CHC Not Awarded - implications?

[HubbyOfSeriousInjury]

Apologies first for only coming here when there's a problem but...

My wife has been in a neurological care facility since discharge from hospital (first ICU then 'Acute Trauma' and was initially funded by NHS RAPS (Rehab and Placement Service) for over a year. A few months ago I was involved in a Continuing Healthcare assessment and assumed she was being funded like that - she's stayed in the same place but funded differently. I have never been told that CHC funding was not awarded.

Today I was contacted by her new social worker who informed me that CHC funding has never been agreed - she has been in some sort of limbo following a disagreement between her previous social worker and the CHC assessor. The new social worker now needs to do a social care assessment to define her needs and look at whether she should stay where she is (pros/cons) or move somewhere else.

He did point out that the council will need to do a financial assessment and if we have >£23000 in savings we would need to contribute to some or all of her care costs. We are not megarich by any means but we do both have savings > £23000 (hers is the lump sum from her pension which she collected on medical grounds after her accident). It wasn't clear from the social worker if it was just her savings that were relevant or both of ours.

I'm not really sure what I'm here to ask but I guess I'd like links to some good quality advice on the situation we're now in. Also any personal experiences if you have similar?

Thanks.

[philbou]

Hi buddy

Hope your both ok

How are you two doing

I hope there are some ongoing improvements

You should have been invited to the chc assesment as her guardian / partner

Having said that

Its very very difficult to qualify for chc funding

There are numerous tails of people who should get it but are denied it and then fight for it and get it awarded there are specialist solicitors that can do it for you at a cost of course

It works on a points based system the point needed are ridiculously high

So the care costs funding drops back onto the council

The council will place a bid on a website where the lowest bidders wins or whos got a place if you get what i mean

You will get the cheapest not often the best or what is needed for your partners ongoing care Be prepared to fight

do research on any care facility they propose

The social worker and you should have one assigned to you

Get to know them get their email get their mobile number

They will do the best for your partner but it will be a balancing act between whats best and at what cost to the council

They will have your partner best interest at heart they do a very hard job and are always overlooked when you get a good one they will move mountains for you Find out who yours is !!! And get friendly with them !!!

you will have a financial assesment its on you local council website what it entails You may have to contribute to care costs especially if you have a joint account

Councils move very slowly Nobodys megarich but if you need to sort money out do it now

Saving thresholds are posted on you councils website

Try to keep to the minimum in your account

I spent our life savings on the house adaptations to get my wife home

Id rather spend them on that than be taxed on care costs for falling ill

Ultimately only you two can decide on what your future is

I decided early on that no matter what !!! my wife was coming home

Make your house disabled friendly

I look at it this way if a make my house disabled friendly then it will be ready for me when i get old too

Apart from that i cant think of anything else just yet

I really hope your ok Something like this only increases your worries and anxiety At a time when you don't need this added stress

If you think of anything specific just ask ill try to remember

[HubbyOfSeriousInjury in reply to philbou]

Thanks for the reply.

As much as I would love her to be at home, her specific care needs (which I can't provide) and the layout of our house basically mean it is not convertible.

I did get a good impression from the social worker who I spoke with today - I'll definitely get friendly with him as I think he's going to be an important ally.

I've found details of a few companies who challenge CHC assessments. Some of them offer a free initial assessment and I'll follow up with a few of them and get a feel for how the appeals process works.

[Dvorak in reply to HubbyOfSeriousInjury]

I have been through one failed and one successful CHC assessment on behalf of a friend for whom I am next of kin. The failed one was initiated by team in a rehab hospital the successful one we knew a lot more about the process when she moved to a specialist care home.

I recommend the booklet produced by the charity Beacon and their helpline. It's a long read, but goes through the process what to expect and how to prepare in detail. As well as the domains of clinical need for which we provided ample evidence it is the end of the form, which seems unimportant but which seems to be the decider. These criteria are:

Nature

Intensity

Complexity

Unpredictability

The thing I didnt realise at first that it is about health not social care needs, so the involvement of clinical staff rather than carers.

If you are looking for residential homes this was also quite hard and we got little advice - Headway have a listing on their website.

Hope this is useful

[Bichou73]

I agree with Dvorak. I used Beacon for our appeal to NHS England. Advice was given free of charge over the phone. You can download their guide from their website. That appeal was successful as the local ICB( formerly CCG) was sent my appeal and offered to reinstate funding. A happy ending.Any help you need ask questions. If I can answer them I will. All the best