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 the free sources of NHS Continuing Healthcare advice and support available to families in England. It covers the national free information and advice provision, carers organisations and older people's charities, condition-specific charities, statutory advocacy, the Integrated Care Board's own duties, the Ombudsman, and what free support can and cannot realistically achieve.
Where to get free CHC advice
Paid support is not the only option and it is not always necessary. Several free sources exist, and for many families they are enough. This guide sets out what is available and where the limits are.
National free CHC advice provision
There is national provision of free information and advice on NHS Continuing Healthcare, commissioned to support families through the process. It offers guidance on how the system works and what to expect at each stage. Availability and delivery arrangements change over time, so search for the current national CHC information and advice service rather than relying on an old contact.
Carers and older people's organisations
Carers UK, Age UK and local carers centres offer information on care funding and can often help with understanding correspondence and preparing for meetings. Local branches vary considerably in the depth of CHC knowledge they hold, so it is worth asking directly whether they have someone who deals with continuing healthcare specifically.
Condition-specific charities
Organisations covering dementia, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, stroke and brain injury frequently have specialist advisers who understand both the condition and the funding system. Because they know how the condition presents, their guidance on which needs matter is often more practical than general advice.
Citizens Advice
Useful for the benefits interface, for understanding charging and for general navigation. Depth on continuing healthcare specifically varies by office. It is a reasonable starting point when you are not yet sure what kind of problem you have, which is a common position early on.
Statutory advocacy
Where the person lacks capacity and has nobody appropriate to represent them, advocacy should be considered and may be a statutory entitlement in some circumstances. Ask the Integrated Care Board or the local authority whether advocacy has been considered, since it is easily overlooked in a busy process.
The Board itself and the Ombudsman
The Board should explain its process, provide the paperwork and set out how to seek a review, all without charge. Where the complaint is about delay or how the process was handled, its complaints team and then the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman are free routes. The Ombudsman cannot decide eligibility but can address maladministration.
What free support cannot usually do
Free services generally provide information and guidance rather than producing assessments or reports. They will not usually visit the person, review several hundred pages of care records or produce independent professional evidence. Where the case turns on the records, that is the gap. Where it turns on knowing the process, free support is often sufficient.
Key takeaway
Free advice covers the process well and costs nothing to try. Condition-specific charities are often the most practically useful. The limit is that free services do not usually produce independent evidence, which is what matters where the case turns on the care records.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a free national CHC advice service?
There is national provision of free information and advice on continuing healthcare. Arrangements change over time, so search for the current national CHC information and advice service rather than relying on an old contact.
Can free services write our appeal?
Generally they provide information and guidance rather than producing reports or evidence. Some will help you structure a submission, but they will not usually review extensive care records or assess the person.
Which free source is most useful?
Often a condition-specific charity, because advisers who understand the condition tend to give more practical guidance on which needs matter and how they should be described.
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.