made.

If a referral is to be made to the ICB the original checklist should be sent to the ICB, and a copy should be stored on the person's Local Authority file.

Where a decision is made not to refer the original checklist should be stored on the person's Local Authority file, and a copy provided to the ICB, so that they are aware that NHS Continuing Healthcare has been considered and are able to respond to any complaint that may be made.

It is essential that the checklist and referral form are sent to the ICB is a secure and timely manner to:

1. Ensure confidentiality; and
2. Avoid any delays in establishing and providing NHS Continuing Healthcare (or any other health funding provision).

Referrals to the ICB should be made in line with local processes and requirements.

Copies of the evidence used do not have to be provided in any referral made but the manner in which you reference the evidence on the Checklist should make it easy for the ICB and/or any assessor to locate if required.

You must record the following on the person's electronic file:

1. The date that the referral was made; and
2. When known, the outcome of the referral.

In most cases, the ICB is expected to make a final decision about eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare within 28 days of receiving the referral (or sooner if it is more urgent). In situations where there are valid and unavoidable reasons for doing so, decisions can take longer. The person and their representative should be kept informed about anticipated timescales. 

The need to carry out a full assessment should therefore be established soon after the referral has been provided to them.

It is the ICB's responsibility to notify the person of the outcome of the referral in writing, and advise them of any action they can take if they are not happy with the decision.

The outcome of the referral will be either:

1. A full assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare will be carried out; or
2. A full assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare will not be carried out.

If a full assessment is to be completed the ICB must appoint a practitioner to coordinate the assessment process. This practitioner should notify you that a full assessment is to be completed and confirm whether you are required to be part of the multidisciplinary team.

See Section 10, The Multidisciplinary Team and the Decision Support Tool.

If you are the person's allocated worker and you are not required to be part of the multidisciplinary team the MDT should still consult you as part of the process.

See Section 9, The Provision of Relevant Information to access the procedure for providing relevant information.

If the ICB decides that a full assessment to determine eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is not required, you should take steps to ensure that the person continues to be provided with Local Authority support and services under the Care Act.

However, if the person lives in a nursing home / care home with nursing care provided (or will be moving to one) you should ask the ICB to consider whether or not they may be eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC), if the ICB has not already done so.

If the person (or their representative) is unhappy with the decision of the ICB they should complain about it directly to the ICB, and the ICB is required to review their decision.

If you are concerned about the decision of the ICB you should discuss any action that may (or may not) be needed to challenge the decision with your line manager. Challenges should be made in line with the local dispute resolution process.

Where the person has relevant capacity, their explicit consent is required for the sharing of personal data with third parties other than health or social care professionals (for example family, friends, advocates, and/or other representatives). It must be made clear to them that they can withdraw their consent for the sharing of personal data with third parties other than health and social care professionals at any time; and it is good practice to ensure that the person is still consenting at each stage. It is best practice to keep a written record of consent for the sharing of personal data with third parties.

This section of the procedure should be used by social care practitioners who are part of the multidisciplinary team considering a person's eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare. It provides guidance about:

1. The process of decision making that you will be involved in; and
2. Your role as a member of the multidisciplinary team.

The multidisciplinary team (MDT) must consist of at least;

1. Two professionals from different healthcare professions; or
2. One healthcare professional and one person with responsibility for assessing Care and Support needs under the Care Act.

It is the expectation in the Framework that the MDT should include professionals from both health and social care, who are knowledgeable about the person's needs and, where possible have been recently involved in the assessment, treatment or care of the person.

The MDT is responsible for;

1. Carrying out any assessments required (e.g. a needs assessment or a nursing needs assessment);
2. Maximising the participation of the person in the process (see below);
3. Consulting with the person, their family and any other person deemed relevant to the decision;
4. Reviewing all of the information gathered;
5. Applying the Decision Support Tool; and
6. Making a recommendation to the ICB about eligibility.

Note: The absence of a needs assessment under the Care Act 2014 should not delay an assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Where the MDT does not contain a Local Authority representative, the ICB is required (wherever practicable) to consult with the Local Authority before making any decision about eligibility.

Under the Framework the coordinator may also assume a role as part of the multidisciplinary team if they deem this to be appropriate.

A core value and principle of the Framework is to ensure the involvement and participation of the person at all stages of the process, from completing the checklist to the point where a decision is made about eligibility and beyond.

As a minimum the MDT should;

1. Ensure that the person and/or their representative is fully and directly involved in the process and any decision making (to the extent that it is possible to do so);
2. Take full account of the person's own views and wishes, ensuring that their perspective is the starting point of every part of the process;
3. Address communication and language needs;
4. Seek consent to assessment and sharing of records;
5. Deal openly with issues of risk; and
6. Keep the person (and/or their representative) fully informed.

