Transition Policy Version 1 Transition Policy Date: 30/07/2012 Author: CYP - ACS Management Group Document Control / Version History Version Date Comments 0.19 11/10/2011 Reflect comments from CYP 1.0 1.1 and ASC joint management group Document approved Timetable revised to reflect procedure amendments 13/10/2011 30/07/2012 Document Approval Role: Name: Method: Project Sponsor Mike Banks Email Project Sponsor Sally Riley Email CYP / ACS Management Group Andrew Sofield Terry Mears Sally Allen Tony Morrissey Sandra Bilsborrow Dave McHale Mark Warren Email Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory Date: page 1 Transition Policy Version 1 CONTENT SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION ____________________________________________________3 WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? (PURPOSE) __________________________________________________4 WHO DOES IT COVER? (SCOPE) ____________________________________________________5 DEFINITIONS__________________________________________________________________5 WHAT IS INFLUENCING TRANSITION NATIONALLY? (NATIONAL CONTEXT) ______________________6 WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LANCASHIRE? (LOCAL CONTEXT) _________________________________6 KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE (SAFEGUARDING) _______________________________________7 SECTION 2 - POLICY ____________________________________________________________8 BOTTOM LINE (OVER ARCHING PRINCIPLES) ___________________________________________9 WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE (OBJECTIVES) ___________________________________________9 SECTION 3 – OVER ARCHING PRINCIPLES ________________________________________10 MAKE SURE PEOPLE RECEIVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND ADVICE AT THE RIGHT TIME _________11 WORK WELL WITH THE YOUNG PERSON AND THEIR FAMILY IN MAKING THEIR PLANS _____________12 HELP AND SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE CHOICES AND TAKE CONTROL __________________13 SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY LIFE (RESILIENCE) ___14 PLACE EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING SUPPORT WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY __________________15 ENSURE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN TRANSITION WORK WELL TOGETHER ___________________16 CHECK THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS BEING DELIVERED __________________17 SECTION 4 - PROCEDURE _______________________________________________________18 HOW IT WILL BE DONE (HIGH LEVEL PROCEDURE)? ______________________________________19 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ____________________________________________________20 SECTION 5 - GOVERNANCE _____________________________________________________21 HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS (GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE) __________________________________22 WHO DOES WHAT? (ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY) ______________________________________22 SECTION 6 – LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE _____________________________25 ABBREVIATIONS _______________________________________________________________39 SECTION 7 – APPENDICES ______________________________________________________42 APPENDIX 1 – TERMS OF REFERENCE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE & ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (CYP/ACS) MANAGEMENT GROUP _______________________________________43 APPENDIX 2 – TERMS OF REFERENCE COUNTY TRANSITION GROUP _________________________45 APPENDIX 3 – TERMS OF REFERENCE LOCALITY TRANSITION GROUP ________________________47 Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 2 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 3 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION In the Lancashire County Council corporate strategy 2011 /13 we state "Young people are key to the future of Lancashire. We want every child and young person in Lancashire to have the fairest start in life, to be able to fulfil their potential to make a successful transition to a healthy, prosperous and fulfilling adult life. Their attainment and health and their personal, emotional and social development are all key factors we will be working towards. We will continue to work with our partners, parents, families and carers to ensure the best possible range of universal services are available for all children and young people. However, we also recognise the needs of some might require targeted or specialist services. " There are many transitions in a young person’s life, but we are referring in this policy to the move between children’s and adults’ service provision, with the key changes happening at age 16, 18 and 19 for most young people. This is an important time for all young people as they begin making choices about the next steps in their lives, and gaining greater independence. They will be making choices regarding: education, training or employment their social networks and family life their housing and living arrangements life style and finances For some young people this can be a difficult time as they move between services, face new assessment criteria, and different methods of support and new people. It is important that all partner agencies work together to provide the support to the young person and their family and to ensure this is as seamless a process as possible. It is essential that integrated and comprehensive services are available throughout the transition process to enable disabled and vulnerable young people to grow-up and live the lives they want, and to fully participate and be active members of their community. For this to be possible the transition planning process must start early. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? (PURPOSE) This document is designed to help staff in different agencies to work together to plan the journey into adult life of a young person with additional needs. It is the responsibility of all agencies in Lancashire to work together to remove any barriers in order to make the transition from one service to another as smooth, seamless and person-centred as possible for every young person. This document is written to ensure all agencies have the same person centred values and principles underpinning their statutory duties and responsibilities. Adopting the same person centred values and principles will ensure that the young people of Lancashire have a co-ordinated and positive journey from childhood to adulthood. The planning process will delivers the 5 outcomes of Every Child Matters and the 7 outcomes of Independence Wellbeing and Choice, through a single transition pathway. