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 explains how independent NHS Continuing Healthcare support is typically charged. It covers fixed fee, hourly and contingency models, what each means in practice, the particular considerations around percentage-based fees in claims covering past periods, what should be included in any quotation, the questions to ask before instructing anyone, and how to compare providers fairly.
How CHC support is usually charged
Independent CHC support is charged in several different ways, and the model matters as much as the number. This guide explains how the market works so you can compare providers on the same basis.
Fixed fee
A set price for a defined piece of work, such as an assessment and report, a review of a completed Decision Support Tool, or attendance at a meeting. The advantage is certainty, since you know the cost before committing. The thing to check is exactly what falls inside the scope and what would be charged separately, because that is where fixed fee arrangements differ most.
Hourly rates
Charging for time spent, often used where the extent of the work cannot be known at the outset, for example where the volume of care records is unknown. It can be fair and it can also be open-ended. Ask for an estimate and, more usefully, ask what happens if the estimate is exceeded and whether you will be told before that point.
Contingency or percentage fees
Some providers charge a percentage of any money recovered, particularly for claims covering past periods of care. The attraction is that nothing is payable if nothing is recovered. The considerations are that the percentage can be substantial on a large recovery, and that it may apply to money the family would arguably have recovered anyway.
Percentage fees and past-period claims
This model appears most often in retrospective claims, where sums can be large. Read the terms carefully. Check whether the percentage applies to the gross recovery or the net, whether it applies to future funding as well as past, what happens if you withdraw, and whether any costs are payable if the claim does not succeed.
What a quotation should include
The scope of work, what is and is not included, whether travel, records review, meeting attendance and correspondence are covered, VAT treatment, and what happens if the case extends beyond the original scope. Get it in writing before instructing. A provider unwilling to put scope and price in writing is telling you something useful.
Comparing fairly
Compare like with like. A low fixed fee covering a desk review of documents is not comparable with a higher one covering a visit, a full records review and a report. Ask each provider what their fee covers rather than what it costs, and the comparison usually resolves itself quickly.
Key takeaway
Ask what the fee covers before asking what it costs, get scope and price in writing, and read percentage-based terms carefully where a past-period claim is involved. The charging model matters as much as the figure.
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Frequently asked questions
Which charging model is best?
It depends on the work. Fixed fees give certainty for defined tasks, hourly rates suit work of unknown extent, and percentage fees shift risk but can be costly on a large recovery. Compare what each covers.
Are percentage fees a problem?
Not inherently, but read the terms. Check whether the percentage applies to gross or net recovery, whether it covers future funding as well as past, what happens if you withdraw, and whether anything is payable if the claim fails.
What should a quotation contain?
Scope, inclusions and exclusions, whether travel, records review, meetings and correspondence are covered, VAT treatment, and what happens if the work extends beyond the original scope. Get it in writing.
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.