Children may have a Personal Health Budget if they:
- have complex or long-term health needs, and
- are eligible for Children’s Continuing Care
Children’s Continuing Care is for children whose needs cannot be met by regular NHS services alone.
Continuing Care Budgets (Personal Health Budgets)
If your child has complex health needs, you may be offered support from the NHS called Children’s Continuing Care. As part of this, some families can access a Personal Health Budget.
What is a Personal Health Budget?
A Personal Health Budget is money from the NHS to support your child’s health and wellbeing needs.
If your child is eligible, you will work together with your NHS team to decide:
- what support your child needs
- how the money will be used
- what outcomes you want for your child
This is written into a care and support plan.
The aim is to give you more choice, flexibility and control over how your child’s care is provided.
Children may have a Personal Health Budget if they:
- have complex or long-term health needs, and
- are eligible for Children’s Continuing Care
Children’s Continuing Care is for children whose needs cannot be met by regular NHS services alone.
A Personal Health Budget can:
- give you more say in how care is arranged
- allow support to be tailored around your child and family life
- help you choose services or support that work best for your child
- support your child to achieve their health and wellbeing goals
For many families, this means care feels more personalised and flexible, rather than “one size fits all”
A Personal Health Budget can:
- give you more say in how care is arranged
- allow support to be tailored around your child and family life
- help you choose services or support that work best for your child
- support your child to achieve their health and wellbeing goals
For many families, this means care feels more personalised and flexible, rather than “one size fits all”
The budget can be used for things agreed in your child’s care plan, for example:
- personal care and support
- therapies or specialist services
- equipment to meet health needs
The focus is always on supporting your child’s health and wellbeing outcomes.
The budget can be used for things agreed in your child’s care plan, for example:
- personal care and support
- therapies or specialist services
- equipment to meet health needs
The focus is always on supporting your child’s health and wellbeing outcomes.
There are some things the budget cannot be used for, including:
- emergency care
- GP services or hospital care
- anything not linked to your child’s agreed health needs
- inappropriate spending (such as alcohol, gambling or debt repayment)
Your NHS team will talk this through with you.
There are some things the budget cannot be used for, including:
- emergency care
- GP services or hospital care
- anything not linked to your child’s agreed health needs
- inappropriate spending (such as alcohol, gambling or debt repayment)
Your NHS team will talk this through with you.
The amount of money your child receives is based on:
- an assessment of their health and wellbeing needs, and
- the cost of meeting those needs safely
You will be involved in developing the care plan and agreeing how the budget will be used.
The amount of money your child receives is based on:
- an assessment of their health and wellbeing needs, and
- the cost of meeting those needs safely
You will be involved in developing the care plan and agreeing how the budget will be used.
You can choose how the money is managed in a way that works for your family:
- Notional budget – the NHS holds the money and arranges the care
- Third party budget – another organisation manages the budget for you
- Direct payment – you receive the money and arrange the care yourself
You can also combine these options.
You can choose how the money is managed in a way that works for your family:
- Notional budget – the NHS holds the money and arranges the care
- Third party budget – another organisation manages the budget for you
- Direct payment – you receive the money and arrange the care yourself
You can also combine these options.
No. It is your choice.
If you prefer, your child can continue to receive care arranged directly by the NHS.
No. It is your choice.
If you prefer, your child can continue to receive care arranged directly by the NHS.
Speak to:
- your child’s GP or consultant
- a community nurse or specialist health professional
- your local Children’s Continuing Care team
They can arrange an assessment to see whether your child meets the criteria.
Speak to:
- your child’s GP or consultant
- a community nurse or specialist health professional
- your local Children’s Continuing Care team
They can arrange an assessment to see whether your child meets the criteria.
You can find more details on the NHS website:
👉 What is a personal health budget?
You can find more details on the NHS website:
👉 What is a personal health budget?