Free care and support services without a financial assessment
Contents
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
- Care and support - Section 117 of the Mental Health Act
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
You are entitled to free care and support if you have substantial and ongoing health needs.
Some individuals’ nursing or healthcare needs are such that the local authority is not permitted to meet their ongoing care and support needs, and instead they become fully the responsibility of the NHS. These are individuals who have been assessed as having a ‘primary health need’ through the processes set out in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS funded nursing care and who are eligible for CHC.
Assessments
Assessment 1
In order to determine if you have CHC needs, some assessments need to take place.
For most people, care needs are screened against a standard Continuing Healthcare checklist. This will indicate if you should have a full assessment.
This can be carried out by:
- a nurse or a social worker before you're discharged from hospital
- a GP or a nurse in your own home
- a social worker when carrying out a community care assessment
Assessment 2
A full assessment usually takes place in a meeting with:
- you
- health
- social care
- any person you would like to accompany you
Request assessment
Contact your social care worker (if you already have one) to request an assessment.
If you don't have a social care worker, your district nurse, doctor or another health professional involved in your care can request this.
Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board is responsible for assessing and deciding on NHS CHC and NHS-funded Nursing Care in North Northamptonshire. They are responsible for identifying, arranging and funding all of the services needed to meet your needs (NHS Continuing Healthcare or the healthcare part of a joint package of care with us).
Finding out more
Further information available about CHC:
- Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board
- NHS Continuing Healthcare guidance and video
- NHS Choices
- National framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS funded nursing care
- GOV.UK: NHS CHC Public information leaflet
- Beacon
Last updated 03 June 2025