Independent care reviews
Is the current care still meeting the person’s needs?
An independent care review examines how an existing care arrangement is working for the person now. We consider the plan, the care being delivered, the adult’s experience and any changes in their needs or circumstances. You receive written findings and practical recommendations on what should continue, change or be explored further.
A one-off review of home care, live-in care or care home arrangements. £600 + VAT. Available across England and Wales.
At a glance
Who it is for
Adults, families and professionals with an existing care arrangement
Care settings
Home care, live-in care and care homes
Core deliverable
An independent written review with practical recommendations
Fee
£600 + VAT (£720 including VAT)
Format
One-off review across England and Wales
£600 + VAT
Independent care review fee
Written findings and practical actions
What you receive
England and Wales
Coverage
One-off instruction
How the service is arranged
Understand the service
What is an independent care review?
It is a focused social work review of an existing care arrangement and how it is meeting the adult’s needs now. We consider the current plan, the person’s experience, relevant records and the views of others involved. The aim is to identify what is working, where there are gaps and what should happen next.
A review may examine support at home, live-in care or a care home arrangement. It can be planned or prompted by concerns about changes in need, missed outcomes, pressure on relatives or the fit of the current package.
A review starts from existing care and a defined set of questions. If needs have changed substantially or there is no reliable baseline, a fresh care needs assessment may be more appropriate. We clarify that before the work begins.
Review the care people actually experience
A written plan is only part of the picture. The review considers what happens in daily life, the support relatives provide and whether the arrangement still reflects the person’s wishes and needs.
When we can help
When is it time to review a care arrangement?
Care can become out of date gradually. A person’s health, routine or wishes may change; a family carer may be less able to help; or there may be a gap between the plan and what happens day to day. A review gives you an independent view of how the arrangement is meeting the person’s current needs.
You can arrange a planned review after care has settled in, or ask for help with a specific concern about the package. We agree the questions and evidence needed before starting. Where the situation calls for a fresh assessment, urgent safeguarding action or a formal complaint process, we explain that clearly.
Needs or circumstances have changed
Health, mobility, cognition, routine or support from others has changed since the current plan was written.
You are unsure the package is enough
The person is still struggling despite care being in place, or there appear to be gaps at particular times.
You want a planned independent check
Care has been established and you want a clear review of how it is working against the person’s needs and priorities.
Family support is masking a gap
Relatives are regularly doing additional tasks or covering periods that the care arrangement does not address.
The plan and delivery seem different
You need an independent look at available records, the person’s experience and the tasks or timing described in the plan.
There are different views about the next step
Family members, providers or professionals disagree about whether the arrangement should continue or change.
What we cover
What the review examines
We agree the questions and scope so that the review remains focused on the current care arrangement and the person’s needs.
The current care plan, intended outcomes and the reasons the arrangement was put in place
The adult’s experience, wishes, routines and any changes since the plan was agreed
The support being delivered, including tasks, timing, consistency and gaps shown by the available evidence
Current risks, day and night needs, and arrangements when usual support is unavailable
The contribution of relatives and other unpaid support, including whether it can continue
What should continue, what may need to change and whether a further assessment or specialist response is needed
A review should lead to clear actions
Recommendations should explain the concern, the evidence behind it and the next step to consider. If a new assessment, provider change or formal process is required, we identify it rather than assume the review includes that further work.
1
Needs, outcomes and the current plan
We compare the available evidence with the person’s current needs, agreed outcomes and care arrangements. In England, the Care Act framework includes local authority review responsibilities. Our privately instructed review provides a separate professional opinion; it does not take over the authority’s statutory role.
The review focuses on the individual’s needs, preferences, outcomes and current care arrangement.
Facts, reported experiences and professional opinion are identified clearly, including where evidence is missing or disputed.
A private review does not replace statutory assessment, review, safeguarding or funding responsibilities.
Any change to care, provider terms or funding must be agreed through the appropriate decision-making process.
2
Evidence, participation and limits
We distinguish the person’s experience, other people’s accounts, records and our professional analysis. Concerns are explored fairly and gaps in the evidence are recorded. A review can identify matters to raise with a provider or public body, but it is not a regulatory inspection, a legal ruling or a substitute for urgent safeguarding action.
England: Care Act 2014 and Care and Support Statutory Guidance. Wales: Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 framework. Relevant care regulation and Mental Capacity Act 2005 duties remain with the responsible parties.
