NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Support
and Representation
Supportive guidance and professional representation throughout your NHS Continuing Healthcare journey
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding can provide fully-funded care for individuals with complex health needs. When your application is refused or you're unsure whether CHC applies, the path forward can feel uncertain and overwhelming.
Nellie Supports provides compassionate, expert guidance and professional representation throughout the entire CHC process. Whether you're at the very start of your journey, preparing for an assessment, or navigating an appeal, we're here to support you at every stage.
Our multidisciplinary team includes registered social workers, an SRA-regulated solicitor, chartered psychologists, and healthcare specialists. We work together to ensure your loved one's needs are properly understood, fairly assessed, and clearly presented to the NHS. Our role is to reduce stress and uncertainty, while ensuring your case receives the expert attention it deserves.
We combine legal precision with genuine care expertise. This means you benefit from both professional advocacy and a deep understanding of what your loved one actually needs.
If your CHC application has been refused, you have the right to challenge this decision. The appeals process involves three stages: local resolution with your Integrated Care Board (ICB), an Independent Review Panel (IRP) hearing, and if necessary, escalation to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Not every case needs to go all the way through every stage. Many are resolved earlier with the right support, clear evidence, and expert guidance. Our role is to support you at the stage that's right for your situation, helping you make informed decisions about next steps.
Book Your NHS CHC
Consultation
Ready to Get Started?
The first step is a consultation. Whether you're just beginning your CHC journey or preparing for an appeal, our initial consultation gives you clarity and confidence about your next steps.
Book Your NHS CHC Consultation
One hour with one of our qualified professionals. Online or phone. Fixed price: £250 + VAT.
What you'll get:
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Expert review of your situation
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Clear explanation of the CHC process in plain English
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Tailored advice on your options
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Guidance on evidence and documentation
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A written summary after the session
No obligation to continue further. Just clarity and practical next steps.
What Is NHS Continuing
Healthcare (CHC)?
NHS Continuing Healthcare (often called CHC) is a package of care that is fully funded by the NHS for people who have significant ongoing health needs.
Unlike social care, which is means-tested, CHC is free. This means that if your relative qualifies, the NHS pays for the full cost of their care whether that's in their own home, a nursing home, or another setting.
To be eligible, a person's needs must go beyond what a local authority can legally provide and be primarily healthcare needs rather than purely social care. The assessment process involves a Checklist, a detailed Decision Support Tool (DST), and sometimes an appeal if the application is refused.
Because the process can be complex, many families find it confusing or overwhelming. That's where we step in providing clear guidance and supportive representation at every stage.
Why Families Need Support with CHC
Applying for, or appealing, NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) can be a daunting and stressful experience. While the system is meant to be straightforward, many families find it:
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Confusing with complex forms, unfamiliar terms, and unclear processes.
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Overwhelming especially during assessments like the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting, when emotions are already running high.
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Unfair families are often told their loved one doesn't qualify, only to discover later that the decision could have been challenged.
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Time-consuming gathering evidence, attending meetings, and chasing outcomes can take months.
We understand how difficult this journey can be and are here to offer calm, expert, step-by-step guidance.
Navigating the CHC process can feel overwhelming. Our role is to provide calm, compassionate, step-by-step support explaining what's happening, preparing paperwork, and standing alongside you throughout.
Our goal is to reduce stress and uncertainty, while ensuring your loved one's needs are properly recognised and fairly considered.
We provide comprehensive support at every stage of the CHC process, whether you are considering making an initial application or challenging a decision that has already been made.
Our Services - Clear and Fixed Costs
We believe in transparency. Every service comes with a fixed price, so you'll always know the cost upfront.
