What is Preparing for Adulthood (Transition)
Preparing for Adulthood is often referred to as transition to adult services and
means “change”. Preparing for adulthood involves a longer time to plan and discuss
important issues for you as you grow up. This could be around what your child
would like to do for work, friends, relationships as well as their health needs.
The health team will work with you and your child to identify what information
you may need in order to support your child as they get older and move to adult
services.
It will take place between the ages of 14 – 19 yrs.
Once your child has reached 14 yrs your health team will start to talk to you both
about transition and give you this leaflet. Then each time they see you they may
talk about it and what you and your child would like to happen when they are older.
To help you think about what you would like there is space at the back of this leaflet
to write down your views and also any questions you may wish to ask your health
team when you see them again. Between the ages of 14 – 16 years your health
team will ask you for your views, answer your questions and also use a document
which is like a transition check list to help guide them to what additional help or
support you may need. They will then write up a transition plan that will guide
you, your child and their health teams through the work needed before you move
to adult services. The transition plan will then be reviewed with you at least once
every year.
For young people with more complex health needs the team will contact the adult
service and start conversations with regards to your child’s needs from 16yrs+.
For young people with less complex health needs the team will contact the adult
services and start conversations with regards to your child’s needs starting from
17yrs+.
The move from children’s to adult services usually happens on your child’s 18th
Birthday or as they leave high school/special school. If you leave school before then this may be done earlier.
To help us plan we will need to share information about your child with other
people, for example adult social care, therapy or nursing services. Consent will be
sought according to the legal framework (see below).
As your child becomes an adult you will be aware that in law there are changes
which services have to follow.
Gillick competence outlines whether a child (under 16) can consent to their own
medical treatment without their parents/carer having to know or give permission.
If the child has enough intelligence, competence and understanding to truly be
informed about their treatment, they would be considered Gillick competent. If the
child does not have the capacity to consent, someone with parental responsibility
can do so on their behalf.
The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is the ability of a young person over the age of 16
to make their own decisions, this means being able to understand information given
to them in relation to a decision, remember the information long enough to make a
decision, use or weigh up the information available and communicate their decision
in any which can be recognised. If they are unable to meet these criteria, they are
considered to be ‘lacking capacity’. This can include young people with Learning
disabilities, mental health problem or brain injury. If a young person over the age of
16 has been assessed as lacking mental capacity, there can be several people and
agencies involved in making decisions on their behalf, depending on the complexity
of the situation. The MCA does not apply to under 16s.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a clear framework for parents
on who should be consulted in the decision-making process and when. The five
principles of the MCA are:
• Presumption of capacity
• Support to make a decision
• Ability to make unwise decisions
• Best interest
• Least restrictive
A Best Interest meeting is a statutory principle set out in section 4 of the Mental
Capacity Act. It states that ‘any act done, or decision made, under this Act or on
behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done or made in their best interests.
Because the Best Interest principle is a statutory principle there is a legal
requirement for all decision makers to apply it when making decisions on behalf
of a person who lacks capacity. Therefore a Best Interest meeting would be called
where decisions may need to be made for your child, to include professionals in
order to make a collective decision on the decision to be made in your child’s best interest.
Your health team will consider other aspects of health and tell you about how to:
• See a GP
• Get an eye test
• Get a check on your teeth
If your child has a learning disability at 14 yrs you are able to access annual health
checks carried out by their GP. We can tell you how to
do this.
If your health team feel they can’t help you, they may wish to refer your child to a
different service or show you other forms to complete that will help you to get what
you need as you move into adult life.
Website support
Please use the following website for more information that may help you. Blackpool
SEND Local Offer or Lancashire SEND Local Offer.
To help with difficult decisions try to “Ask 3 questions”
1. What are my options?
2. What are the pros and cons of those options?
3. Who can help me to make a decision?
Please bring this leaflet with you to health appointments – to support you to ask any
questions and help your health team to develop your transition plan.