Taking Control of Your Care

What You Need to Know About Personal Health Budgets (PHBs)

More people than ever are choosing to receive NHS-funded healthcare at home, and Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) are key to making that happen. But with flexibility comes responsibility — and not every patient or family is prepared for the risks that come with managing a healthcare budget independently.

At Innovate Complex Care Services, we help individuals and families unlock the benefits of PHBs while safeguarding them from the risks that come with accepting accountability for managing care themselves.

What Is a Personal Health Budget?

A Personal Health Budget is NHS funding that allows people with complex, long-term, or continuing healthcare needs to choose how their care is delivered. It gives individuals more control and personalisation — but depending on how it’s managed, also places legal and practical responsibilities on the patient or their representative.

Managing a PHB: The 3 Options

You can choose one of the following routes for managing your personal health budget:

Option	Who Holds the Budget	Who Manages Care
Notional	The NHS	NHS arranges your care directly
Third-Party	An independent organisation or trust	The third-party arranges your agreed care plan
Direct Payment	You or your representative	You choose, employ, and pay for care yourself

While Direct Payments offer the most autonomy, they also carry the highest risk, especially in complex care settings. That’s where expert support becomes essential.

Risks Patients Face When Accepting Accountability for a PHB

Choosing to manage your PHB directly means becoming responsible for multiple critical aspects of care. Without professional support, this can present serious risks:

Legal Risk

You may become an employer, with obligations under UK employment law — including contracts, payroll, pensions, and holiday pay.

Clinical Risk

Without the right clinical oversight, you may unknowingly delegate or manage care tasks that require registered nursing support. This can put the patient at risk and may breach CQC regulations.

Training and Competency Risk

You are responsible for ensuring your care staff are trained and competent. If care needs change, skills must be reassessed — not all training remains valid over time.

Governance Risk

You must have contingency plans for sickness, absence, and emergencies. Gaps in cover or poor documentation can compromise patient safety and disrupt funding.

How Innovate Complex Care Services Mitigates These Risks

When you partner with Innovate, you remain in control — but you’re not alone. We help you manage your PHB safely, legally, and efficiently.

✅ Clinical Governance Built In
Our nurse-led model ensures all care is properly assessed, delivered, and supervised. We are CQC-registered for Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury (TDDI) — allowing us to deliver even the most complex delegated care safely at home.

✅ Support with Employer Responsibilities
We can help guide you through your employer obligations or act as your direct care provider, reducing your administrative burden and ensuring compliance with employment law.

✅ Training and Competency Management
We provide bespoke training, regular assessments, and clinical supervision. Our teams are never left unsupported, and we help you evidence staff competence to NHS teams.

✅ Transparent Communication with Commissioners
We work directly with CHC case managers and ICBs to align care plans with funding, help with reassessments, and support requests for changes in care levels.

✅ Contingency Planning and Safeguards
We build safety nets into every care package — ensuring there’s always a plan B for cover, escalation, or clinical deterioration.

Personalised Care. Professional Oversight. Peace of Mind.

PHBs can be transformative — offering people the chance to live with dignity and independence in their own homes. But they are not without complexity, especially when care needs are high.

At Innovate Complex Care, we combine clinical excellence with a deep understanding of NHS funding frameworks to deliver safe, flexible, and fully accountable care.

Thinking About a Personal Health Budget?

We can help you: