Abstract

This best practice guide provides a blueprint for managing seamless transitions between services for young people aged 16-25 with additional needs, including learning disabilities, physical disabilities, complex health needs and sensory impairments.

The authors cover a wide range of transitions, including moving from children's to adult's services, from school to college, leaving education and gaining work experience and employment and supporting young people to live independently. They include key information on policy and legislation, the statutory duty of local authorities and health, housing and education agencies, and describe the impact of the new Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans. With a wealth of practical, common sense guidance for navigating this complex area of work in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner, the book will guide practitioners and students step-by-step through the process of managing transitions, highlighting best practice and providing evidence-based models to ensure the best possible outcomes for service users and their families.

An essential resource for all those involved in supporting young people with additional needs through transitions, including social workers and social work students, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, health professionals and special education teachers.

Transitions are notoriously difficult times for young people, their families - and especially so for those with disabilities. All too often the heavy case load pressures on staff mean that key legal requirements are overlooked and valuable relationships are lost when key professionals 'move on' during the perpetual reorganisations that occur in health and social care.

A book spelling out the key good practice, policy and legal requirements during the transition process is long overdue and most welcome. It is all the more important given the major legal and policy changes that flow from the enactment of both the Children and Families Act 2014 which creates new and detailed obligations on social services authorities in relation to disabled children, their carers and young carers negotiating the transition process.

Luke Clements, Cerebra Professor of Law, Cardiff Law School
Of great value not only because of its comprehensive coverage and detailed illustrations of timely issues in welfare and social service provision for young persons with disabilities... but also because of its step-by-step guidance for service delivery. This is particularly informative and helpful to the helping professionals in China, especially those working on the frontline in service planning for young persons with special needs.
China Journal of Social Work

Jill Hughes is an Advanced Social Work Professional in the Young Adults Team in Worcestershire, UK, which manages transitions for young people with disabilities and complex health needs between Children's Services and Adult Services. She has led on Practice Development Groups, facilitated reflective and interactive supervision in both one-to-one and group sessions, and she has a particular interest in personalisation and person-centred planning. Jill also provides sessional lectures to students completing access courses, BA and MA studies at the University of Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College.

Natalie Lackenby is a social worker in the Young Adults Team in Worcestershire, supporting young people with physical and learning disabilities through the transition to adulthood. Natalie has worked as a Transitions Social worker since 2003, and prior to joining the Young Adults Team, she worked as part of the community learning disability team. Natalie has a BA in vulnerable adults and community care, and she has given lectures around learning disability, legislation and policy and the transitions process to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College.