The Transition Event – JarGONE: say goodbye to confusing jargon
With the help of this list, you’ll have the information you need to define some of the tricky words and phrases (also known as jargon) you may come across during
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The transition to adult services can be a daunting time for young people. They need support and reassurance to help them move on to a more independent life and make the best choices for them. Transition isn't one single event, it is a gradual process that should be started as early as possible.
Somewhere in the region of 40,000 children and young people (CYP) are living with a complex health condition in England alone (Care Quality Commission, 2014). As these children and young people enter adulthood, they are more likely to encounter challenges in their transition into adult life than young people without additional needs.
Under the SEND reforms brought in from the Children and Families Act 2014, Children move through a progression of education, health and care services between birth and 25 years old. This provides a structure for that young person’s care and allows for the setting of clear outcomes and allocation of the commissioned budget towards it.
Most children and young people who receive ongoing healthcare will receive it from the same multidisciplinary team for most of their childhood. However, once they transition into adult services, a new multidisciplinary team will care for them. This will possibly be in a different hospital, environment or location.
Under the age of 18, health and care services for children and young people with long term health conditions are provided by child health and social care services. They typically cover:
Between the ages of 16 and 18 however, the child will start a process of transition to adult services.
Planning for this transition should begin when a child is in Year 9 at school (13 or 14 years old) at the latest. Transition to adult services should be an ongoing process instead of a single event.
The young person’s social worker should be your main point of contact for planning transition to adult services. Although other practitioners such as clinical nurse specialists or consultants may also be involved.
When a child or a young person approaches their 18th birthday and their transition to adult services they can request a transition assessment from their local authority. A parent or carer may also request an assessment on their child’s behalf.
The local authority is obligated to carry out this assessment.
The results of the assessment should provide advice and information about what can be done to meet or reduce the person’s needs. For instance, how they can stay well and delay the development of needs.
Transition assessments can also form part of a young person’s education, health and care plan.
If a local authority denies a request to carry out an assessment, it must explain in writing why it has reached that decision. Even if a local authority declines to provide an assessment, they must still provide information and advice regarding the prevention of/ delay of development to, care and support needs.
Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) end when a young person turns 18. After that, young people are either discharged and fall under the care of their GP, or alternatively are passed onto Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS).
A Transition Care Plan (TCP) similar to a normal transition assessment. It is completed for each young person moving from CAMHS to AMHS. These outline the young person and parents needs, preferences and concerns ahead of the move.
The TCP is shared with your team at young people’s services, as well as the team you will be passed onto at adult mental health services. You can choose to share your plan with anyone else you would like to involve, such as carers, your GP, social workers or anyone else who is important in your support network. Alternatively, you can ask your main point of contact in the treatment team to do it for you.
As a parent carer, you can claim benefits on behalf of your child until they reach the age of 16. From September after your child’s 16th birthday, you’ll only be able to get payments for them as a dependant if:
Once your child reaches 16, they may be able to claim certain benefits in their own right. This could have an impact on your household income, as certain benefits will be reduced if your child is no longer classed as a dependant.
In some cases, young people with disabilities won’t be able to manage their benefit payments and will need an appointee (usually their parent or carer) to help them.
There are a lot of education options for young disabled people after 16 years of age. These can include:
For more information on these options and how you can help your child choose the right option for them, see our article on education and learning.
A disabled person may be the happiest living at home with their parents as they approach adulthood. Alternatively, they may decide that residential or supported living would be the best thing for them.
Having the right kind of care package in place where your child would like to call home is important, as is ensuring it is sustainable and offers safety and stability to them as they transition into adulthood.
For more information on finding the right option for your child, see our article on Housing for people with disabilities.
Finding meaningful employment is a huge step towards independence for a young disabled person, helping them to feel confident and happy. There are several routes to finding a job, including:
We have lots of resources available, dependent on which route a young person wishes to take, including personal blog posts, tips for getting reasonable adjustments, and advice on how a disabled person can disclose a disability at work if they choose to, see them here in our Employment section.
My Family, Our Needs holds an annual Transition Event, inviting young disabled people, their parents/carers as well as the professionals supporting them. These enable them to get together for the day and hear about the best ways young people can achieve the future they want.
The event features presentations from professionals in the education, housing and employment sectors. There are also interactive workshops ranging from assistive technology to support with sex and relationships. An exhibition room also showcases the latest products and services which could transform a young disabled person’s life. Find out more about the Transition Event here.
With the help of this list, you’ll have the information you need to define some of the tricky words and phrases (also known as jargon) you may come across during
Read More »
In this video, Direct Payment Support Provider Penderels Trust, explain Direct Payments for young people who are transitioning to adulthood. In it, they look at what a direct payment is,
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It is always good to think about what you want out of your adult life as early as possible. This is commonly called transition. This downloadable guide from Together for
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Getting the most out of your transition to adulthood We know that your transition to adulthood can feel scary, that’s why we want to support you however we can.
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In this video, Scott talks about his experiences of navigating transition – what was tricky, what worked and what he’s doing now.
A case study from Salutem about how they supported one young man to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.
Earlier this week, we heard from Mum Becky about her daughter A’s transition from mainstream to special school. Lots of factors can contribute to a successful transition but Becky believed
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Ryan had been in a secure unit since the age of 15 and the possibility of living independently was never an option. However, when, at the age of 27, he
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Guidance for practitioners supporting young people through transition. Building independence through planning for transition is a quick guide for practitioners supporting young people as they go through transition. The guide
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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a new Quality Standard for Transition from children’s to adults’ services. What is a NICE Quality Standard? Quality standards
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