Modular support for ICBs to meet national PHB priorities, reduce delivery risk, and scale Direct Payments safely.
We partner with ICB and Continuing Healthcare teams to deliver clear care planning, stronger PHB pathways, and safe transitions to Direct Payments. Our work combines lived experience and clinical expertise to support system delivery, not replace it.
Why PHB Delivery Needs Strengthening
Direct Payments expose system weaknesses that already exist in care planning, pathways, and workforce readiness.
Direct Payments sit within Personal Health Budgets, but they require more focus, support and resource than agency-led care.
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When resources are constrained and care needs are time-critical, care plans can lack the detail required for Direct Payment delivery.​
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In practice, this shows up in familiar ways. Care plans that are sufficient for agency delivery don’t always translate to Direct Payments. Pathways differ between teams, readiness checks vary, and workforce assumptions are often untested until responsibility shifts. At that point, issues that were manageable within an agency model become system risks.
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Strengthening PHB delivery is not about promoting one route over another. It is about ensuring that when Direct Payments are used, the system is ready to support them, with clear care planning, consistent pathways, and realistic workforce assumptions. Without that foundation, risk increases and quality reduces.
PHB Delivery Support
Complex Needs
Care Planning
Clear, usable care plans for people with complex health needs, designed to support Personal Health Budget delivery.
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Plans are developed with clinical input and lived experience, providing the level of detail needed for Direct Payments while remaining practical for governance and day-to-day delivery.
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​OUTCOME
A clear, agreed care plan that supports safe delivery and confident commissioning decisions.
PHB Pathway
Review & Delivery Optimisation
Independent review of existing PHB and Direct Payment pathways to identify delivery blockers, inconsistency, and missed opportunities.
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This module focuses on practical system changes that improve readiness, reduce escalation, and support more consistent PHB delivery across teams.
​OUTCOME
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Clear recommendations that strengthen PHB delivery and increase system capacity without increasing risk.
​Managed Transitions to Direct Payments
Structured support for safe transitions from agency-led care to Direct Payments where appropriate.
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This includes readiness checks, employer setup, workforce planning, and clinical delegation with competency sign-off to reduce risk during transition.
​OUTCOME
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Controlled transitions to Direct Payments that reduce reliance on agency care and support long-term system sustainability.
Who Are We?
Thrive Care Solutions was created by people who have worked on both sides of PHB delivery.
We understand the operational reality of commissioning complex care, alongside the practical challenges of delivering Personal Health Budgets in real settings.
Our work combines real-world experience of managing complex Personal Health Budgets for children and young people with clinical expertise in community and children’s continuing care. This focus informs our approach to care planning, workforce readiness, and Direct Payment delivery for complex paediatric packages.
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Compliance Assured
Our work is fully aligned with the NHS England PHB Quality Framework, Direct Payments regulations, and the CHC/Children’s Continuing Care frameworks, so commissioners can move forward with confidence.
Practical Tools To Support PHB Delivery
Alongside direct support, we provide practical tools that help teams reflect on current PHB delivery and identify areas for improvement.These are designed to support discussion, assurance, and decision-making.PHB System Readiness Check
Strengthen your PHB Delivery
Tell us about the delivery challenge you’re trying to address.
We support ICB and Continuing Healthcare teams with issues such as:
Strengthening care planning and PHB foundations
Improving consistency across PHB and Direct Payment pathways
Reducing risk where agency care is fragile
Preparing systems for safe use of Direct Payments
We’ll respond with clear guidance on whether and how we can help.