See England’s care and support guidance and the Welsh assessment framework. For published provider information, use CQC or Care Inspectorate Wales.
Rights and responsibilities
An independent view of the existing care
Agree the review questions
Tell us what is in place and what you want to understand. We confirm whether a review is suitable and agree the scope and fee.
Gather the relevant information
We request the current plan, useful care records and accounts from the person and others, with appropriate consent or authority.
Explore how the care is working
We agree a suitable meeting or visit and examine the person’s experience, current needs and the evidence about delivery.
Analyse and peer review the findings
The report distinguishes evidence from opinion and sets out the findings, limitations and practical recommendations. Written reports are peer reviewed.
Clarify the action points
We explain the recommendations and identify matters to raise with the provider or responsible body, including any further work to consider.
How it works
How an independent care review works
Your involvement
The person’s experience comes first
The adult’s own account of the care, what matters to them and what they want to change informs the review.
Space to describe daily life
We allow for the person’s pace, energy and communication when agreeing how they can take part.
Clear explanations
We explain the purpose and limits of the review and how information will be used.
Relevant family and carer input
People who provide support can describe practical gaps and changes, with their accounts kept distinct from the adult’s views.
A fair account of differing views
Where people disagree, we record the relevant evidence and limits rather than assume one account settles the issue.
Information we use
What helps us review the arrangement
We agree a proportionate set of information around the review questions. Missing records or limits on access are recorded in the findings.
The current care plan
The assessed needs, intended outcomes and tasks or support the arrangement is meant to provide.
Care delivery records
Relevant daily notes, visit schedules and records that help explain what support is being delivered.
The adult’s feedback
Their account of the care, preferences, concerns and what they want to happen next.
Changes in health or circumstances
Relevant information about functional changes, routines, living arrangements or support since the plan was agreed.
Family and professional accounts
Specific observations, additional support being provided and any differing views about the arrangement.
Previous reviews and correspondence
Earlier findings, provider responses and relevant communications about concerns or proposed changes.
What you receive
What your care review report contains
The report explains what was reviewed, what the evidence shows and the practical changes or further questions that follow. Recommendations stay within the agreed instruction and identify where another professional or body needs to act.
The review questions, agreed scope and care arrangement examined
The records, meetings and contributions considered
The person’s wishes, experience and current priorities
What the existing plan is intended to achieve
What the evidence shows about current care and any gaps
Analysis of changed needs, risks and the sustainability of informal support
Practical recommendations and issues to raise with the relevant parties
Evidence limitations, further assessment needs and suggested review triggers
Assessment option | Suitable for | What is included |
|---|---|---|
Care needs assessment and planning | When you need to establish the care required | Independent needs assessment £900 + VAT; assessment with a written care plan £1,100 + VAT; practical recommendations |
Care finding and brokerage | When the care brief is clear and you need a provider | Agreed provider search £400 + VAT; comparison of available options; provider care fees separate |
Independent care review | When care is in place and you want to check how it is working | One-off review £600 + VAT; written findings and recommendations; further work agreed separately |
For professional referrals
Attorneys, deputies, solicitors and other professionals can commission a focused review of how an existing arrangement is working.
State the questions to be answered
Identify the concern, the current package and whether the review is planned or prompted by a specific change.
Supply the baseline evidence
Share the latest assessment, plan, relevant care records and previous reviews where available.
Clarify access and authority
Explain the instruction and who can coordinate contact, consent, records and provider participation.
Identify any formal process
Tell us if there is a complaint, safeguarding enquiry or litigation so the review’s role and boundaries can be agreed.
Independent care review
£600 + VAT
- A review of the existing care against agreed questions
- Consideration of relevant records and the person’s experience
- A written report with findings and recommendations
- Peer review of the written report
Suitable when care is in place and you need to understand how it is working.
Additional work, if required
£3,500 + VAT
- A new full care assessment or care plan
- A provider search or wider liaison
- Formal representation or other specialist input
- A later review or work beyond the agreed scope
Further work is optional and its scope and fee are agreed separately.
Clear fees
A one-off review with a clear scope
An independent care review is £600 + VAT (£720 including VAT). The written quote confirms the arrangements, report and any travel. A new full assessment, provider search, formal representation or later review is separate work if required.
For adults and families
You get a written explanation of the findings and the practical questions to raise, with the scope and fee agreed before work begins.
