Some children and young people (up to age 18), may have very complex health needs.

These may be the result of:

  • congenital conditions
  • long-term or life-limiting conditions
  • disability
  • serious illness or injury

Children with such complex needs may need additional health support to that which is routinely available from GP practices, hospitals or in the community.

This additional package of care is called continuing care. The NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is responsible for arranging for health services locally, has responsibility for assessing children and young people to see if they need a package of continuing care.

Who is eligible for continuing care

Any child or young person up to their eighteenth birthday who has a complex health need may be eligible.

When a young person reaches 18, the adult NHS Continuing Healthcare arrangements apply.

The difference between continuing care and NHS Continuing Healthcare

There are significant differences between children and young people’s continuing care and NHS Continuing Healthcare for adults.

Although a child or young person may get a package of continuing care, they may not be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

NHS Dorset will assess any young person who gets continuing care when they are aged 16 to17 to see if they're likely to be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare when they turn 18.

How we assess continuing care

Any health professional or carer who feels a continuing care package may be needed can make a referral.

When a child or young person is referred for an assessment, NHS Dorset might first check if they are likely to need a full assessment.

A health assessor will then collect evidence of the child’s needs, drawing on the advice of health and care professionals. A national framework provides guidance, and a set of categories of needs to support decisions on whether or not a child has a continuing care need.

An important part of the assessment is to capture the preferences of the child or young person and their family.

The assessment will look at the current care being provided. The decision on whether or not a child or young person has a continuing care need is based on the nature of their needs, rather that the care available, or whether or not they have a particular condition.

Who decides what happens next with continuing care

The health assessor will make a case to a panel of experts who make the decision based on:

  • the evidence
  • the recommendation
  • if the child or young person has a continuing care need

They usually make the decision 6 to 8 weeks from the referral.

Depending on the decision they agree a package of care. Some of this care may be provided through existing services and some may need to be specially arranged.

NHS Dorset will keep the package of care under regular review to ensure the developing child or young person’s needs continue to be supported.

A child or young person’s eligibility for continuing care may change as their needs change.