Continuing Care
What is continuing care?
Continuing Care is generally defined as package of care provided to children or young people to meet physical or mental health needs that cannot be met by core services (G.P. H.V. education) or specialist services (therapies, nurse specialists) alone.
The package of care will be health focused but may have input from education, social services and sometimes others.
What are the referral criteria?
The child must be under the age of 18 years and usually resident in the Health Board area. The child must have an identified unmet health need.
How do I explore if my child is eligible for continuing care?
If you believe your child may have an unmet need please speak to either a health professional who your child’s care is under or if you have an appointed social worker. They will be able to make a referral to the continuing care assessor.
When a referral has been made:
Why has my child been referred for continuing care?
Professionals working with your child may have identified increased health needs which require extra support.
This may have been discussed with you at a review or discharge planning meeting.
Who can make a referral?
Anyone can make a referral for consideration of eligibility for Continuing Care. This is often a health professional or social worker.
The young person and/or family will need to consent to the process.
The referrer will receive written acknowledgement of the referral.
What happens to the referral?
A key worker will be assigned to your child; often this is a health professional known to you, for example the community children’s nurse or a therapist.
Your child’s key worker will complete a comprehensive Nursing Assessment. The Continuing Care Assessor will use the assessment and any information obtained from the Multi-Agency Team to support the referral.
How will I know if the referral is appropriate?
The Continuing Care Assessor will present the referral to a multi-agency meeting who will make a decision on eligibility. You will be invited to contribute to the meeting and the decision will be made by the Multi-Agency Team during the meeting. The
Continuing Care Assessor or key worker will inform you of the decision.
If the referral is not appropriate the referrer will be invited to a peer review panel for feedback, they will then share this with you.
My child’s referral has been accepted, what happens now?
The Continuing Care Assessor will be in contact with you to discuss a proposed package of care.
You and your child’s views and opinions will contribute to this.
My child’s referral has not been accepted, Can I appeal against the decision?
If you are not happy about the decision please discuss this with the Continuing Care Assessor or Key Worker who should be able to explain the reason to you.
Continuing Care Assessor C&YP
CCNT
Keir Hardie Health Park
01685 351390