The Framework requires that practitioners involved in the process have received the necessary training to fulfil their role and meet their responsibilities.

You should speak with a line manager if you are concerned about your skills or knowledge around the NHS Continuing Healthcare framework.

The Decision Support Tool (DST) is not an assessment of needs in itself, rather it is the mechanism used to bring together all of the evidence gathered during the assessment process so as to clarify needs and then make a collective professional judgement about eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare on the basis of a primary health need.

The NHS Continuing Healthcare Decision Support Tool can be printed, e-mailed and saved as required.

There are 12 care domains set out in the Decision Support Tool. These are the same 11 static care domains as in the checklist, with an additional one for any other significant needs that fall outside of the available domains.

1. Breathing;
2. Nutrition-food and drink;
3. Continence;
4. Skin and tissue viability;
5. Mobility;
6. Communication;
7. Psychological and emotional needs;
8. Cognition;
9. Behaviour;
10. Drug Therapies and medication (symptom control);
11. Altered States of consciousness; and
12. Other significant care needs.

In each domain the actual health and social care needs of the person should be described, along with the evidence that has informed this judgement.

Often it can be difficult to determine which needs are health needs and which are social care needs.

A health need

A 'health need' is described in the Framework as;

1. A need related to the treatment, control, management or prevention of a disease, illness, injury or disability; and
2. The care or aftercare of a person with these needs (whether or not the tasks involved have to be carried out by a health professional).

Some of the domains in the DST are clearly health needs by nature (breathing, drug therapies, ASC) but the remaining domains are likely to have an element of both health and social care need, and the role of the MDT is to agree whether the nature of the care required indicates a more prominent health or social care need overall.

Social care needs

Under the Framework a 'social care need' is taken to be any need related to the Care Act eligibility criteria:

1. Managing and maintaining nutrition;
2. Maintaining personal hygiene;
3. Managing toilet needs;
4. Being able to make use of the home safely;
5. Maintaining a habitable home environment;
6. Developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships;
7. Accessing or engaging in work, training, education or volunteering;
8. Making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community; and
9. Carrying out any caring responsibilities for a child.

Eligibility criteria a-e clearly overlap with the domains of the DST, whereas the others are all social care needs. It is important to make sure that the needs that do not fit into the DST domains are still included in decision making.

When all relevant health and social care needs in a care domain have been identified the multidisciplinary team must consider and agree the overall level of health need in each domain, which will be one of the following:

N = No needs
L = Low needs
M = Moderate needs
H = High needs
S = Severe needs
P = Priority needs

This decision should be made having regard for the frequency and intensity of need, unpredictability, deterioration and any instability. Guidance on these characteristics can be found in the table below:

The concept of a 'well-managed' need

Well managed needs are those needs that are currently having little or no impact on the person's health or wellbeing because of the positive effects of the support they are receiving.

The Framework is clear that a well managed need is still a need.

The number of recorded incidences of need (e.g. in behaviour) should not be used as the sole factor when determining the overall level of need in the care domain. This could lead to a false level of need being agreed. Instead, the MDT should consider whether other factors are impacting on the incidences of need, for example the environment, and whether changes can be made to these factors that could reduce or eliminate the need.

If the level of health need is not clear

If it is not clear what the level of health need is, or if there is disagreement about this, the coordinating practitioner should; make a record of any disagreement or difficulties occurred in reaching the recommendation so that the ICB can discuss this when making a decision about eligibility.

After agreeing the level of health need in each care domain (i.e. P, S, H, M, L or N) the information must be summarised into the following table, which appears on page 29 of the Decision Support Tool:

After completing the table the  multidisciplinary team must agree whether the total effects of all needs across all domains equates to the existence of a Primary Health need (in which case a recommendation of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare would be made).

Indicators of a Primary Health need

Under the Framework a person is deemed to have a Primary Health need if it can be said that the main aspects or majority part of the care they require is focused on addressing and/or preventing health needs.

A recommendation of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare should normally be made when;

1. A Priority level of need is identified in any one of the 4 care domains that carry that level; or
2. A total of 2 or more incidences of Severe level of need across any care domains.

In all other cases the multidisciplinary team must to consider the quality and quantity of care in more detail, using the four characteristics of;

1. Nature;
2. Intensity;
3. Complexity; and
4. Unpredictability.

Difficulty agreeing a recommendation

If the MDT is having difficulty in establishing an agreed recommendation it is not unusual for it to agree to reconvene a further meeting. This can serve the purpose of gathering additional information to ensure the recommendation is based on the most up-to-date and relevant information as possible.

