Last Thursday, we had the huge privilege of welcoming the highly respected Carole Chantler, Health, Case Management and Social Care Consultant, Nurse, founding member and past Chair of CMSUK, and current Chair of The Institute of Registered Case Managers, as our guest speaker for the latest in our NeuroHealth External Speaker Webinar Series.
Carole delivered an incredibly insightful and practical session on engaging with statutory services and navigating complex funding pathways. Drawing on her extensive experience across claimant and defendant work, Carole provided a wealth of knowledge that resonated deeply with our team of case managers and support staff, and the scenarios and challenges they face when engaging with statutory services.
Key topics covered included:
- Understanding there are differences in statutory funding across the UK, with the session focusing on England.
- The importance of identifying a client’s “ordinary residence” and GP registration for ICB funding eligibility.
- Navigating Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and the distinction between clinically assessed need vs. Expert or Case Manager assessments.
- The limitations of topping up health care vs. social care.
- Different assessment considerations for adults and children.
- The role of Individual Funding Requests (IFRs) and how to support NHS consultants in the application process.
- Challenges in CHC assessments post-COVID, particularly for “walking wounded” brain injured clients.
- The critical role of accurate documentation and pre-authorisation in INAs for Case Managers to attend sudden statutory assessments/appointments.Discharge planning from private rehab units and the importance of early ICB engagement.
Carole’s expert guidance on “picking your battles,” understanding statutory language, and advocating effectively for clients was enlightening as well as empowering, and struck a cord with many of the team and their experiences of working with statutory services.
Carole’s emphasis on proactive engagement, documentation, and persistence in the face of funding challenges was a timely reminder of the vital role Case Managers play in securing the best outcomes for clients for accessing statutory services.
A massive thank you to Carole for making time in her busy schedule to come and talk to our team, and for managing to cover so much content in just one hour!
