How to Prepare for a CHC Assessment: Practical Tips for Families and Carers
Preparing for an NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessment can feel daunting, especially when you’re focused on caring for someone with complex health needs. The good news is that being organised and informed can help you participate confidently and ensure the assessment accurately reflects the individual’s care needs.
Below are practical steps you can take, backed by official guidance and trusted sources.
1. Understand the CHC Assessment Process
The CHC process usually starts with a Checklist screening assessment. This initial step determines whether a full CHC assessment of eligibility is needed. A positive Checklist doesn’t guarantee eligibility, it simply means a full assessment should follow. nhs.uk+1
Read more:
NHS continuing healthcare assessment info (NHS UK)
Checklist guidance for NHS Continuing Healthcare (gov.uk)
2. Gather and Organise Relevant Information
Good records are vital. Collect:
Medical history summaries
Care plans and updates
Nursing or therapy notes
Incident or daily care records
Medication and symptom logs
These notes help show the nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of needs, the main focus of CHC decisions. Alzheimer's Society
👉 Tip: Keep everything in a labelled folder or digital file so you can quickly share it with assessors.
3. Ask for and Review Medical Records
You can request medical records from GP surgeries, hospitals and other healthcare providers. Reviewing this information ensures nothing important is overlooked, especially details about recent treatments, falls, or changes in condition. Alzheimer's Society
4. Create a Paper Trail
Whenever possible, ask for decisions in writing. This includes:
Checklist outcomes
Invitations to assessment meetings
Letters from CHC teams
Results or decisions
A paper trail makes follow-up, complaints or appeals easier if needed. Alzheimer's Society
5. Attend and Participate in the Full Assessment
A full CHC assessment. often coordinated by your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) and completed by a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) involves reviewing care needs across several areas such as mobility, communication, psychology and more. You should be invited to participate or have a representative there with you. nhs.uk+1
👉 Being present lets you:
Clarify care needs
Provide real-life examples
Ask questions
Ensure your voice or the person’s voice is heard
6. Learn About the Decision Support Tool (DST)
The CHC full assessment is structured around the Decision Support Tool (DST). This tool organises all information about the person’s needs into 12 domains. The MDT uses the DST to help form a recommendation on eligibility. GOV.UK
👉 Useful to know: The DST is not the assessment itself, it’s how the results are recorded and evaluated.
7. Ask Questions and Clarify Next Steps
Before and after the assessment, make sure you understand:
Who is coordinating the assessment
When you’ll hear the result
How to request feedback or clarification
What to do if you disagree with the outcome
Good communication helps reduce stress and gives you more control over the process.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for a CHC assessment takes time and effort, but organisation and active participation can make a meaningful difference to the outcome. Use the resources linked above and consider creating your own CHC preparation folder or checklist to keep everything in one place.