Initial Assessment and Preparation
CHC Checklist Support
What We Offer: We conduct a comprehensive Care Act 2014 care needs assessment alongside a prospective NHS CHC Checklist. This independent assessment provides:
A detailed analysis of care needs across all relevant domains A prospective CHC Checklist completed by our qualified professionals Evidence-based documentation of the level and complexity of care required Professional recommendations regarding potential CHC eligibility
When: Before the formal NHS CHC process begins. This proactive approach is particularly valuable when you believe CHC eligibility may apply but a formal assessment has not yet been requested or arranged, or when you want to ensure care needs are fully documented before the process starts.
Why Us: Our qualified social workers and psychologists conduct assessments in accordance with Care Act 2014 requirements and NHS CHC National Framework guidelines. This independent professional assessment provides a strong evidence base for requesting a formal CHC Checklist and ensures that the complexity and severity of care needs are comprehensively documented from the outset.
Initial CHC Consultation
What we offer: A one-hour consultation with one of our qualified, registered professionals to review your situation, explain the CHC process in plain English, and provide tailored advice about your options. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your position and practical next steps, without any obligation to continue further.
When: This consultation is ideal at the very start of your CHC journey, before beginning the application process. It can also be booked at any stage whether you are preparing for a Checklist, awaiting a DST, or considering an appeal whenever you need clarity and reassurance.
Why us: Expert guidance from our legal team, strengthened by input from psychologists and social workers when needed.
Book your Consultation here
CHC Decision Review
What we offer: A comprehensive review of your DST outcome to identify any errors, inconsistencies, or gaps in how your case was assessed. You'll receive a clear written opinion on whether there are grounds to challenge the decision, helping you make an informed choice before committing to a full appeal.
When: After your CHC funding application has been refused. This service is best used before deciding whether to launch an appeal, as it can save time, stress, and unnecessary costs if the case is unlikely to succeed.
Why us: Our team specialise in CHC appeals and know how decisions should be assessed under the National Framework. With our detailed review, you'll receive clear, professional guidance on whether an appeal is realistic and worthwhile giving you confidence in your next steps.
Decision Support Tool (DST) Representation
What we offer: Practical support in preparing for your DST (Decision Support Tool) meeting, reviewing your evidence, and attending the meeting to represent your case. Our multidisciplinary team including legal professionals, psychologists, and social workers works together to provide both legal precision and care expertise.
When: Before the DST meeting takes place. This gives you the best opportunity to present your case fully at the earliest stage, with a view to avoiding costly appeals where possible.
Why us: Our team know the CHC criteria inside out and work with families to make sure their loved one's needs are clearly and fairly presented from the very outset. With our support, you can feel confident that your case is being argued with both legal precision and professional care expertise.
Formal Appeals and Representation
Appeal Stage Two - Independent Review Panel Representation
What we offer: Comprehensive support in preparing and presenting your case at the second stage of the appeals process. This is a formal review of the ICB's decision at a panel hearing. Our service includes gathering and analysing evidence, preparing submissions, and representing you during the hearing.
When: If your CHC application has been refused at both the Checklist/DST stage and the local resolution appeal, and you wish to escalate your case to the national review stage. The IRP is often the final opportunity to secure NHS Continuing Healthcare funding before referring to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Why us: The IRP process can feel daunting, but with the combined expertise of our legal, psychological, and social care professionals, you can be confident your case is argued with both legal precision and a deep understanding of care needs.
Appeal Stage One - Local Resolution Support
What we offer: Comprehensive support in this first stage of the appeals process. We will gather and review evidence, prepare your case and represent you at the resolution meeting with a view to challenging the decision which has been made.
When: After your CHC application has been refused, downgraded, or assessed unfairly, and you wish to challenge the outcome. Engaging support at this stage ensures your appeal is well-prepared and supported from the outset.
Why us: Appeals can be complex and emotionally draining, but families frequently succeed when supported by experienced professionals who understand both the legal framework and the care context giving your challenge the strongest possible chance of success.
Appeal Stage Three - Ombudsman Support
What we offer: Specialist support in preparing and submitting your case to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). Our team reviews every stage of your CHC journey, identifying any errors in law, fact, or process, and preparing a clear, evidence-based submission explaining why the decision should be reconsidered.
