Sunderland Small Business of the Year Award – Runner up for 2018
Read more about this incredible achievement here.
What our clients say about Just Caring Legal
Overturned decision of ineligibility, the Skinner Family, March 27 2021
“Rosalind left no stone unturned and was passionate about getting the right outcome. Very impressed and would highly recommend anyone talking to her who is unsure of whether to fight for justice. Through her professional input she was able to overturn the CHC decision of ineligibility and obtain the correct care level for the future. Such a weight off all our minds.”
Challenge to a review of NHS Continuing Healthcare, Jane Steen, March 26 2021
“We were lucky to find such a committed advocate to represent Mum. I highly recommend this service; Ros is clearly passionate about defending vulnerable people and extremely knowledgeable. Without her, Mum wouldn’t have got fair treatment.”
Recovery of two years’ nursing home fees, David P, March 2020
”In April 2016, my elderly mother was hospitalised by a fall and underwent an operation under general anaesthetic to reset a broken femur. This left her unable to walk and greatly worsened her dementia (which had previously been manageable), leaving her totally bedridden and unable to make any decisions for herself. As a consequence, she had to enter a Nursing Home specialising in care for patients with dementia and other severe needs.
The care in her new home was very good but came with a considerable price tag that was rapidly eroding her savings so, in 2017, I undertook some basic research into what financial support might be available to her. I spoke to Rosalind Hughes at Just Caring Legal and she advised that Continuing Health Care (CHC) funding is available from the NHS to cover the costs of patients with a primary healthcare need. She also said that, based on the initial evidence provided, my mother had a strong case for receiving this, so we agreed that she would seek both ongoing and retrospective funding for my mother.
Under Rosalind’s guidance, an application for CHC funding was made to the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) of West Berkshire NHS (the area in which my mother’s Nursing Home was located) in late 2017, but this was rejected. Rosalind’s strong advice was that the CCG’s process was flawed, that all the evidence had not been considered and that we should launch an appeal. This was done though, sadly, my mother died in May 2018 before the appeal could be heard. Even so, it was decided that the appeal should continue to seek the retrospective element of the claim on behalf of my mother’s estate.
The appeal was heard in late 2018 and was partially successful in that the CCG agreed to pay all fees incurred in the last 10 months of my mother’s life (i.e. from August 2017 to May 2018). Rosalind’s view was that this should be accepted but that restitution of the fees for the preceding period (i.e. back to my mother’s hospitalisation in April 2016) should still be pursued as all my mother’s problems dated from that incident. A second appeal was launched and was eventually heard in January 2020, when the CCG finally agreed that my mother should have been eligible for CHC funding from April 2016 and will make restitution to her estate of fees for the whole of that period.
This outcome exceeds the expectations of all my mother’s family and could not possibly have been achieved without Rosalind’s professionalism and persistence over this long period. We are extremely grateful for all she has done, and would strongly recommend anyone else in a similar position to consider using her services. My mother would have approved!!”
Deborah McKie, November 2019
“I cannot recommend Rosalind highly enough to anyone who needs help in this area of law. What a lovely lady who did an excellent job and provided a faultless service.”
Tony Brown, October 2019
”Roz was very helpful in providing advice and guidance in relation to challenging top-up fees. I am most grateful.”
Rebecca Harbron-Gray, Solicitor, June 2019, Head of Private Client
”It is very reassuring to know that we have you on hand to help our clients in your specialist area and your fantastic service reflects great on us providing introduction.”
Nick Singeisen, March 2019
”Our younger son has complex needs of an enduring nature, arising from his significant autism coupled with sensory impairment and epilepsy. He has received full CHC funding for 13 consecutive years but, after the DST meeting in 2017, was then considered to no longer demonstrate a primary health need. We appealed this decision. It was our view that there was no change to his complex and enduring needs and that what was before the assessors was an example of well managed needs. We undertook considerable research of both the National Framework and of solicitors and others who might provide legal support to our case, which brought us to Just Caring Legal.
Mrs Hughes has been an immense professional support to our family, taking detailed instructions and providing to the subsequent Local Resolution Meeting a comprehensive written rebuttal to the decision of the DST meeting. The outcome was that the LRM agreed with our view, referred the matter back for reconsideration and the CCG has reversed their 2017 DST decision.
It has not been an easy time as we sought to uphold our son’s best interests and Mrs Hughes has been pivotal in our success. We commend her to you.”
Julie Warters, 4th December 2018
I would highly recommend Ros, her expertise, knowledge and genuine empathy in helping families wade through the muddy waters which is the Continuing Healthcare when a loved one has to go into a nursing home has been invaluable. It’s an incredibly stressful period of life and having the additional information and support has been amazing. The amount of work that Ros does unpaid upfront is incredible. Would highly recommend Ros and Just Caring legal to the highest degree. Thank you.”
Janet Morris, September 2018
“I spoke to Rosalind last week and although we don’t know whether she will be able to take the case forward, I found her extremely helpful, knowledgeable and caring.”
Rachel Bean, February 2018
“Rosalind is kind, caring, compassionate and extremely knowledgeable in the complicated area of care fees. Just Caring Legal provides an invaluable service in a timely, friendly and cost effective manner.