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 4 Transition Policy Version 1 These principles will ensure that the planning process is clear and transparent to all those involved. WHO DOES IT COVER? (SCOPE) Transition to adulthood is a key milestone for all young people and should be delivered through universal services where ever possible. However for certain young people who have more complex needs, additional support is required through more targeted services. This can include young people aged between 14 and 25 years who may: have a Special Educational Needs (SEN) statement, be known by Child and Family Support have a child protection plan that continues after their 17th birthday, or the young person is deemed to be vulnerable with an ongoing risk of significant harm be a Child Looked After (CLA) or receive support from the Leaving Care Team, be a young carer, have substance misuse or dependence be known to the Youth Offending Team (YOT) long term or be receiving extended support from Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Tier 3 or above The transition policy has been written on broad principles, so it can be applied to the diverse range of young people who need additional support through transition. However, where a SEN statement exists, the procedures are more detailed due to the statutory requirements of the SEN Code of Practice and the number of agencies involved. DEFINITIONS Word/Term Young person Vulnerable young person Transition Self Directed Support Personal Budget Agency A 'Total Family' approach Direct Payments Definition A young person aged between 14 and 25 years (Academic year 9 onwards) A young person whose needs fall between levels 2 and 4 (Early Intervention, Complex Needs and Protection) on Lancashire's Continuum of Need Transition to adulthood is an all encompassing process, covering every aspect of a young person's life, growing up, living the life they want, fully participating and becoming active members of their community. A new way of providing social care, that offers more choice, flexibility and control over the support you need in order for you to live the life you choose. An amount of money that we agree will meet your social care support needs Business or organisation Recognises that a young person is part of a family unit and must be supported within that context, taking into account the needs of other family members, not just those of the child or young person Direct payments are cash payments given to service users in lieu of community care services they have been assessed as needing, and are intended to give users greater choice in their care. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 5 Transition Policy Version 1 WHAT IS INFLUENCING TRANSITION NATIONALLY? (NATIONAL CONTEXT) Recently, there has been a wide range of national initiatives and papers on the key principles in relation to transition. These provide a broad Framework within which Lancashire's transition policy and procedures must operate and with which, they need to comply. The main ones are: The Government's Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010, and the local government funding settlement, means that county councils have to manage significant reductions alongside increased demand for services Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Green Paper: Support and Aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs (2011), proposes to replace the statement of special educational needs with a single assessment and an education, health and social care plan that will last until the age of 25 Local Authorities role in post-16 learning, provides statutory guidance on each local authority's role to work with local providers, in order to identify and fill any gaps in provision for young people aged 16-19 The Education Bill (2011) places a duty on maintained schools to provide impartial careers advice to young people from aged 14 until they leave school. This will be supported by the plan to develop an all age careers service. It will create a new duty on the Chief Executive of Skills to fund apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability between ages 19-24 years The Vision for Social Care (2010) is built on seven principles: Prevention, Personalisation, Partnership, Plurality, Protection, Productivity and People. It emphasises the importance of the local authority's role, in providing impartial information and advice, to all citizens in relation to meeting care and support needs NHS Reform and Health and Social Care Bill (2011), places new duties on the local authority in relation to public health and patient involvement. Each local authority will establish a health and wellbeing board, to undertake joint strategic needs assessments and develop local health and wellbeing strategies, to guide health and social care commissioning Localism Bill and Commissioning Green Paper (2010) will impact on the way services are provided in the future, providing a greater emphasis on empowering local communities National Framework for Children and Young People's Continuing Care (2010), outlines an equitable, transparent and timely process for assessing, deciding and agreeing bespoke packages of continuing care for those children and young people under the age of 18; who have continuing care needs that cannot be met by existing universal and specialist services alone. (The relevant legislation and policies are set out in more detail in Section 6) WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LANCASHIRE? (LOCAL CONTEXT) The LCC Budget Plan for 2011/13 This clearly sets out the challenging spending plans for the next three years. Resulting financial constraints have enabled a more cohesive offer to be provided by children's and adult services. However, there is a clear change in the role of the county council from a provider of services to one of empowering young people, their parents/carers and local communities to help themselves, to exercise choice and control, through increased opportunities. Building sustainable solutions and capacity within the community. If an out of area placement is unavoidable, the intention is to bring the young person back as soon as local provision has been developed and commissioned to meet their needs. A whole system's approach, Lancashire is focusing on the 'Total Family' approach based on multi-agency, co-ordinated, wrap-a-round support, with young people and families having 'a tell us once' assessment. This should improve outcomes for young people and their families improve professional partnership working and create opportunities for the pooling of resources which prevents duplication. Prevention and early intervention Timely and effective support will prevent young people's problems from escalating to the point where their future life outcomes are poor and costly service provision is required. The focus will be on building their resilience and coping strategies and their overall wellbeing. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 6 Transition Policy Version 1 Personal budgets Young people (and family) in transition, who meet the eligibility criteria for social care, will benefit from the development of personal budgets (as promoted in Aspirations and Support, the Government's Green Paper and the Personalisation Agenda); to commission their own support (e.g. from the E-Market place) and have packages of care best suited to meet their needs. Personal budgets are a key element within the personalisation agenda for young people and their family/carers' to exercise increased choice and control. Schools as commissioners The relationship between schools and the local authority is changing. Schools will have the duty to ensure that young people receive impartial Information Advice and Guidance (IAG), to meet their future aspirations. Every Child Matters Lancashire will continue the Children's Trust arrangements and the 5 outcomes of Every Child Matters, as outlined in the Children and Young People's Plan 2011/14. Independence, Wellbeing and Choice Adult Social Care has the 7 outcomes from Independence, Wellbeing and Choice, as seen in the Adult and Community Services Business Plan. Outcomes of Every Child Matters Be Healthy Stay Safe Enjoy and Achieve Make Positive Contribution Active Economic Wellbeing Outcomes of Independence, Wellbeing and Choice Improved Health Personal Dignity Freedom from Discrimination or Harassment Improved Quality of Life Making a Positive Contribution Exercise Choice and Control Economic Wellbeing KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE (SAFEGUARDING) Where there are concerns regarding the safety of a young person in transition, safeguarding protocols will take priority over transition procedures. All services involved with a young person have a duty to raise safeguarding concerns when they are identified. Safeguarding procedures can be invoked at anytime. From age 17, all young people who are deemed to be vulnerable with an ongoing risk of significant harm should be referred to the Locality Transition Group via the Transition Service. The Locality Transition Group will ensure that each young person is referred to the appropriate service / support as they move from children's services. Where appropriate a worker from the Adult Social Care (ACS), Active Intervention and Safeguarding Team will be involved at least 6 months before a young person's 18th birthday. Details regarding the safeguarding procedures can be found in the Lancashire Adults Safeguarding Procedure. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 7 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 2 - POLICY Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 8 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 2 - POLICY BOTTOM LINE (OVER ARCHING PRINCIPLES) Lancashire's Transition Policy is built on seven principles which underpin the transition process. These principles aim to: ensure people receive the right information and advice at the right time work well with the young person, their parents, carers and families in making plans help and support young people to make choices and take control support young people to develop the skills to deal with everyday life (Resilience) place the emphasis on providing support within their local community ensure organisations involved in transition work well together check that what is important for young people is being delivered Applying these principles will result in a seamless process that supports young people to achieve their full potential. This will lead to a change in how we plan and deliver our services with a strong focus on enabling young people to help themselves. WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE (OBJECTIVES) There are a number of key objectives that we are working towards over the next five years. These are: For all Citizens to Grow up prepared for the future Have improved health and wellbeing Be able to exercise control over the support they receive Our Community to Address the needs of the whole family Be able to receive support locally from a range of services that everyone values Our County to Reduce the number of people who have to go Independent Non Maintained Special School (INMSS) to have their needs met, by developing local provision Ensure the right support is in place based on where the young person lives Our Organisation to Reduce and prevent duplication of assessments and services Make sure we make best use of professional time Build capacity and expertise across services to support transition These objectives will be jointly monitored and reviewed by the Children and Young People / Adult Community Services CYP / ACS management group Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 9 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 3 – OVER ARCHING PRINCIPLES Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 10 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 3 – OVER ARCHING PRINCIPLES MAKE SURE PEOPLE RECEIVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND ADVICE AT THE RIGHT TIME 1. Young people and their parents / carers must have high quality information about transition and options for the future, to help them to make informed decisions and take control of their personalised support. 2. All partners must ensure that the information they provide is: Timely Impartial Meaningful and accurate Easy to access Locality based Young person friendly 3. The information should be provided in a range of styles and through media sources that best suits the young person's communication needs. This will enable them to fully participate in, and be at the centre of, the planning process. For each young person, an appropriate means of communication should be identified in the review preparation process. 4. The transition process must be clear and transparent, not only to the young person, but to all those involved. 