When: After your case has been heard by the Independent Review Panel (IRP) and the decision has been upheld, but you believe the process was unfair, flawed, or procedurally incorrect. The Ombudsman is the final stage in the appeals process.
Why us: The Ombudsman stage is complex and highly procedural, requiring detailed knowledge of both law and care practice. Our multidisciplinary team ensures your submission is meticulously prepared and supported by strong legal and clinical reasoning, giving your case the best possible chance of success.
Travel Charges
All travel undertaken as part of service delivery is chargeable at £40 per hour. This includes time spent travelling to and from appointments, meetings, or assessments. Travel time is calculated based on the most efficient reasonable route.
A Note On Fees
If you are acting as a financial attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), or as a Deputy appointed by the Court of Protection, you may usually use the funds of the person you support to pay for our services.
This is because:
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The advice is being sought on their behalf (the person who may be entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare funding).
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Attorneys and Deputies have a duty to act in the best interests of the person they represent.
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Provided the cost is reasonable and affordable, using their funds to cover professional advice on CHC is acceptable.
Why Families Choose Nellie Supports
We're not just legal experts. We're a multidisciplinary team that combines professional representation with genuine care insight.
Our team includes registered social workers, chartered psychologists, an SRA-regulated solicitor, and healthcare specialists. We don't just understand the legal framework. We understand what your loved one actually needs.
This means your case is argued with both legal precision and a deep understanding of care complexity. You benefit from multiple professional perspectives working together, not just one viewpoint.
Our team brings decades of combined experience in mental capacity assessments, social work, psychology, and legal representation. This multidisciplinary approach means we understand CHC from multiple angles.
Our social workers know care complexity. Our psychologists understand capacity and cognition. Our solicitor knows the legal framework. Together, we provide comprehensive support that goes beyond what a single-discipline provider can offer.
This integrated expertise means your case benefits from multiple professional perspectives, not just legal advice alone.
We're not part of the NHS system. We're independent professionals who can provide objective guidance and advocacy without institutional bias.
This independence means we can review decisions fairly, identify gaps in how your case was assessed, and provide honest professional opinion about your situation. You get an external, expert perspective that's focused solely on your loved one's needs and your family's interests.
We believe in fixed pricing, so you always know the cost upfront. Every service comes with a clear, fixed price. No hidden fees. No unexpected charges. No surprises.
You can budget with confidence and make informed decisions about which services are right for your situation. Transparency builds trust, and trust is what families need when facing a complex journey.
As the largest private social work practice in the UK, Nellie Supports is trusted nationwide for integrity and clarity in complex social care matters. We apply this same standard of excellence to our CHC services, building on our position as the leading provider of independent mental capacity assessments.
Whether you're in Central England, London, Wales, or anywhere in between, we support families nationwide. We offer both face-to-face representation at meetings and remote support via phone or video.
This means you get expert guidance and representation wherever you are, without the need to travel if that doesn't suit your situation. Flexibility and accessibility matter when you're already managing a complex care situation.
Our in-house solicitor is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), ensuring professional standards and accountability. You're not working with unregulated advisors or self-taught advocates.
This means your legal representation meets professional standards, and you have proper recourse if anything goes wrong. Professional regulation provides protection and peace of mind.
Meet the Team
Our team combines decades of experience across social work, psychology, law, and healthcare. We work collaboratively to ensure your loved one's needs are properly understood, fairly assessed, and clearly presented at every stage of your CHC journey.
Each team member brings specialist expertise. Our registered social workers understand care complexity. Our chartered psychologists assess capacity and cognition. Our SRA-regulated solicitor ensures legal precision. Together, we provide comprehensive support that goes beyond what a single-discipline provider can offer.
This multidisciplinary approach means you benefit from multiple professional perspectives, not just legal advice alone. We're here to support you through every stage, with compassion and expertise.
