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NHS Continuing Care for Children

NHS Continuing Care for Children

NHS Continuing Care is support provided for children and young people under 18 who need a tailored package of care because of their disability, an accident or illness.

It is different from NHS Continuing Health Care">NHS Continuing Healthcarewhich can be provided to adults who have very severe or complex health needs.

The main difference is that while continuing healthcare for adults focuses mainly on health and care needs, continuing care for a child or young person should also consider their physical, emotional and intellectual development as they move towards adulthood.

This means that if your child is assessed for NHS continuing care, it’s likely that a range of official organisations will be involved, such as health, education and local authority children’s services. These different agencies will also contribute to your child’s care package if they are found to have continuing care needs. The process of arranging NHS continuing care is led by Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Commissioning Board (Liverpool Place), which is responsible for managing local health services.

Government guidance recommends that, wherever possible, continuing care for a child or young person should be provided in their own home. It can also take place in a residential school, residential placement or hospice.

If you think your child should be assessed for NHS continuing care, talk to a health or social care professional who works with them. Professionals working with a child or young person should offer them an assessment if it seems they could have continuing care needs. You should get a decision about your child’s eligibility within 28 working days of them being referred.

For more information about NHS Continuing Care, including the process of arranging NHS continuing care for children and young people, what to do if there’s a dispute and the transition process for young people approaching adulthood, please look here:  http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/practicalsupport/Pages/continuing-care-children.aspx

NHS Continuing Care and NHS Continuing Health Care processes are co-ordinated as part of Education, Health and Social Care Assessment and Planning processes if Special Education Needs are identified.


There are a number of documents available if required - 

  • The Continuing Care for Children Protocol - Liverpool ICB and Liverpool City Council.
  • Equality Analysis Report - Liverpool ICB and Liverpool City Council.
  • Decision Support Tool (DST) – Merseyside.
  • Fast Track – Merseyside.
  • Pre-Assessment Checklist – Merseyside.
  • Continuing Care Panel Terms of Reference – Liverpool.
  • CYP Continuing Care Appeal leaflet – Merseyside.
  • CYP Continuing Care – Guide for Parents and Carers.

If you would like to request any/all of these documents, please contact mlcsu.childrenscomplexcare@nhs.net and a copy will be provided.

NHS Choice Framework - what choices are available to you in your NHS care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)