When considering eligibility for continuing care for children and young people there are often differences of opinion between health care and social care professionals as to how the national framework ‘decision support toolkit’ should be applied and the correct procedure to be followed to assess correctly a child’s needs for continuing care. Often professionals fail to adequately evidence and assess the child’s needs or are not confident to challenge other professionals regarding eligibility for continuing care for children and young people.

Course Overview

This highly interactive one day course will enable delegates to explore the relevant legal framework, evidence and procedure surrounding the National Framework decision support toolkit to gain the specialist knowledge to then apply that learning to a case study to enable them to enhance confidence in its usage and achieving the correct outcome for those with continuing care needs.

The training will identify the different roles and responsibilities of partners, providers and other agencies and professionals involved in the multi-agency combined decision making process involved and encourage more by way of collaboration, integration and working in partnerships to improve outcomes for children. The more professionals embrace a multi-agency approach the clearer the picture will become on behalf of the child and young person so the best package of care can be identified and provided.

As many children, young people and their families struggle and suffer during transitioning the training will identify the important differences between Continuing Care for Children and Young People and NHS Continuing Healthcare for adults and the impact these can have upon a child with complex needs transitioning into adulthood.

Key Learning Points

• Understanding the relevant legislation, case law and process to identify a continuing care ‘need’ on behalf of a child or young person;
• An appreciation of The National Framework for Children &Young People’s Continuing Care & the Decision Making Tool & how they assist all partners, providers and agencies working with children & young people to assess their complex needs;
• Identifying the relevant legal framework surrounding the procedure & assessment process for identifying a child’s healthcare needs over and above universal health provision, social care provision &/or educational provision;
• The scope of a local authority’s duties to provided health care to a child or young person with complex needs pursuant to Section 17 Children Act 1989 following the guidance in the ‘Haringey’ case;
• Identifying and collecting all relevant, current, factual evidence to support the application by appropriate planning & front loading;
• Correctly scoring the domains within the ‘Decision Support Toolkit’ to assist the health assessor arrive at the correct holistic assessment of a child’s complex healthcare needs to arrive at the best continuing care package;
• The role of the child &/or young person, their families & all agencies within the assessment recommendation & implementation of a continuing care package
• Being aware of the dispute resolution & appeals process.