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We also provide mental capacity assessments for other decisions, including COP3 assessments and LPA capacity assessments. For complex cases, our advanced mental capacity assessment service provides comprehensive support. If you need assistance with NHS Continuing Healthcare appeals or care funding disputes, we can help
Expert Insights on
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Explore our articles on CHC applications and appeals, with practical guidance, real-world examples, and expert insights. Written to help families, solicitors, and deputies better understand the process and feel more confident at every stage.
Your Continuing Health Care Questions Answered
NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care that is fully funded by the NHS for people with significant ongoing health needs. It covers the full cost of care at home, in a care home, or in a hospice.
No. Unlike social care provided by local authorities, CHC is not means-tested. Your savings, income, or whether you own your home does not affect eligibility.
You must be assessed as having a primary health need, using the NHS Decision Support Tool (DST). This means your needs are mainly for healthcare, rather than social care.
The checklist is an initial screening tool to decide whether a full CHC assessment is needed. If the checklist indicates eligibility, you move on to the Decision Support Tool (DST) meeting.
A DST meeting (also called a Multidisciplinary Team meeting) is where health and social care professionals assess your relative's needs in 12 "care domains." Their recommendation goes to the ICB (England) or LHB (Wales).
You have six months from the decision letter to appeal. The first stage is a Local Resolution with your ICB or LHB. If unsuccessful, you can escalate to an Independent Review Panel (IRP).
Timelines vary. Local Resolution appeals should take around 3 months, with IRPs within another 3 months. In practice, delays are common, and cases may take many months to resolve.
No, we cannot guarantee that you will receive NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding and no provider can. Funding decisions are made by the NHS against national criteria set out in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.
No. Nellie Supports is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). However, our CHC services are solicitor-led, meaning an experienced solicitor oversees your case. This ensures you benefit from both legal expertise and multidisciplinary input, while fees remain transparent and fixed.
No. Nellie Supports does not offer no-win-no-fee arrangements. We believe this model can create uncertainty for families. Instead, we provide all our CHC services on fixed fees, inclusive of VAT, so you always know the cost in advance with no hidden charges.
Our CHC services are priced transparently and fixed, so you always know the cost upfront. Prices range from £250 for an initial consultation to £9,000+ for full appeal representation. Each service has a clear, fixed price with no hidden fees or surprise charges.
You can view our full pricing on our services section above, or book a free 15-minute call to discuss which service is right for your situation.
Strong evidence is crucial to a successful appeal. This typically includes:
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Medical records and health assessments
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Social care assessments and reports
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Medication lists and prescriptions
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Care needs documentation
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Letters from healthcare professionals (GP, consultant, nurse)
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Photographs or videos showing care needs (if appropriate)
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Diary entries documenting daily care requirements
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Previous DST assessments or decision letters
We can guide you on what evidence matters most for your case and help you gather and present it effectively. This is part of our consultation and appeal services.
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We offer both options. Most of our CHC appeal support can be conducted remotely via phone or video call, which is convenient if you're unable to travel or prefer to stay at home.
For DST meetings and some appeal hearings, face-to-face representation may be more effective. We can discuss which approach is best for your situation during your initial consultation.
Travel is available nationwide across England and Wales. If you need us to attend meetings in person, we charge £40 per hour for travel time.
Our team includes:
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Registered Social Workers (qualified, registered with Social Work England)
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Chartered Psychologists (HCPC registered)
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SRA-Regulated Solicitor (professional legal representation)
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Healthcare Specialists (including a forensic scientist for complex cases)
All team members have extensive experience in mental capacity assessments, social work, psychology, and legal representation. We're not just legally qualified; we understand care complexity from multiple professional angles.
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If your appeal is unsuccessful at one stage, you have the option to escalate to the next stage:
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If Local Resolution is unsuccessful, you can request an Independent Review Panel (IRP) hearing
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If the IRP upholds the decision, you can escalate to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)
We can advise whether escalation is realistic for your case and support you through the next stage if you choose to continue. We're honest about what's achievable, so you can make informed decisions about next steps.