If the existence of a primary health need is not clear

If the existence of a primary health need is unclear the coordinating practitioner should:

1. Make the recommendation to the ICB that they believe is most appropriate; but
2. Make a record of any disagreement or difficulties occurred in reaching the decision; so that
3. The ICB can discuss this when making the final decision about eligibility.

The coordinating practitioner is responsible for notifying the ICB of the multidisciplinary team's recommendation, which will be either;

1. That the person is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (because they do not appear to have a Primary Health need); or
2. That the person is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (because they appear to have a Primary Heath need).

If the recommendation is that the person does not have a Primary Health need (and is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare) the coordinating practitioner should consider and advise the ICB whether;

1. The person would benefit from on-going health support; and
2. If so, whether any joint package of health and social care arrangements may apply; or
3. If the person lives in a nursing / care home with nursing care provided home (or will be moving to one), whether they may be eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC).

If you are concerned about the recommendation made by the coordinating practitioner you should discuss any action that may (or may not) be needed to challenge the recommendation with your line manager. Challenges should be made in line with the local dispute resolution process.

The ICB will consider the recommendation and decide that either:

1. The person is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare; or
2. The person is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Regardless of your involvement in the multidisciplinary team, if you made the referral the coordinating practitioner should notify you of the outcome as soon as possible after a decision has been made. You should:

1. Record the outcome on the person's electronic file; and
2. Answer any questions that the person may ask of you regarding the outcome or implications.

The coordinating practitioner is responsible for formally notifying the person of the outcome in writing, explaining the implications of the outcome to them and letting them know how they can make a complaint about the decision.

The timeframe for transfer of services from the Local Authority to the ICB should be agreed at the point that a decision about eligibility is made. This should reflect local policy and should allow for:

1. Any remaining relevant assessment and planning processes to be carried out by the ICB; and
2. Services to be arranged.

During any transfer of services you should work as required with the health professional that will be assuming care management responsibilities to:

1. Introduce them to the person (and their family);
2. Ensure they have all relevant information about the person's needs (having full regard for consent); and
3. Ensure they have all relevant information about the current services and support being provided to the person.

When the transfer of services is completed you should take steps to close the person's case unless there is a need to maintain involvement as part of an on-going safeguarding concern or investigation.

If the person is not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare the Local Authority remains legally responsible for meeting eligible needs under the Care Act, which can include support provided by a health professional when:

1. It is merely incidental or ancillary (secondary) to doing something else to meet Care and Support needs; or
2. It is of a nature that the Local Authority could be expected to provide.

However, when making the determination about eligibility the ICB should have considered whether;

1. The person would benefit from on-going health support; and
2. If so, whether any joint package of health and social care arrangements may apply; or
3. If the person lives in a nursing home / care home with nursing care provided (or will be moving to one), whether they may be eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC).

If you believe that the person may be eligible for alternative heath funding provision and that this has not been considered you should discuss this with your line manager in the first instance.

Funded nursing care

If the ICB has agreed that the person is eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care see the NHS-funded Nursing Care Procedure.

Joint package of health and social care

If the ICB has recommended that a joint package of health and social care should be arranged, see the Joint Packages of Health and Social Care Procedure.

Regardless of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare the Local Authority remains legally responsible for:

1. Any ongoing adult safeguarding processes or investigations regarding the person; and
2. Responding to any new safeguarding concerns that may arise; but
3. It is expected that the ICB will have an important role in any new enquiries.

If a person is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare the ICB will assume responsibility for providing any equipment the person may require. However, where all Occupational Therapy services are commissioned jointly no changes will be required.

Eligibility/non-eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is not indefinite, as needs can change.

The ICB

The ICB have a statutory responsibility to review the person's services 3 months after the transfer of funding responsibility, and then every 12 months after that. If there is any evidence to suggest that the person may no longer be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare a referral may be made to the Local Authority to be part of the multidisciplinary team who considers this once more.

The Local Authority

If the Local Authority believes there to be a change in the person's needs, and that a person who was previously ineligible may now be eligible, a further NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist should be completed as outlined in this procedure.

Challenges to the decision

If you disagree with any outcome that refuses NHS Continuing Healthcare funding you should discuss any action that may (or may not) be needed to challenge the decision with your line manager. Challenges should be made in line with the local dispute resolution process.

Complaints about the decision

If the person (or their representative) is unhappy with the decision of the ICB they should complain about it directly to the ICB.

