Children and young people with complex needs

Support is available for children and young people aged under 18 who have complex needs such as chronic physical, developmental, behavioural and psychological conditions.

All referrals can only be accepted from a clinician, and must be accompanied by a clinical recommendation.

Individual support packages for children with complex needs

If a child or young person’s health and social care needs cannot be met by any locally commissioned services, they may be eligible for individual funding. This could include children in care who are placed outside of the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area.

A clinical referral is needed to access children and young people’s individual funding. To make a referral, please complete the form below and send it to bnssg.cc.childrens@nhs.net along with evidence, the clinical recommendation and signed consent forms. Referrals not accompanied by signed consent forms will not be accepted.

Children’s Individual Funding (CIF) referral form

The referral form should be completed by a professional who is working with the family and who knows the child well.
Children’s Individual Funding (CIF) referral form

Children’s and young person’s continuing care consent form

This consent form should accompany referral forms for Children’s Individual Packages (CHIPS) or NHS Continuing Care for children and young people with complex health needs.
Children’s and young person’s continuing care consent form

Adult with parental responsibility continuing care consent form

This consent form should accompany referral forms for Children’s Individual Packages (CHIPS) or NHS Continuing Care for children and young people with complex health needs.
Adult with parental responsibility continuing care consent form

Providers can request medical equipment to address a child or young person’s unmet clinical needs. Please complete the form below and send it to bnssg.cc.childrens@nhs.net along with a clinical recommendation and a copy of the quote for relevant equipment.

Child or young person’s medical equipment request form

Providers can request end of life care for children and young people rapidly approaching the end of their life, when the current commissioned services like local hospices or hospice at home services are unable to meet their health needs. Please complete the form below and send it to bnssg.cc.childrens@nhs.net.

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care end of life referral form

Continuing care for children with complex health needs

Children and young people with complex health needs may also be eligible for ongoing support, called NHS Continuing Care. This is different from NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is for eligible adults aged 18 years and over. The main difference is that while continuing healthcare for adults focuses mainly on health and care needs, continuing care for a child or young person considers their physical, emotional and intellectual development as they move towards adulthood.

If your child is eligible for NHS Continuing Care, it is likely that a range of organisations will be involved, such as health, education and local authority children’s services. These different agencies will contribute to your child’s care package.

If you think your child should be assessed for NHS continuing care, talk to a health or social care professional who works with them and if they think they are likely to be eligible they will refer them to us.

The child or young person’s needs will be assessed against an agreed criteria as detailed in the 2016 National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care. The Nurse Assessor leading the assessment will work closely with the family/carer and any health and social care professionals who work with the child or young person.

The Department of Health website gives further information about the process for assessing, deciding and agreeing continuing care for children and young people with complex health needs.

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care Policy

This policy details our approach to children and young people’s continuing care.
Children and Young People’s Continuing Care Policy

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care referral form

The referral form should be completed by a professional who is working with the family and who knows the child well.
Children and Young People’s Continuing Care referral form

Children’s and young person’s continuing care consent form

This consent form should accompany referral forms for Children’s Individual Packages (CHIPS) or NHS Continuing Care for children and young people with complex health needs.
Children’s and young person’s continuing care consent form

Adult with parental responsibility continuing care consent form

This consent form should accompany referral forms for Children’s Individual Packages (CHIPS) or NHS Continuing Care for children and young people with complex health needs.
Adult with parental responsibility continuing care consent form

Children and Young People Continuing Care Process

A flow chart of the Children and Young People Continuing Care Process in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Children and Young People Continuing Care Process

Children's continuing care - an information leaflet

Information on care and support provided for children with complex health needs.
Children's continuing care - an information leaflet

CCC_Appeals_leaflet_v2

Information for parents and carers on appealing a children’s continuing care decision.
CCC_Appeals_leaflet_v2

Contact us

For more information about support for children and young people with complex needs, please contact:

Children’s Continuing Care Team
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB
Floor 2, North Wing
100 Temple Street
Bristol
BS1 6AG

Tel: 0117 900 2626
Email: bnssg.cc.childrens@nhs.net

NHS continuing healthcare