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Our initial consultation is one hour and costs £250 + VAT. During this time, we will:
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Review your situation in detail
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Explain the CHC process in plain English
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Discuss your options at each stage
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Provide tailored advice based on your circumstances
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Explain what evidence matters
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Outline next steps and realistic timelines
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Answer all your questions
You'll leave with a clear understanding of your position and practical next steps. There's no obligation to proceed with further services after the consultation.
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Yes. The CHC appeals process has three stages:
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Local Resolution - First appeal to your ICB/LHB (typically 3 months)
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Independent Review Panel (IRP) - If Local Resolution is unsuccessful (typically 3 months)
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Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) - If IRP is unsuccessful (typically 2-3 months)
Not every case needs to go through all three stages. Many are resolved at Local Resolution with the right support and evidence. We can advise which stage is appropriate for your situation.
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Initial CHC Consultation (£250 + VAT):
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One-hour expert review
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Plain English explanation of the CHC process
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Tailored advice on your options
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Guidance on evidence and documentation
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Written summary of recommendations
CHC Checklist Support (£495 + VAT):
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Comprehensive care needs assessment
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Prospective CHC Checklist completion
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Evidence-based documentation
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Professional recommendations on eligibility
DST Representation (£2,000 + VAT):
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Preparation for DST meeting
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Evidence review
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Professional representation at the meeting
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Legal precision and care expertise combined
CHC Decision Review (£2,000 + VAT):
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Comprehensive review of your decision letter
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Identification of errors or gaps
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Written opinion on grounds for appeal
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Guidance on next steps
Appeal Stage One - Local Resolution (£8,000 + VAT):
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Full representation through the appeals process
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Evidence gathering and analysis
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Written submissions
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Negotiation with your ICB/LHB
Appeal Stage Two - IRP Representation (£9,000 + VAT):
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Professional representation at IRP hearing
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Expert advocacy
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Written submissions
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Cross-examination support
Appeal Stage Three - Ombudsman Support (£8,000+ + VAT):
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Representation through Ombudsman process
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Complaint documentation
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Liaison with the Ombudsman
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We're not a traditional law firm. We're a multidisciplinary team that combines legal expertise with social work and psychology.
This means:
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You get legal representation (our SRA-regulated solicitor)
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Plus care expertise (our registered social workers and psychologists)
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Plus understanding of the person behind the decision (not just the legal framework)
Traditional solicitors focus on legal arguments. We focus on both legal precision and genuine care insight. This integrated approach often leads to better outcomes because we understand both the law and the care complexity.
Our fixed pricing also means you know the cost upfront, unlike many law firms which charge hourly rates.
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Yes, completely. We're an independent professional practice, not part of the NHS system. This means:
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We can provide objective assessment and guidance
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We're not constrained by NHS institutional bias
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We can identify gaps in how your case was assessed
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We can provide honest professional opinion focused on your family's interests
Our independence is one of our key strengths. We're here to advocate for your loved one's needs, not to defend NHS decisions.
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Getting started is simple:
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Book a free 15-minute call - Talk through your situation with no obligation
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Arrange a consultation (£250 + VAT) - Detailed review and tailored advice
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Choose a service - Based on your needs and our recommendations
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We support you - Through every stage of your journey
You can book online, call us on 0333 987 5118, or email Nellie@nelliesupports.com.
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We understand that families facing CHC funding issues may be under financial strain. Here's what we recommend:
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Start with a free 15-minute call - Discuss your situation at no cost
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Consider our Initial Consultation (£250 + VAT) - This gives you expert guidance on whether an appeal is realistic before committing to full services
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Explore our Nellie+ plans - We offer monthly support plans (£39, £199, £399) that include free initial assessments and CHC checklists
If cost is a concern, discuss this during your free call. We can help you understand your options and what's realistic for your situation.
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