Care fees and the legalities surrounding the awarding of Continuing Care is a very grey area, and Rosalind’s expert assistance is crucial at a time when you are not best placed emotionally to deal with these issues. I urge anyone having to make difficult decisions at a tricky time to contact her, she provided us with first class advice and assistance at a time when we needed it most. Thank you.”
Gill Tradgett, February 2018
“It was thanks to a chance meeting with Rosalind that I started the process of applying for CHC funding for my mother’s Nursing Care. I can’t praise her highly enough for her professional advice and support throughout the whole process, delivered with a friendly and approachable manner. I am certain that her presence in the CHC assessment meeting and her excellent knowledge of the subject was a key factor in us achieving a successful outcome.
“I would not hesitate to recommend Rosalind and Just Caring Legal to others looking for help with Continuing Health Care funding.”
Malcolm Robinson, November 2017
Rosalind has a lovely way about her, a mixture of compassion and professionalism, she listens and gives sensible and easily understood advice, she is open about her fee’s and offers really good value for money, I never had the impression money is her motivator and honestly felt she was totally on my side. I would have no hesitation in recommending her services to anyone.”
Wendy Race, November 2017
“Rosalind kindly took on the cases of my parents who were both suffering from dementia and in a very short space of time worked her socks off preparing information to support their claims. Her expertise in the CHC minefield was invaluable. She not only furnished me with advice but also with knowledge and confidence to challenge some of the domain scores of the DST assessment during the MDT meeting which resulted in the granting of CHC for my mother. Throughout the process Rosalind has been both professional and supportive and without the input from Just Caring Legal I know I would not have been able to prepare for the assessments as fully and confidently as I was.”
Mr Langan from Sunderland, August 2017
“I contacted Just Caring Legal for advice on a number of different matters but mainly in relation to completing a CHC funding application. The advice and support I received was second to none and allowed me to have peace of mind that if there were any problems then they were only a phone call away. They kept in constant contact with me and showed genuine concern about my situation.”
Mrs Stephenson from Peterlee, March 2017
“Rosalind provided an efficient and sympathetic service. She was able to use her expertise and knowledge relating to NHS Continuing Healthcare funding to help me to prepare detailed and appropriate documentation. I was able to use this in the DST meeting to show that my mother had a ‘primary health need’. This enabled me to secure full funding on behalf of my mother.”
A client from Gloucestershire, January 2017
“My adopted daughter has the most profound and complex of disabilities from brain impairment at birth and requires the highest level of round the clock care at home. I have had extreme problems while dealing with the administration of NHS Continuing Healthcare funding and I have written to over 80 UK legal practices, law centres and similar organisations to ask for help. The only one to respond with an offer of positive assistance was Just Caring Legal and I will never be able to express my gratitude sufficiently for the work that was undertaken as well as for the efficiency and the manner to which it was offered.”
Ms Robson from Tyneside, December 2016
“My father suffers from Alzheimer’s and has been in care for the past 6 months, awaiting a permanent residential bed due to my mother’s terminal illness. As you can imagine this is a very stressful time for all concerned but the lack of assistance and help from the care providers and social services added to this.
Not knowing where to turn to initially, I contacted justcaringlegal.co.uk and spoke with Rosalind – she was able to give me advice that was supportive when dealing with the care provider and social services and I then understood the difference between NHS funding and LA funding and my father’s potential entitlement to both.
Due to the discussions and support provided, I felt empowered and confident when dealing with the relevant authorities. Although the situation remains very distressing, I feel that the advice given helped relieve some of the additional pressure for the family on the minefield that surrounds funding entitlement for residential care. Thank you for all of your help.”
Mr Ralf Thoburn, an Accountant from South Shields, November 2016
“Thank you very much for looking after my mother’s case. You have been extremely helpful and supportive throughout what is a very unfamiliar process for me. Despite being a “professional” man, this is not an area of rules and regulations that I am familiar with and I needed all the help and guidance which you delivered to me in a very clear and understandable way. As a businessman though, I can’t fail to be impressed by your efficient systems and the way you always told me when to expect your guidance and it always arrived on time every time. As a son, you helped in a difficult time for my mother with empathy and understanding. I shall not hesitate to recommend Just Caring.”
Mrs Carole Taylor from Redcar, October 2016
I sought advice from Just Caring Legal regarding care for my elderly father. I was extremely impressed with the excellent level of advice and expertise I received. Roz was very generous with her time, always communicating in a professional, direct and knowledgeable manner. I had total confidence in her and would definitely recommend Just Caring Legal.”
Mr Fenwick from South Tyneside, September 2016
“I would recommend anyone to your firm, you have helped our family to a first class degree.”
Mr Atkinson from Guisborough, August 2016
“Just Caring Legal has provided an excellent service in carrying out the work to progress my claim against the NHS on behalf of my late mother. The work was carried out in a sympathetic and professional manner and progressed speedily whilst keeping me informed at all times. I would happily recommend this firm to anybody facing similar difficult circumstances.”
Clients who are wrongly denied NHS Continuing Healthcare funding are important to us and we are keen to get it right. If you are pleased with the work we have done and you would like to provide us with a testimonial regarding any of our services, please contact us.