01
Basic criteria
Location
For Professionals
What we need to make a safe referral decision
Referral criteria are not designed to exclude people through labels. They help us understand whether the requested support falls within our current service, can be staffed safely and has the information needed for assessment.
For
Professional referrers, brokers and authorised representatives
You'll learn
Check likely fit and prepare a complete referral before submission.
Sections
11 covered
Call
0115 681 2514
02
The person is in Nottingham or an agreed serviceable area of Nottinghamshire. A postcode is required to confirm coverage.
Current service scope
03
The requested support falls within current homecare and Personal care provision or another approved current service page.
Information
04
Enough current information is available to understand needs, risks, medication, mobility, communication, environment and required outcomes.
Funding and authority
05
The funding, contracting or private-payment route is identifiable and the referrer has authority to share the information.
Safe delivery
06
Required staff numbers, skills, equipment, access, timing and contingency can be provided.
Information required for initial screening
07
Provide referrer details, the person’s identifiers and postcode, requested service and date, visit pattern, broad tasks, communication needs, relevant risks, medication, mobility, capacity or representative information, current professionals, funding and essential documents.
Information that may follow
08
Some documents can be requested after initial screening where they are not needed to decide basic fit. The form uses conditional questions so that referrers do not disclose an entire record unnecessarily.
Reasons for clarification or delay
09
A decision may be delayed by conflicting assessments, missing medication or moving-and-handling instructions, unavailable equipment, uncertain funding, incomplete risk information, unclear delegation or a proposed start date that does not allow safe preparation.
Reasons a referral may be declined
10
The need may fall outside registration or service scope, require nursing or specialist provision, exceed current staffing or competence, involve an unsafe environment that cannot be controlled, sit outside geography or lack an achievable funding and mobilisation plan.
Development-stage requests
11
Supported living and specialist autism and learning disability referrals are not accepted through the current referral route. They must not be submitted as ordinary homecare referrals to bypass the development status.
Answers
Frequently asked questions.
Does a diagnosis make someone ineligible?+
No. Suitability is based on the actual needs, requested service, risks and ability to provide support within the current legal and operational scope.
Can I submit before the final assessment is available?+
Yes, where sufficient preliminary information exists, but acceptance may remain pending until essential documents are received.
Can you assess outside the current service area?+
The team will confirm whether the postcode is serviceable. Coverage should not be assumed from county boundaries alone.
Will you explain a decline?+
Yes. We provide a clear reason and identify missing information or the type of provision required where possible.
Can safeguarding information be uploaded?+
Yes, through the secure route and only where relevant. Immediate concerns should also be escalated through the appropriate safeguarding process.
Next step