Understanding what Transition is
Amendment
In September 2024, text amendments were made to Section 3, When Transition Processes Should Take Place.
Transition is the term used within the Care Act (and also the Children and Families Act 2014) to describe the range of processes that local authorities should use to support a child with care needs (also referred to in this resource as a young person) or young carer (and their informal networks of support) to move successfully from childhood into adulthood.
The 3 groups of people that transition applies to are:
- Young people with Care and Support needs who are approaching adulthood;
- Adult carers of young people with Care and Support needs who are approaching adulthood; and
- Young carers who are themselves approaching adulthood.
Transition to adult care and support comes at a time when a lot of change can take place in a young person's/carer’s life. For young people, it can also mean changes to the care and support they receive from education, health and care services, or involvement with new agencies such as those who provide support for housing, employment or further education and training. Effective person-centred transition planning is essential to help young people/carers and their families prepare for adulthood.
Transition assessments can in themselves be of benefit in providing solutions that do not necessarily require the provision of services, and which may inform planning that helps to prevent, reduce or delay the development of needs for Care and Support/Support.
Looked-after children, young people with disabilities, and carers are often among the groups of people with the lowest life chances. Early conversations about transition to adulthood provide an opportunity for young people and their families to reflect on their strengths, needs and desired outcomes, and to plan ahead for how they will achieve their goals.
In all cases, the purpose of carrying out a transition assessment is to provide young people/carers and their families with information so that they know what to expect in the future and can prepare for adulthood.
There are 3 types of transition assessment. The type of assessment that should be completed depends on who is being assessed.
| Who is being assessed? | Type of assessment |
|---|---|
| A child with care needs who is approaching adulthood | Child's Needs Assessment |
| A young carer who is approaching adulthood | Young Carer's Assessment |
| An adult carer of a child approaching adulthood | Child's Carer's Assessment |
There is a duty to carry out a transition assessment for anyone in one of the above groups who is likely to have needs (whether or not those needs are eligible needs).
In all cases, the timing of the assessment needs to be carefully considered and should take place at a time that is right for the particular young person/carer. This time should not be determined by age, but by individual circumstances.
The most important factor when deciding whether to start a transition process is whether to do so at that time would be of 'significant benefit' to the young person/carer being assessed.
For a young person with care needs, significant benefit will generally be at the point when any needs for Care and Support they may have as an adult can be predicted reasonably confidently.
For young carers, significant benefit will generally be at the point when any needs for Support they may have when they turn 18 can be predicted reasonably confidently.
For child’s carers, significant benefit will generally be the point when any needs for Support they may have when the child they care for becomes 18 can be predicted reasonably confidently.
A range of other factors are likely to influence whether the time to assess is right, including:
- The stage the young person or carer has reached at school and any upcoming exams;
- Whether the young person or carer wishes to enter further/higher education or training;
- Whether the young person or carer wishes to get a job when they become an adult;
- Whether the young person is planning to move out of their parental home into their own accommodation;
- Whether a young person will have care leaver status when they become 18;
- Whether the carer of a young person wishes to remain in or return to employment when the young person leaves full time education;
- The time it may take to carry out an assessment;
- The time it may take to plan and put in place the adult Care and Support/Support;
- Any relevant family circumstances; and
- Any planned medical treatment.
In more complex cases, it can take a considerable amount of time to carry out the assessment and to plan and implement suitable Care and Support/Support. Transition assessments should be carried out early enough to ensure that the right care and support is in place when the young person/carer moves to adult Care and Support.
For young people with care needs, there may be other statutory transition requirements outside of the Care Act to consider:
- Where they have an EHC Plan, the transition to adulthood must be considered from year 9;
- A looked-after child will have a personal advisor and a pathway plan as part of their transition to adulthood from age 16; and
- Where the young person is receiving Children and Young People’s Continuing Care, consideration of their eligibility for adult NHS Continuing Health Care funding should start at age 14.
In relation to transition, legislation makes no reference to 'children's social services' or 'adult social services', instead using the term 'local authorities'. This is intentional to encourage local authorities to break down historical barriers between children's and adult's services in the area of transitions and work together more effectively to support people during this time.
The transition process is completed when either Care and Support services start to be provided under the adult provisions, or when the Local Authority has decided that it will not provide services under the adult provisions.
For most young people the transition process does not end on their 18th birthday, they can continue to be supported with their transition until the age of 25, particularly if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Under the Care Act, the statutory responsibility to provide services remains with children’s services until such time as the transition process is completed even if it has not been completed by the time the person becomes an adult.
When a young person/carer undergoing a transition process is under the age of 18, children's safeguarding legislation applies.
When the young person/carer becomes 18, even if their Care and Support/Support has not yet transferred to adults services, the adult safeguarding legislation applies.
When a young person/carer is in transition from children’s to adult services or has only recently transferred to adult Care and Support, safeguarding processes should involve relevant colleagues from children's services and other relevant partners.
The Care Act requires local authorities to arrange age - appropriate services in relation to information and advice, prevention and Care and Support. It recognises the specific needs of young people in relation to:
- Support to prepare to live independently;
- Support with further or higher education, employment and training;
- Advice on housing options; and
- Care and Support providers who understand the needs of younger adults (e.g. access to social opportunities, leisure and education).
The Care Act recognises that most transitions assessments will relate to young people and carers who are already known to or receiving support and services from children's services. However, transitions assessments are also available to people who are not known to children's services, and under the Act the Local Authority must be proactive in identifying those who meet the criteria for assessment but who are not currently known.
This could include:
- Young people with degenerative conditions;
- Young people whose needs have been largely met by an educational institution, but who will require needs to be met in another way when their education ends;
- Young people who are detained in the youth justice system and will be moving into adult prison services;
- Young carers whose parents have needs below the national eligibility threshold;
- Young people and carers who are receiving mental health support services (e.g. CAMHS).
Even if young people/carers are not likely to be eligible for adult Care and Support following an assessment, a good assessment can provide helpful information and advice about available support in the community that can serve to improve life chances.
Last Updated: February 12, 2024
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