In all cases, if the ICB subsequently reverses its decision, it should make arrangements to reimburse the Local Authority for the cost of services that it has provided during that time. Where applicable, any financial contribution made by the person for those services should also be reimbursed.

Inpatient settings

See Section 13 of this procedure 'NHS Continuing Healthcare in Acute Hospital Settings'.

Other settings

If the Local Authority is already providing services to the person, it remains the legal responsibility of the Local Authority to meet the person's eligible needs until:

1. A decision about eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is made; and
2. Where eligible, the person's services and support have been transferred to the ICB.

If a person is already receiving support and services through NHS Continuing Healthcare but their eligibility is under review it is the legal responsibility of the ICB to continue meeting the person's needs until:

1. A decision about on-going eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare is made; and
2. Where ineligible, the person's services and support have been transferred to the Local Authority.

With the exception of referrals made in acute hospital settings, the arrangements in place at the point of referral to the ICB should remain in place until a determination is made.

In most cases, the ICB is expected to make a final decision about eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare within 28 days of receiving the referral (or sooner if it is more urgent). In situations where there are valid and unavoidable reasons for doing so, decisions can take longer. 

The Local Authority and the ICB should agree arrangements for appropriate reimbursement if a decision is subsequently made that the person is eligible/ineligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Where applicable, this should also include reimbursement of any financial contributions made by the person.

The timeframe for transfer of services from the Local Authority to the ICB (or vice versa) should be agreed at the point that a decision about eligibility is made. This should reflect local policy and should allow for:

1. Any remaining relevant assessment and planning processes to be carried out; and
2. Services to be arranged.

If this process is likely to take some time, or is delayed for any reason that is not valid or unavoidable, the Local Authority and the ICB should agree arrangements for appropriate reimbursement.

The Framework is clear that the person should not experience any gaps in care as a result of delays, regardless of the cause. This means that under no circumstances should either organisation cease to provide services to the person until alternative arrangements are in place.

This section sets out the specific considerations and requirements for social care practitioners when the person who may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare is an in-patient in an acute hospital setting.

Eligibility should not be considered until;

1. All acute or emergency treatment has been completed; and
2. The likely outcome of any rehabilitation treatment or therapy is clear; and
3. The person's needs upon discharge are clear.

The Framework expects that most assessments for eligibility will not take place until after the person has been discharged from hospital.

Under the Framework the ICB is required to consider a person's likely eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare prior to commencing discharge processes.

If you are aware that a person with social care needs has been admitted to hospital and you feel it would be appropriate to consider their eligibility you should discuss this with health colleagues on the ward, whose responsibility it is to consider this.

If, as expected the ICB intends to determine eligibility post discharge they are legally responsible for providing all care and treatment to the person in the interim period. Examples of how this could be arranged include intermediate care, the provision of domiciliary care or a short term placement.

One exception

If the person was in receipt of a Local Authority funded service prior to admission, the Framework allows for the ICB to request the Local Authority reinstate and continue funding that service whilst the eligibility assessment takes place.

The Local Authority does not have a duty to do this and before responding to such a request you must be clear about local arrangements that have been agreed between the Local Authority and the ICB. In the event of a dispute, the local dispute resolution procedure should be followed.

Furthermore the ICB can only make such a request if;

1. The same service is still open and available;
2. The service does not need to be altered to meet the person's post-discharge needs.

Where the Local Authority agrees to reinstate services and the ICB subsequently decides that the person is eligible the Local Authority must be reimbursed for all care costs from the date of discharge. Where applicable, any financial contribution made by the person should also be reimbursed.

On occasion the ICB may decide that the assessment of eligibility needs to take place prior to discharge. In this situation they are responsible for making all necessary arrangements set out in this procedure.

If you are requested to provide relevant information, or be part of the multidisciplinary team you should respond to the request in a timely way so as to;

1. Avoid any delays in establishing and providing NHS Continuing Healthcare; and
2. Avoid contributing to any unnecessary delays in discharge.

It should be clearly evident from the discharge notice:

1. How NHS Continuing Healthcare has been considered;
2. What decisions have been made and why.

Note: The ICB does not have to complete a Checklist in order to have considered NHS Continuing Healthcare as the Framework recognises that this is not always necessary.

If it is not clear whether NHS Continuing Healthcare has been considered you should liaise with the ward to establish this. If the ward has not considered it you should ask them to do so.

If the discharge notice requests that services are reinstated as set out in Discharging to Assess above, you must;

1. Be clear about local arrangements that have been agreed between the Local Authority and the ICB; and
2. Be satisfied that the service is able to continue meeting the person's needs post discharge.