Transitions – Pathway to Adulthood

Transitions – Pathway to Adulthood

Torbay ASC is committed to providing young people with the support they need as they transition from children's services into adult social care. This crucial period of transition is designed to empower young people, ensure continuity of care, and help them live as independently as possible in adulthood. Our approach is person-centred, collaborative, and focused on equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources to thrive in their adult lives. This summary provides an overview of the activities, progress, and plans related to young people in transition in Torbay.

1. Transition process overview:

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a challenging time, particularly for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In Torbay, we follow a coordinated approach to transition that brings together children’s services, adult social care, education providers, healthcare professionals, and other relevant agencies.

The transition process begins at least 12 months before the young person turns 18, with a focus on:

• Assessment of needs: A thorough assessment is carried out to understand the young person’s health, social care, and education needs.
• Person-centered planning: We work closely with the young person, their family, and any professionals involved in their care to develop a transition plan that reflects their aspirations, needs, and preferences.
• Skills development: Throughout the transition period, the emphasis is placed on developing skills for independent living, including budgeting, cooking, managing personal care, and accessing services.
• Preparation for adulthood: Our transition plans incorporate elements of employment, housing, social inclusion, and health, preparing young people for the challenges and opportunities of adulthood.

2. Key achievements and activities:

Person-centred transition plans:

We have seen significant progress in developing tailored, person-centred transition plans for young people. These plans cover a broad range of areas including education, employment, health, housing, and community involvement. Key achievements include:

• Collaboration with families: Families have been fully engaged in the planning process, with regular reviews to ensure the plans remain relevant and reflect the changing needs of the young person.
• Transition support workers: Dedicated transition workers have been assigned to young people to provide consistent guidance and support throughout the process. They ensure that plans are implemented and that young people are supported in accessing the appropriate services.
• Education and employment pathways: We have worked closely with education providers and local employers to support young people in accessing further education, training, or employment opportunities. Several young people have successfully secured apprenticeships or placements within local businesses.

Personal independence and wellbeing:

We have focused on equipping young people with the skills needed for independent living. Several key initiatives have been implemented to enhance personal independence: 

3. Challenges and areas for improvement:

While significant progress has been made, there are still areas that require ongoing attention:

• Timeliness of transition planning: Some young people’s transition plans have been delayed, impacting their ability to move smoothly from children to adult services. We are working to address this by ensuring that assessments and planning begin earlier, with a focus on meeting key deadlines.
• Access to ASC services: Moving to ASC can be complex, particularly for those with complex needs. We have identified the need for clearer pathways and more support in navigating adult services. 
• Mental health and wellbeing support: Many young people in transition experience mental health challenges, and access to appropriate services can sometimes be inconsistent. We are working to strengthen mental health support within the transition process, ensuring that young people’s emotional wellbeing is adequately addressed.
• Employment and training opportunities: While some young people have successfully secured employment or education placements, others face barriers to accessing suitable opportunities. We are exploring partnerships with local employers and training providers to improve these opportunities.

4. Plans and actions:

Torbay’s ASC service is committed to continuing to improve the transition process for young people. Our plans include:

• Streamlining the transition process: We will work towards earlier identification of young people who will require transition support, with a focus on ensuring that assessments and planning start well in advance of the young person turning 18.
• Developing new partnerships: We aim to expand our partnerships with local businesses, educational institutions, and housing providers to create more opportunities for young people in transition, particularly in terms of apprenticeships, internships, and supported living options.
• Improving access to mental health support: Recognising the importance of mental health in the transition process, we plan to further integrate mental health services into the transition planning process, ensuring that young people receive the support they need to manage emotional well-being as they move into adulthood.
• Expanding independent living programs: We are planning to enhance independent living programs to include more tailored support for those with complex needs, ensuring that young people have the skills and confidence to live as independently as possible.
• Feedback and review mechanism: We are committed to improving our feedback mechanisms, ensuring that young people and their families have a voice in shaping the transition process. We will be introducing regular surveys and consultations to gather insights and identify areas for improvement. 

Focus on arranging the support team

The Arranging Support Team (AST) is a group of nine professionals who work with health and social care teams, people, families, and providers to match individuals with the right support. They focus on specific areas of care, building strong relationships with providers to negotiate fees and provide expert guidance. The team arranges various types of care, including residential placements, home care, live-in care, respite, day care, supported living, and specialist services for complex needs.

They also help prevent hospital admissions and assist with hospital discharge to maintain patient flow. In 2024, the team created a list of voluntary and community organisations in Torbay, helping people access community support instead of relying on paid services.

The team collects data on care services, which is shared with commissioners to help shape the market and understand service availability and demand. Additionally, they ensure contracts are raised and payments to providers are processed promptly, supporting efficient financial tracking for adult social care spending.