Children with complex health and social care needs (CHCN) have the same needs as other children have. Children with CHCN also need to be able to live at home, go to school, spend time and be involved in leisure community activities with their family and friends.

Besides a good relationship and teamwork with practitioners specialized in complex care work for children, it is necessary for families of children with CHCN to make sure they have enough flexibility and responsiveness so that they can provide accommodating treats in family events. The responsiveness is also greatly needed during emergencies and preferences so that every requirement of the child can be fulfilled.

One problem that may keep the families from a good practice in the care of children with CHCN is the invisibility of social care jobs. The invisible demand for the job leads to a mismatch between the formal remit of providers and the actual services they provide, and eventually to the overly restrictive formal roles of the workers.

Planners, commissioners and managers need to ensure that staff roles are adequate to the remit of their work. They need to design services that deliver maximum flexibility and responsiveness to the families hiring them. The companies also have to pay attention to how most families tend to choose companies that guarantee the continuity of service provision and familiarity with professionals.