Specialist SEND and Complex Case Management
Coordinating education, health, care, therapy and statutory support around the person.
When a child, young person or adult has complex needs, families and professionals are often left trying to coordinate several systems at once.
Education, health, social care, therapy, rehabilitation, transport, benefits, statutory funding and family life can all overlap — but the services involved do not always work together.
NavigateSEND provides specialist case management for children, young people and adults with complex SEND, disability, brain injury, neurodiversity, rehabilitation, care, education and transition needs.
Our role is to bring clarity, coordination and direction.
We help families, deputies, solicitors, schools, colleges and professional teams understand what is needed, who should be involved, what evidence is missing, what provision should be delivered, and what steps are needed to improve outcomes.
What is case management?
Case management is a structured, collaborative process that assesses needs, plans support, coordinates professionals, monitors progress and reviews outcomes.
BABICM defines case management as a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates services required to meet health, wellbeing, social care, education and/or occupational needs, using communication and available resources to promote safe and cost-effective outcomes.
At NavigateSEND, case management means:
understanding the whole person, coordinating the right people, and building a practical plan that connects education, health, care, therapy, rehabilitation and statutory responsibilities.
It is not just about arranging services.
It is about making sure the right support is identified, evidenced, delivered, reviewed and adjusted over time.
Why case management matters
Complex needs rarely fit neatly into one system.
A child may need an EHCP, therapy, social care, transport, school support and family coordination.
A young person may need transition planning, adult social care, mental capacity consideration, college provision, benefits advice, therapy and preparation for adulthood.
An adult with acquired brain injury or complex disability may need rehabilitation, care support, psychological input, NHS funding consideration, equipment, vocational planning and long-term case coordination.
Without effective case management, families and professionals can face:
- duplicated assessments;
- missed deadlines;
- unclear responsibilities;
- gaps between education, health and care;
- private funding being used before statutory routes are explored;
- therapy recommendations not being implemented;
- EHCP provision not being delivered;
- transition plans starting too late;
- families becoming the default coordinator;
- professional advice sitting in reports rather than becoming action.
Good case management turns evidence into a coordinated plan.
Why this is needed now
The demand on SEND and care systems is high. In England, Department for Education statistics reported 638,700 children and young people with an active EHC plan in January 2025, an increase of 10.8% from January 2024.
Many families are also managing delays, fragmented services and unclear accountability. For professional deputies and Court of Protection teams, the Office of the Public Guardian reported supervising 61,038 deputyship orders at the end of 2024–25.
These pressures make coordinated case management increasingly important. The issue is often not whether a person has needs. The issue is whether those needs are properly understood, evidenced, funded and delivered.
What makes NavigateSEND case management different?
NavigateSEND case management is different because it brings together expertise across:
- SEND and EHCPs;
- psychology and formulation;
- school and education systems;
- complex disability and neurodiversity;
- rehabilitation and functional outcomes;
- statutory funding routes;
- social care and transition planning;
- professional liaison and evidence coordination.
Our case-management work is led by a professional background that includes:
- DfE-registered teacher;
- SENCO experience;
- headteacher experience;
- HCPC-registered psychologist;
- BABICM registration;
- IRCM registration;
- complex case-management experience.
This matters because case management often fails when it is too narrow.
A therapy plan may fail if the EHCP does not specify the provision.
A care package may fail if social care duties have not been properly assessed.
A school placement may fail if psychology, attendance, sensory, communication and family factors are not understood together.
A rehabilitation plan may fail if education, occupation, transport, benefits and care support are not coordinated.
NavigateSEND case management is designed to connect these systems
A whole-system approach
We do not look at education, care, therapy or funding in isolation.
