Transitional Planning
Transition from childhood to adulthood
What is Transition?
Transition means ‘a passage or change from one place or state or act or set of circumstances to another’. An important transition for young disabled people, and their parents and carers is moving from child to adult services. The transition from childhood through adolescence to adulthood presents opportunities and challenges for everyone. Some disabled young people require additional help at this time in their lives. Many are likely to require high levels of continuing support from services past their childhood years as their physical growth into adulthood is not always matched by the equal development of skills for independent living, choice and autonomy.
Transition often begins at the age of 14, when the annual school review will start the transition process and begin the planning for the time when your child leaves school. preparing for this in advance is advisable.
Both Cardiff and the Vale Councils have a transitional protocol in place. This involves all the relevant agencies in local authorities, children and adult services, school services, health services, careers services and DCells in the overall planning for transition.
The review meeting and resulting transition plan covered by the protocol will be the key process for all agencies working with disabled young people, and form the basis of the Unified Assessment. As with all individual plans, actions required need to be clearly recorded and reviewed regularly. Other meetings/discussions apart from the Reviews will be concerned only with the implementation issues of the agreed plan.
Useful Resources
Dont Hold Back is a report published in 2018 with a forward by Sally Holland, Childrens' commissioner for Wales that summarises the current situation across the country and highlights some best practice - well worth a read as you can quote recommendations from it when meeting to agree transition plans
See also Carers, Assessments and Social Services and Well Being Act
Contact a Family offer useful information on their website
Transition Pack
Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council together with other partner agencies have produced a transition pack to help young people, their parents and/or carers to find out about the people and organisations who can help them through transition. It contains information that a young person may need to make choices about their future. n.b. this pack may not still be available in 2018.
Update: April 2022 The Parents Federation are working with both authorities to agree new guidance material that will be posted here as soon as it has been agreed. Until then please contact our office and if you wish, be added to our transitional planning parents group.
Planning for my Future - a guide to the latest draft transitional plan can be found here
A useful transition guide is available on the Vale of Glamorgan website
Copies of the pack are available from your Case Manager or
Cardiff:
Supporting People Team
Cardiff CF10 4UW
Tel: 029 2087 3856/3843
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.cardiff.gov.ukVale:
The Transition Worker
Child Health & Disability Team
Tel: 01446 725202
The Transition Worker
Contact OneVale
Civic Offices, Holton Road
Barry, Vale of Glamorgan CF63 8YR
Tel: 01446 700111
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Important steps for transitional planning.
The agencies and trusts listed below can provide advice and/or information and opportunities to try out various options:
- Cardiff and Vale College
- Careers Wales
- Vision 21
- Innovate Trust
- Quest Supported Employment Agency
Transitions for older people
Transition also takes place at other stages in life for example, when a person becomes ill, leaves a family home or has changing care needs. This transition should also be carefully planned according to the assessment process. The range and scope of accommodation options is changing constantly and the introduction of tried and tested technology is now allowing more people to live as independently as possible in their own homes while enjoying close support when required. The role of the family carer continues beyond the day a person moves into their own home and many carers benefit from opportunities to meet one another and share experiences and tips through projects such as such as Connected Carers and our Vale Gatherings
For further information, contact your local social work team.
Cardiff Learning Disability Team
or
Vale Community Support Team.
See also assessments . families tell us that speaking to others with experience of being in similar situations is invaluable - we offer a range of opportunities to meet other carers, for more details contact us.