For professional referrers
The review sets out the evidence, analysis, limitations and next steps so you can understand and use the professional opinion.
Choose your support
A clear view of what is working and what needs attention
Our independent review brings the plan, lived experience and available evidence together around the adult’s current needs.
Why choose Nellie Supports
Independent social work analysis
The findings follow the evidence, including where it supports the current arrangement or challenges an initial concern.
A permanent employed team
The review sits within an established practice with shared professional standards.
Peer reviewed reports
A second professional checks written social work reports before delivery.
The adult’s experience included
We consider the plan alongside what care is like for the person receiving it.
Practical next steps
Recommendations identify the matters to discuss and where further assessment or specialist input is needed.
No ongoing package required
You can commission a defined review and decide separately whether any further work is useful.
The situation
An adult has an established home care package. Their family notices that evening routines are becoming difficult and a relative is regularly staying late to help, although the plan has not changed.
How the service could help
A review considers the adult’s account, the care plan, available visit records and family input. It explores whether the timing, tasks and level of support reflect the person’s current needs.
The useful next step
The written findings set out the issues to discuss with the provider or responsible body and identify whether changes to the package or a fuller assessment should be considered.
Illustrative example only. This is not a client testimonial or a promise of a particular outcome.
How this could help
Questions answered
Your questions answered
How much does an independent care review cost?
The review is £600 + VAT (£720 including VAT). The written quote confirms the work included, the arrangements and any travel. Additional work is agreed separately.
What is the difference between a care review and a new assessment?
A review examines an existing arrangement against current needs and agreed questions. A new assessment establishes a fuller picture of care needs where the baseline is missing, outdated or no longer sufficient. We explain which fits before booking.
Can you review care that Nellie Supports did not arrange?
Yes. The review can consider an existing arrangement made by the person, family, council or another professional, subject to an appropriate instruction and access to relevant information.
Can you review care at home or in a care home?
Yes. We can consider home care, live-in care or a care home arrangement. The scope and format depend on the questions, setting and evidence required.
Will you visit and observe every care visit?
We agree suitable review arrangements, including a visit where appropriate. This is a focused review, not continuous observation or monitoring of every interaction. The report explains what was and was not examined.
Will the review tell the provider or council what they must do?
It provides an independent professional opinion and recommendations. It does not create an automatic direction, funding award or contractual change. The relevant parties need to consider the findings and act through the appropriate process.
Can you support a complaint about care?
The findings may help you explain concerns and ask focused questions. Complaint representation, a regulatory investigation and legal proceedings are separate matters and are not automatically included in the review fee.
Does this include ongoing management or regular monitoring?
No. This is a one-off review with a defined report and recommendations. Any later review, provider search or additional support is a separate instruction.
What if the review identifies a need for different care?
We set out the reasons and the next steps to consider. A fuller care assessment, revised plan or provider search may be appropriate, but these are separately scoped rather than assumed to be included.
What if there is an immediate safety concern?
Do not wait for a booked review. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Other urgent safeguarding concerns should be raised promptly with the local authority’s adult safeguarding service; tell us about any existing enquiry when discussing an instruction.
Where do you cover?
Assessments are carried out across England and Wales, at home, in care settings, in hospital or remotely where appropriate. Travel is charged at £40 per hour and confirmed before booking.
Who will carry out the assessment?
A registered professional from our permanent, employed team, which includes Social Work England and Social Care Wales registered social workers and a Chartered Psychologist (BPS). Every report is peer reviewed by a second qualified professional before delivery.
Care plan evidence for CHC
How records and care plans can help explain the support someone requires.
Who pays for care fees?
Funding questions to revisit if the required support changes.
How to find an independent social worker
What to consider when seeking a separate professional opinion.
Residence capacity versus care capacity
Separate decision-making questions that can arise when care arrangements change.
Practical guidance
Guides to understanding and reviewing care
Care needs assessments and care planning
A fuller assessment and practical plan when needs require a fresh starting point.
Care finding and brokerage
A defined provider search if different care arrangements are needed.
NHS Continuing Healthcare support
Specialist support where the separate question concerns NHS CHC assessment or funding.
Other services that may help
Talk to Nellie Supports
Tell us what is worrying you about the current care
Tell us what care is in place, what has changed and what you want the review to answer. We will confirm whether a care review is the right service, what information is needed and the scope, fee and timetable.
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