We ask:
|
Key question |
Why it matters |
|---|---|
|
What does the person need? |
To understand the full profile of education, health, care, communication, emotional, behavioural, sensory, functional and family needs. |
|
What is already in place? |
To identify existing support, reports, assessments, plans, provision, funding and professional involvement. |
|
What is missing? |
To identify gaps in assessment, therapy, provision, statutory planning, risk management or funding. |
|
Who is responsible? |
To clarify whether support may fall to education, health, social care, employment, benefits, statutory funding or private provision. |
|
What evidence is needed? |
To support EHCP reviews, statutory requests, funding discussions, professional recommendations and decision-making. |
|
What should happen next? |
To create a practical plan that can be implemented, monitored and reviewed. |
What our case-management service includes
|
Area of work |
What we do |
Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial case review |
We review the person’s circumstances, current concerns, existing support, professionals involved and urgent risks. |
A clear understanding of where the case is now and what needs to happen next. |
|
Needs mapping |
We map education, health, care, communication, emotional, behavioural, sensory, mobility, functional, family and environmental needs. |
A whole-person profile that can guide planning and decision-making. |
|
Professional coordination |
We liaise with schools, colleges, therapists, psychologists, social workers, health professionals, solicitors, deputies and family members. |
Better communication and reduced fragmentation between professionals. |
|
EHCP and SEND case management |
We review EHCPs, annual reviews, provision, outcomes, therapy input, EOTAS issues and transition planning. |
Stronger evidence, clearer provision and better alignment between needs and support. |
|
Therapy and rehabilitation coordination |
We help coordinate therapy, psychology, rehabilitation, tutoring, support workers, equipment and functional goals. |
Therapy and support are linked to practical outcomes, not left as disconnected recommendations. |
|
Statutory funding mapping |
We consider whether NHS, local authority, education, employment, benefits, grants or joint-funding routes should be explored. |
Private funding decisions are better informed and statutory routes are not missed. |
|
Risk and safeguarding awareness |
We identify risks around placement breakdown, family stress, unmet care needs, non-delivery of provision, mental health and vulnerability. |
Earlier action and clearer escalation where concerns are emerging. |
|
Transition planning |
We support planning from children’s services to adult services, including EHCPs, Care Act, mental capacity, college, work, care and benefits. |
Reduced risk of gaps in support at a critical life stage. |
|
Review and monitoring |
We monitor whether agreed actions are happening and whether the plan is improving outcomes. |
Less drift, clearer accountability and better evidence of progress or continuing need. |
|
Written reports and recommendations |
We provide written summaries, case-management plans, action logs, funding maps and recommendations where required. |
A clear record for families, deputies, solicitors, schools or professional teams. |
The NavigateSEND case-management model
Our case-management model has five stages.
|
Stage |
What happens |
What this gives you |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Understand |
We listen to the family, client, deputy or professional team and clarify the main concerns, current provision and desired outcomes. |
A clear starting point and shared understanding of the problem. |
|
2. Review |
We review key documents such as EHCPs, care plans, therapy reports, psychology reports, school records, social care assessments, funding decisions and correspondence. |
A structured view of the evidence, gaps and responsibilities. |
|
3. Map |
We map needs against support, provision, statutory routes, risks and missing evidence. |
A practical picture of what is needed and who may be responsible. |
|
4. Coordinate |
We liaise with relevant professionals, support communication, organise next steps and help align recommendations. |
Reduced fragmentation and clearer action. |
|
5. Monitor and adjust |
We review progress, identify what is working, respond to change and update recommendations. |
Ongoing direction and accountability. |
Case management for SEND and EHCPs
SEND case management is central to NavigateSEND’s work.
We support cases where a child or young person may need:
- SEN Support review;
- EHC needs assessment request;
- EHCP review;
- annual review preparation;
- amended EHCP;
- therapy to be specified and quantified;
- EOTAS consideration;
- school or college placement planning;
- transport support;
- social care input;
- health provision;
- preparation for adulthood;
- transition to post-16, post-19 or adult services.
We focus on making sure the plan reflects the person’s real needs and that the support described is specific, practical and capable of being delivered.
