Preparing for Adulthood Transitions

Transitions

'Transition' is the process when a young person is preparing to move from childhood into adulthood. 

Life for adults is different to life for children, which may include moving to adult services if you have care and support needs. It is important that you have the right information at the right time to make sure you’re preparing for adulthood.  

From year 9 (age 13 – 14) preparing for adulthood conversations should begin at school, which should include: 

  • what jobs you might like to do when you're an adult 
  • your options for education or training 
  • your future goals 
  • where you might want to live and how to be as independent as possible 
  • things you want to do in your community, like your hobbies, interests, and meeting friends 
  • how you're going to be as healthy as possible 

In the drop down sections below you will find further information on transition, including support that may be available.

Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) Events

The Integrated Children’s Disability Service (ICDS) hold annual PFA Events for young people with Education, Health & Care Plans in Year 9 and above.  The event gives the young people and their parents/carers the opportunity to meet with a variety of Education, Health and Care professionals and gather useful information to support them to make informed choices about their futures as they move into adulthood.

For more information go click the link: Preparing for Adulthood Event

Nottinghamshire's Transitions Pathway for Young People with SEND

Nottinghamshire County Council have developed a transitions pathway to provide, information, advice and guidance on what should be happening at different stages as a young person makes their way towards adulthood. It also contains a range of information once a young person becomes an adult including employment and training opportunities, post 16 education and independent living.

The pathway is fully interactive and has an introductory video to explain how you can use it and get the best out of it.

To access the pathway please click here for the Local Offer website or on the pathway picture below:

Transition pathway

Nottinghamshire's Transition Protocol

Nottinghamshire's Transition Protocol provides guidelines on:

  • What should happen from Year 8 (12-13) years
  • When it should happen
  • Who should be involved
  • How partners should work together to prepare for adulthood

You can read Nottinghamshire's multi-agency transitions protocol here or by clicking on the icon below:

Nottinghamsire's Transition Protocol

Moving to Adult Social Care Services

What happens if I need on-going support when I turn 18?

If you need continued care and support when you turn 18, you will move from children's social care services to adult social services.

Either you or someone who supports you can make a referral to Nottinghamshire County Council for support. 

Find out further information and apply for support on the Nottinghamshire County Council website


What do I need to do if I need ongoing help with equipment/adaptations at home?

If the Integrated Children's Disability Service (ICDS) Occupational Therapy Team is currently working with you, they will make a referral to the Adult Occupational Therapy Service 28 days before your 18th birthday and a worker from both the Children's and adult's team will work together to help you have as smooth as transition as possible. 

You can find out further information on the Adult's OT Team on the SEND Local Offer website 


Notts Help Yourself Website

The Notts Help Yourself website also provides a wide range of information on adult social care including help in your home and the community, equipment and living aids, suport for carers, housing needs and financial advice.


Where can I get further advice and information on adult social care support?

If you need further advice and information on accessing adult social care support you can contact Nottinghamshire County Council's Customer Service Team.

Nottinghamshire County Council - Preparing for Adulthood Team

What does the service do?

Nottinghamshire County Council have a Preparing for Adulthood Team, which is made up of Social Workers and Community Care Officers who provide planning, assessment, advice and support services for young people preparing for adulthood. They work with young people who have an impairment and require social care support that cannot be accessed through community services already in place.

The Preparing for Adulthood Team can work with young people whether they have received services from children's social care or not.

The team works with young people to help them be as independent as possible. This might be through community support, short term support, specialised support including support into employment and/or any assistive technology.

The Preparing for Adulthood Team can help with:

  • being independent;
  • being part of the community;
  • getting the right support;
  • giving support to carers including short breaks;
  • helping with safety and risks.


Age range

Young people can be referred to the Preparing for Adulthood Team between the ages of 14yrs-17.5yrs. If a young person is older than 17.5yrs, at the time they are referred, the referral will be passed to the relevant adult team.


Who can make a referral to the team?

Referrals can be made by anyone including parent/carers, person's GP, education support providers or community services.


How do I make a referral?

To make a referral you will need to contact Nottinghamshire County Council's Customer Service Team


Further information

Find out further information on the Nottinghamshire County Council website or watch the video below:

Nottinghamshire County Council - Maximising Independence Service

Maximising Independence Service (MIS) – Enablement Teams

What are the objectives of Enablement?

Enablement is about supporting people to learn new skills that they have not had the opportunity to learn before, working towards and achieving goals that matter to them.


How do you introduce someone to Enablement Support delivered by a Promoting Independence Worker?

Individuals are commonly introduced to Enablement Support through District Teams following a Care and Support Assessment, or through the Customer Service Centre who may have been contacted directly by the individual, or by a family member or education provider. If the person is suitable for this type of support, they will be allocated a Promoting Independence worker.


What support do Promoting Independence Workers offer?

Promoting Independence workers typically work with people face-to-face, either in their own home or in the community on a 1:1 basis. Workers have a discussion with the individual to identify their personal goals.

They can help to develop people’s skills and confidence relating to several areas, including:

  • Independent Travel including to and from work
  • Shopping and accessing the community
  • Promoting Independence with Household Routines
  • Managing Finances and Household Bills
  • Meal Planning and Preparation
  • Transitioning to Adulthood
  • Undertaking voluntary or paid work

Promoting Independence workers do not offer support relating to personal care or ordering equipment.


How long do people typically receive support from Enablement Teams?

Enablement support can be provided for up to 12 weeks maximum but can be less depending on an individual’s needs and goals.


What outcomes would we hope that people achieve, having been supported by a Promoting Independence worker?

Enablement Teams hope to support individuals to achieve their desired personal goals and to increase their level of independence and confidence.

