TRANSITION TEAM
Transition planning
Planning for the transition to adulthood should begin from Year 9 as part of the EHCP process. Where a child or young person is already involved with Children’s Social Care, they will be responsible for making a referral to the Transition Planning Team at the local authority if services from Adult Social Care are likely to be necessary. The EHCP Team should also identify those with an EHCP but without Children’s Social Care involvement who are likely to need support from Adult Services once they leave education. For many young people in a school setting, this may mean beyond the age of 18 or 19, though post-16 options may also need to be carefully considered.
ATTACH-Manchester’s education provision is specifically designed to be available for young people with an EHCP up to 25 years old. As the provision is bespoke, it can be adapted to support a seamless transition and avoid the cliff-edge that families often experience. The independence that many young people long for can be fraught with additional risks for young people who have experienced trauma or who have perhaps become isolated during their teenage years, or earlier. Familiar adults can support young people with identity work and therapeutic work to consider how to navigate the change in expectations on reaching 18, and the ending of some of the relationships with people they have worked with in Children’s Services and CAMHS.
For the NICE guidelines on the Transition to Adult Services, go to www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng43.
Care Act assessments
As part of the Transition process, the Transition Team undertake a Care Act assessment, to establish whether the young person is eligible for Adult Social Care services when they turn 18.
The Care Act emphasises the importance of individual well-being in all decisions regarding care and support, ensuring that the needs and preferences of individuals are prioritised. The LA has a duty to provide services that help prevent the development of, or an increase in, care needs, thereby promoting independence and well-being.
The Act establishes a standardised process for assessing an individual’s needs and determining eligibility for publicly funded care and support, and includes a clear framework for LAs to follow. Eligibility is determined by assessing whether an individual can achieve specific daily outcomes in ten domains, which include managing nutrition, personal hygiene, being safe in the home, work, education and volunteering, and community access. Young people who have experienced trauma, and perhaps especially those with FASD, may need extra support in achieving independence, whether over the short or long term.
Once a young person is 18, their parent is no longer under a legal obligation to continue providing care and support to them. Many parents will, of course, wish to continue doing so, but the Act states that local authorities must assess the needs that exist, rather than only the needs that remain after the parent’s input has been taken into account. And, of course, some young people will wish to have complete independence from their parents at this stage.
The rights of unpaid carers are recognised in the Act, which ensures that they have access to assessments and support to help them manage their care-giving responsibilities if they are willing and able to continue providing care and support.
The Act also includes provisions for safeguarding vulnerable adults at risk of abuse of neglect.
ATTACH-Manchester can collaborate with the Transition Team to help secure the best outcomes in this process for the young people we work with and their families. We can also help them apply for benefits, fill out forms for financial assessments and signpost them to relevant information.
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For information on people’s rights and the duties of the local authority under the Care Act, go to www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents
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CASCAIDr offer workshops and training on the rights and responsibilities in the Care Act. Go to https://cascaidr.org.uk/training
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CASCAIDr also have a podcast on legal issues, including financial contributions and other useful information. 'Care Act Conversations with CASCAIDr' is available on Spotify or YouTube