Author and Publication
Author: Ben Slater, Registered Social Worker, Founder and Managing Director of Nellie Supports
Reviewed by: Kerry Slater, Director of Operations
Last reviewed: 20 July 2026
Citation
1. Department of Health and Social Care (2022) National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-framework-for-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care
2. Social Work England. Professional standards. Available at: https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk
3. Solicitors Regulation Authority. Available at: https://www.sra.org.uk
4. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. Available at: https://www.ombudsman.org.uk
Copywright
Copyright © 2026 Nellie Supports Ltd. All rights reserved.
This article is made available for general information, education and professional reference. It may be downloaded, printed and shared for non-commercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced in full, is not altered in any way, and is properly cited as the work of Nellie Supports Ltd. This material must not be edited, adapted, sold, republished, incorporated into commercial products, or used for commercial training, assessment, report-writing or advisory services without prior written permission from Nellie Supports Ltd.
This article does not constitute legal advice, clinical advice or a substitute for a decision-specific professional assessment. Where legislation, government guidance, court forms or external professional materials are referred to, those materials remain subject to their own copyright, licensing and re-use terms.
Abstract
This guide sets out how to choose an independent NHS Continuing Healthcare adviser. It covers professional registration and accountability, relevant experience, the difference between advice and evidence, whether the adviser will decline unsuitable cases, transparency about scope and cost, warning signs to avoid, and how to test a provider before instructing them.
How to choose a CHC adviser
The CHC advice market is unregulated as a market, which means anyone can offer support. That makes the checks you carry out before instructing someone more important than they would be in most fields.
Professional registration
Ask whether the people doing the work are registered with a professional regulator, such as Social Work England or the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Registration means accountability to a regulator for the accuracy and quality of what they produce. An unregistered adviser may be knowledgeable, but nobody outside the business holds them to a standard.
Who actually does the work
Ask whether the person you speak to will do the assessment, or whether it will be passed to an associate. Associate models are common and can work well, but they make consistency harder and mean nobody carries the case throughout. Ask directly, because the answer is rarely volunteered.
Advice or evidence
These are different products. Some providers offer guidance on the process and help with correspondence. Others produce assessments and reports that become evidence in the case. Both have value and they suit different situations. Be clear which you are buying, since the difference in what it achieves is substantial.
Will they turn work away
This is the most revealing question. An adviser who takes every case that walks through the door is selling a service rather than assessing a case. Ask directly whether they decline cases and on what basis. A provider willing to tell you your case is weak is a provider whose positive view means something.
Transparency on scope and cost
Scope, inclusions, exclusions and price should be in writing before you commit. A provider who is vague about what is included, or who will not put it in writing, is one to be cautious about. The same applies to anyone who cannot explain clearly what the work will produce.
Warning signs
Guarantees of success, since nobody can guarantee an outcome that belongs to an Integrated Care Board. Pressure to sign quickly. Reluctance to explain the charging basis. Claims that sound absolute. And any suggestion that a particular diagnosis or setting automatically qualifies, which indicates a misunderstanding of the test itself.
Key takeaway
Check registration, ask who does the work, be clear whether you are buying advice or evidence, and ask whether they decline cases. Be wary of guarantees, pressure and vagueness about scope, and get everything in writing.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the CHC advice market regulated?
The market is not regulated as such, though individual professionals may be registered with a regulator. That is why checking registration and accountability matters more here than in many other fields.
What is the most useful question to ask?
Whether they decline cases and on what basis. A provider who takes everything is selling a service rather than assessing a case, and their positive view of your prospects means less.
Should the adviser be a registered professional?
It matters considerably. Registration means accountability to a regulator for the accuracy of what they produce, which is what gives a report weight when it is tested.
Related NHS Continuing Healthcare pages
These links take you to the most relevant Nellie Supports service page and to the supporting guides that explain the surrounding process.
Speak to an independent CHC specialist
Nellie Supports prepares independent needs evidence for NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments, reviews and appeals across England and Wales. Our reports are written by registered social workers on a permanent employed team, with internal peer review before release. Call 0333 987 5118 or send an enquiry and we will talk through where you are in the process.