Case management for complex disability and rehabilitation
For clients with acquired brain injury, neurodisability, complex autism, learning disability, physical disability, mental health needs or long-term rehabilitation needs, case management may involve:
- coordinating rehabilitation goals;
- liaising with therapy teams;
- reviewing care and support arrangements;
- identifying unmet health or social care needs;
- considering equipment and adaptations;
- supporting family communication;
- planning education, training or occupation;
- reviewing risk and independence;
- considering NHS, local authority or other funding routes;
- supporting long-term planning.
The aim is to help the person achieve the best possible quality of life, independence, participation and stability.
Case management for transition to adulthood
Transition is one of the highest-risk points for children and young people with complex needs.
Support may need to move from children’s services to adult services. Education may move from school to college, training, EOTAS or supported employment. Family responsibilities may change. Mental capacity may need to be considered. Benefits, care packages, health funding and accommodation planning may all become relevant.
NavigateSEND helps families and professionals plan ahead by considering:
- EHCP outcomes and preparation for adulthood;
- post-16 and post-19 education options;
- adult social care assessment;
- Care Act eligibility;
- mental capacity and best interests;
- deputyship or appointeeship issues;
- health funding;
- therapy and rehabilitation;
- transport;
- benefits and grants;
- support into work or meaningful activity;
- long-term independence and care planning.
Transition should not be a cliff edge.
Good case management helps make it a planned pathway.
Case management and statutory funding
Case management at NavigateSEND includes careful attention to funding responsibilities.
This does not mean guaranteeing funding or replacing legal advice. It means asking the right questions early.
For example:
|
Need |
Possible route to consider |
|---|---|
|
Complex health and care needs |
NHS Continuing Healthcare or children and young people’s continuing care |
|
Nursing needs |
NHS-funded Nursing Care or CHC consideration |
|
Daily living and support |
Care Act assessment and adult social care |
|
Mental health aftercare |
Section 117 aftercare |
|
Education, therapy and support under 25 |
EHCP or EOTAS |
|
Study-related support |
Disabled Students’ Allowance |
|
Work-related support |
Access to Work |
|
Disability-related living costs |
DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance or wider benefits check |
|
Home adaptations |
Disabled Facilities Grant |
|
Equipment or mobility needs |
NHS, local authority, DSA, Access to Work or private funding |
|
Transport |
Education transport, social care transport, Access to Work, DSA or private funding |
What outcomes can case management support?
Case management cannot guarantee a specific result, but it can create the conditions for better outcomes.
Our work may help to:
- clarify the person’s needs;
- reduce professional drift;
- improve communication between services;
- strengthen evidence;
- identify missing assessments;
- secure clearer plans;
- coordinate therapy and care;
- support EHCP review or amendment;
- prevent placement breakdown;
- improve transition planning;
- reduce unnecessary private spending;
- support deputy decision-making;
- identify when legal advice is needed;
- keep the person’s goals at the centre of the plan.
The practical outcome is usually clarity:
What is needed, who is responsible, what evidence is missing, and what happens next?
What case management is not
It is important to be clear about professional boundaries.
NavigateSEND case management does not replace:
- legal advice;
- medical diagnosis;
- local authority statutory duties;
- NHS assessment duties;
- school or college responsibilities;
- social work decision-making;
- safeguarding procedures;
- therapy delivered by other professionals;
- Court of Protection decision-making.
Where legal advice, tribunal representation, judicial review, Court of Protection advice or formal litigation strategy is needed, we work alongside solicitors or recommend that legal advice is obtained.
Where medical, therapy or social care assessment is required, we help identify that need and coordinate appropriate professional input.
Why professional case-management standards matter
The Institute of Registered Case Managers states that “case manager” is not a protected title or a profession regulated by law, meaning anyone can call themselves a case manager. IRCM also explains that its register is a voluntary register for case managers who meet eligibility requirements and commit to working in line with professional standards.
This is why experience, registration, professional background and scope of practice matter.
NavigateSEND’s case-management service is built around professional standards, psychological understanding, education expertise, statutory-system knowledge and clear outcome planning.
Why choose NavigateSEND?
