Preparing for your Continuing Health Care Assessment

[Kevin_1]

Well we have just had a CHC Assessment - done by an agency on behalf of the Commissioners Board - The outcome is for L to go forward for a full review - L already receives CHC.

We made full notes of L's illness and needs before the assessment handed them to assessors. They were very pleased. It means they have all of the basic information and the interview is somewhat shorter, but crucially the proper CHC assessment is scored and doing this means that they have the information to get the points you need.

Think of everything that needs attention and list them as one word. Now go back and use those as headings and describe the persons needs is a few short sentences.

Add a section on who lives in the house and who is the carer and what thier needs are. It is OK to say if you are struggling to cope.

I've done a little proforma to help folk who want to go down this route.

***

It is may have irrelevant stuff in. Just delete those. I may be missing some of your areas. Just add them.

Ask for it to be put on file as a report and not a letter. This is important. It means it is easy to find when another clinician is looking at your case.

It does not matter if you don't do this... It just might help.

The other useful thing to give them are the most recent Neurology and Urology or other specialist letter to the G.P.

Good luck again.

Kevin

[Heady]

Forgive me for being thick, but why have you had this assessment if Liz already gets CHC?

Lots of love

Heady

[Kevin_1 in reply to Heady]

Not at all thick!

It is just a mess!

I replied to this one here.

hope you don't mind the link.

healthunlocked.com/psp/post....

It's all a bit of a mess really.

Lots of love

Kevin

x

[Kevin_1]

The missing link:

dropbox.com/s/2nvub6z70k5a9...

You might want to skip the care planning part below the red line... That part is useful for the Care planning stage.

But as NannaB said elsewhere the other way to go is to download their assessment tool and to complete it yourself and share it with them.

It is not necessary to do any of this. You can just rely on the system mand appeal any decision.

Best

Kevin

[Kevin_1]

Retrying link

Go to the bottom of the menu and select 'continue without creating and account'

dropbox.com/s/yeh92vicvfg2u...

[abirke]

I like the part where you make a list and then write succinct info below. I wonder if I could get CHC...

[Kevin_1 in reply to abirke]

Oh, I think so. Most of us carers would qualify on metal health grounds

[abirke in reply to Kevin_1]

You aint kiddin"

[Amilazy]

In Wales CHC is reassessed 6 months after initial provision then annually. The first 6 month assessment was iffy but M tilted the decision by having a choking fit, social worker and assessor upped a couple of scores we retained it, she has now had an assessment now she is in nursing home again little difficulty. I agree with Kevin keep a diary of what is required for your dad care and nursing paint the picture as for a bad day not a normal day.

Best of luck Tim

[AliBee1]

Hi Kevin

Do you still have this proforma as we have a CHC assessment on Feb 12 so would be very grateful if you could post it for me.

Thanks AliBee

[Kevin_1 in reply to AliBee1]

Oh, adding:

Just in case you don't know. The law states that carers should play a full and active part in the assessment. Using your own completed Decision Support Tool is encouraged and if you disagree with their scoring argue the point. If they overrule you it is important to ask them to note your disagreement. That way the decision making panel can see you disagreed and they will perhaps scrutinise that part more closely. It also helps if you have to appeal.

Record their scoring too.

Finally a Social Worker should be at the assessment. Their role is to assess whether or not the care required falls within or without the Social Services 'Legal Limit' of Care. This is the dividing line between the NHS and Social Services care. If the risks and care needs are beyond their legal limit then the NHS are duty bound to pick up the care and the funding.

I ask the social worker at the beginning if they are going to assess the legal limit for Soc. Serv. care and at the end I ask them their decision. They don't like that, but remember the Social Services file on the person being assessed is open for you to see everything if you are given permission by your husband or if the LPA for Health and Welfare is active.

Good luck.

[Kevin_1]

Hi Alibee

Sorry, I no longer have it.

I can't imagine what it was either!

I suspect it was some notes about downloading the Decision Support Tool and completing it yourself making sure to stay evidenced based.

e.g." Simon is at risk of impulsive action and falls. He has fallen x times in the last month."

I would imagine it would have said review and add to it over a couple of day's as things will pop up in your mind.

Complete it as if no care is in place this is really important. The Decision Support Tool is about looking at someone's needs not the ones not already met.

Don't forget all of those needs which you meet as a carer. The need for toileting, administering medication preparing food, responding to needs, monitoring health situation and involving GP or nurses as necessary and keeping an eye on him for his safety.

Make sure your own needs are represented, time off from caring, stress, level of coping...

Make a list of all professionals involved with contact details and give it to the assessors. They are obliged to gather evidence from all of them.

Finally remember risks would be those that he would have if you were not there to manage them.

This is the new Decision Support Tool

google.co.uk/search?source=...

Either of the top two in the list.

I really do wish you the best in this. Reviews are so stressful aren't they?

Do come back to me PM or whatever if I can be of more help.

Best to you both

Kevin

[AliBee1 in reply to Kevin_1]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me. They have sent me to support tool and although I am pretty good with forms this one is really 'scarey'. Thanks again AliBee

[Kevin_1 in reply to AliBee1]

They look a little complicated at first. Simply all they require is for you to write your evidence. Don 't minimise! Evidence is merely factual statements. "Peter falls if he is left untended and tries to walk. This happened twice this month. I now need to keep close observation of him because of his impulsivity."

Then look down the the scoring scale and get the best match to your evidence.

Did they give you the part which says how to complete it? If not you will find that on the DST link I gave you above.

This will give you everything you need to know. The first three links in the article especially.

caretobedifferent.co.uk/nhs...

Best to you

Kevin