In supporting people to achieve their goals, the enablement teams hope to also improve an individual’s day to day lived experiences and allow them to access and benefit from a variety of new opportunities and experiences.


Where are the MIS Enablement Teams based?

  • The Maximising Independence Service Enablement Teams will work across the whole County but are made up of place-based teams – North, Mid and South Nottinghamshire.
  • The Enablement Teams were previously referred to as the Notts Enabling Service (NES)
  • These teams are now known as – MIS North Enablement, MIS Mid Enablement and MIS South Enablement  

Which other Teams do Enablement Teams work with?

  • Hospital Teams (not hospital discharge)
  • Living well
  • Ageing well
  • Other MIS Teams
  • Preparing for Adulthood

What staff roles work within the Enablement Teams?

  • Enablement Managers
  • Promoting Independence Workers
  • Community Care Officers MH

Eligibility and Referral Information

The service is open to any young person with disabilities aged 17 and over. 

To make a referral you will need to contact Nottinghamshire County Council's Customer Service Team


Independent Travel Training

For information on Independent Travel Training please click the link Independent Travel Training

 

Moving to Adult Health Services

Moving to adult health services

This should be part of preparing for adulthood discussions, which begins at 13 to 14 years old or year 9 in school.  

You should know what to expect when moving to adult health services and what support you may need to do this. It is important that you and your family feel supported to learn about these changes, and how you can become as independent as possible when accessing adult health services.  

One of the main differences between children's and adult health services is the amount of independence you will be given. This means that you will need to learn about your condition, so that you can be more involved in your care and make decisions for yourself.

  • If you still see a nurse or therapist as you get older, you might need to move to an adult service between the ages of 16-19 years, this is called a ‘transfer’ or ‘transition’. 
  • Some people might need to stay in children’s services longer, depending on which team you see (19-25 years).
  • Some people may just see a nurse or therapist for a few appointments and might go back to seeing their GP for health advice.  

You can find out more about preparing for health transitions on the Nottinghamshire Healthcare website

Easy Read Guide – Preparing for Adulthood Transition (nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk) 


Differences to expect from 16 years old

  • Letters can be addressed to you rather than your parents or guardians. Sometimes if people don’t understand (don’t have capacity), letters might still be addressed to parents or guardians.  
  • You might be asked if you want to go into appointments on your own. You can still have support from your family or carer if you want it.  
  • Once you reach the age of 16, you can agree to examination or treatment just like adults. People providing healthcare do not then have to ask your parents or guardians for consent as well. Your conversations will be private unless you want to include your parents or guardian. If you do not want to, you do not have to make decisions about any treatment on your own. Professionals, family members and anyone else who usually supports you will be able to help you as they have always done. This is called Shared Decision Making.  
  • You might want to make, cancel, or rebook your own health appointments unless you give someone else permission. Some people will need support as they are unable to do this for themselves.  
  • You will still be given information to help you make decisions about your healthcare. Healthcare professionals will support and advise you for ‘Shared Decision Making’.  
  • The age that children’s health services finish and adult health services start varies depending on where people live and what service they receive. In some areas, adult services start at 16 years and in others they start at 18 years or older. It is a good idea to find out what age this happens where you live. If you became unwell or had an accident and needed to go to hospital, you might be admitted to a children’s or an adult ward depending on where you live.  
  • If you receive support from a Children and Young People Specialist Service and need to transfer to adult care, your nurse or therapist will give you more information before this happens.  

Easy Read Guide – Preparing for Adulthood Levels of Care/Difference in Healthcare (nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk) 


Legal rights and changes

Young People legally become responsible for decisions about their healthcare once they are 16 years old.  

If you do not want to, you do not have to make decisions about any treatment on your own. Professionals, family members and anyone else who usually supports you will be able to help you as they have always done. This is called Shared Decision Making.  

Special rules apply that are part of the Mental Capacity Act apply if a doctor or if a doctor or professional think that a young person is not able to make decisions on their own. The rules set out in the Mental Capacity Act will always be followed by doctors and other professionals.  

Easy Read GuidePreparing for Adulthood Legal and Financial Changes from 16 years old (nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk) 


Reasonable Adjustments

All people with a disability should get the same access to healthcare and treatment as everybody else. The law says that ‘reasonable adjustments’ should be put in place to help people to be treated equally. These are simple changes made by hospital staff. This could be the way that they treat you or the things that you need when you are in hospital.  

Every person is different and will need different things. Examples of reasonable adjustments could include: 

  • Doctors who speak clear and simple words 
  • More time with a doctor 
  • Having a quiet place to wait  
  • Information in easy read 
  • Having support workers or family members with you 
  • Having an appointment at a time, which is better for you 

Easy Read GuideA4 REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS final version.pdf (mencap.org.uk) 

Health and social care workers should communicate with you in a way that you understand. This easy read guide explains more: Accessible Information Standards MENCAP FINAL SC.pdf 

CHANGE has produced a communication card which you can use to share your communication needs, which can be downloaded from their website here 


Annual Health Check

An Annual Health Check is done by your doctor once a year. Your doctor will take a closer look at how you are doing – making sure you’re healthy.  

  • It is available for most people aged 14 and older with a learning disability at GP surgeries that offer the service. 
  • You don’t need to be ill to get a health check, but you can ask your doctor about anything that is hurting or worrying you. 
  • It is a good way to get to know your doctor better, and for them to find out more about you. 

You can find out if you can get a health check by asking your doctor. 

Easy Read GuideAHC Easy Read Guide Final.pdf (mencap.org.uk) 

Young People's Preparing for Adulthood Guide

Kids - Preparing for Adulthood Guide

The organisation Kids have produced a useful guide on transitions for young people or you can read this by clicking on the icon below:

Kids Preparing for Adulthood Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page last reviewed: 26/01/2024

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