Choose NavigateSEND where the case involves more than one system.
We are particularly well placed where there is overlap between:
- SEND and EHCPs;
- education and therapy;
- family stress and school difficulties;
- attendance and unmet need;
- psychology and behaviour;
- care and rehabilitation;
- statutory funding and private funding;
- childhood disability and adult transition;
- deputyship and long-term planning;
- health, social care and education responsibilities.
Our strength is integrated thinking.
We understand how education, psychology, care, rehabilitation, statutory funding and family life connect. That means we can help build plans that are practical, evidence-led and focused on better outcomes.
What documents are useful?
Useful documents may include:
- EHCPs;
- annual review paperwork;
- SEN Support plans;
- school or college reports;
- attendance records;
- behaviour records;
- therapy reports;
- psychology reports;
- medical letters;
- social care assessments;
- care plans;
- CHC or continuing care paperwork;
- funding decisions;
- invoices for privately funded support;
- professional correspondence;
- solicitor correspondence where relevant.
You do not need to have everything ready before making an enquiry. We can help identify which documents are most important.
When to request case management
A case-management consultation may be helpful where:
- there are several professionals involved but no clear plan;
- the child or young person has an EHCP but provision is not working;
- school or college placement is at risk;
- attendance has broken down;
- therapy recommendations are not being implemented;
- family and professional views are not aligned;
- the person has complex disability, brain injury or neurodiversity;
- transition to adulthood is approaching;
- private funds are being used and statutory routes may not have been explored;
- a deputy or solicitor needs practical coordination;
- the family is overwhelmed by managing services;
- there is drift, delay or disagreement between systems.
What is a case manager?
A case manager assesses, plans, coordinates, monitors and reviews support around a person’s needs. In complex cases, this may involve education, health, social care, therapy, rehabilitation, statutory funding, family support and professional liaison.
Is case management the same as care management?
No. Care management often focuses on care packages and day-to-day support. Case management is broader. It may include care, but also education, health, therapy, rehabilitation, family systems, funding routes, evidence, transition and long-term outcomes.
Does NavigateSEND provide SEND case management?
Yes. SEND case management is a core part of NavigateSEND’s work. We support EHCPs, annual reviews, EOTAS, therapy provision, school placement issues, attendance concerns, transition planning and coordination between families and professionals.
Can case management help if an EHCP is not working?
Yes. We can review the EHCP, consider whether needs and provision are properly described, identify evidence gaps, support annual review preparation and help clarify what should happen next.
Can you work with schools and colleges?
Yes. We work with schools, colleges and professional teams where there are complex SEND, attendance, placement, provision or family-school planning issues.
Can you work with solicitors and deputies?
Yes. We can support solicitors, financial deputies and Court of Protection teams where complex needs require practical coordination, evidence review, funding mapping or ongoing case management.
Do you provide legal advice?
No. NavigateSEND does not provide legal advice or legal representation. We provide case management, assessment-informed planning, evidence review and practical recommendations. Where legal advice is needed, we work alongside solicitors or recommend legal referral.
Do you work with adults as well as children?
Yes. We support children, young people and adults, especially where SEND, disability, acquired brain injury, rehabilitation, care, psychology, education, statutory funding or transition issues overlap.
Can case management help with statutory funding?
Yes. We can help identify possible statutory, benefits or grant routes that may need to be considered, such as EHCPs, EOTAS, Care Act support, CHC, continuing care, Access to Work, DSA, disability benefits or Disabled Facilities Grant. We do not guarantee funding outcomes.
What is the main benefit of case management?
The main benefit is coordination. Case management helps turn complex information into a clear plan, with identified needs, responsibilities, evidence, actions and review points.
How to start
The first step is a focused case-management consultation.
We will clarify:
- who the case-management support is for;
- the main concerns;
- the current support in place;
- which professionals are involved;
- what decisions need to be made;
- whether the matter is urgent;
- whether NavigateSEND case management is the right service;
- whether another professional or legal referral is needed.