5. Young people should be informed, well in advance, when a service will end. Eligibility for the most appropriate adult service must be established at least a year before the young person's 18th birthday. If the young person is not eligible for adult services this must be made clear to them as early as possible. 6. Professionals must ensure that the young person and their family fully understand the information in the transition plan, who needs to do what and by when, and that they agree with what has been written in the transition plan; this could include any costs or eligibility criteria for services. 7. A Lancashire 'Transition Information Pack' will be produced and all agencies will be responsible for producing and maintaining information in their service area. Young people will be at the centre of the development and reviewing of the information pack. The information pack should be age appropriate and accessible. The information will be in different formats such as: verbal explanations, videos, leaflets, support groups and networks, peer support, websites and case studies. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 11 Transition Policy Version 1 WORK WELL WITH THE YOUNG PERSON AND THEIR FAMILY IN MAKING THEIR PLANS 1. Young people subject to transition planning and their family / carers must be fully involved and should be equal partners in the process. 2. Support will be given (with regard to the young person's age and understanding) to enable the young person to exercise choice and control over the support they need, in order for them to live the life they choose whilst also safeguarding vulnerable young people. 3. Advocacy should be available to those young people who want it, to ensure they are empowered to have their voice heard and that they are at the centre of the transition process. Some young people's aspirations may differ from their families' expectations or wishes. 4. Where the young person and their family / carers have differing views, it should be acknowledged that both parties have equal rights within the process and these should be recorded separately. 5. Working with the young person and their family from an early age will help to establish the relationships needed between the family (and their relevant community members) and the various professionals and agencies concerned with transition. These relationships should be maintained, as much as possible, throughout the transition process. 6. All agencies should make sure that they have a sustainable and ongoing evaluation process which is responsive to the changing views and opinions of young people, or any issues that arise. Communication channels should be established, within and between agencies, so that issues are acted upon quickly. 7. Young people should be involved in contributing to agencies' service plans and reviews and be regularly engaged. Their opinions must be listened to, respected and acted upon, to promote the development of responsive, flexible and creative options. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 12 Transition Policy Version 1 HELP AND SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE CHOICES AND TAKE CONTROL 1. Transition planning must be for the benefit of the young person and support them to be fully involved in the process of making any decisions which affect their lives. Agencies supporting young people during transition should help them make informed decisions that are right for them in their own family and local context. 2. The transition plan should reflect the young person's needs and aspirations and specify how the relevant agencies will ensure that the young person's needs will be met and aspirations achieved. The plan should cover future choices on issues including housing, education, employment and leisure. It should be reviewed regularly and in a way that is meaningful to the young person. 3. In the same way as professionals, the young person should be involved in any action points resulting from the review of their transition plan. They are expected to take responsibility and ownership (appropriate to their age and understanding) and develop a sense of purpose, which promotes their involvement and active participation. 4. The needs of young people (aged18-25) are often very different to the general adult population and adult services should take this into account when planning and commissioning. However, it is important that all young people reaching the age of18 should be treated as an adult. 5. Services should be designed around the needs of the young person and not around the needs of the service. Planning should consider options beyond which services will provide support or funding and look at what it is the young person wants to achieve: a person centred approach should be adopted. 6. Young people should be given the chance to say goodbye to staff and friends associated with the service they are leaving. They should also be able to visit, in advance of the transition, the service or team they that they will be joining. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 13 Transition Policy Version 1 SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY LIFE (RESILIENCE) 1. To encourage increased self help, control and informed decision-making partners will focus on improving the timeliness and effectiveness of information to young people and parents/carers during the transition process. 2. All partners will support young people (and family / carers') to be better able to tolerate stress, manage change and uncertainty, and make meaningful decisions about their future. 3. Young people and their families will be supported to identify their own goals and helped to make them realistic and achievable, with the aim of improving family relationships, building self worth and esteem and raising aspirations. This will help to develop the coping skills to deal with similar issues that may arise in the future and build resilience, preventing the need for future statutory services. 4. To develop supportive communities and social networks around young people and their families / carers leading to more sustainable outcomes. 5. To support communities to be active and to build their capacity for self help, in order to help young people to achieve their potential and live as independently as possible. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 14 Transition Policy Version 1 PLACE EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING SUPPORT WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY 1. Services to meet the needs and aspirations in the young person a transition plan will be provided as far as possible within their preferred locality 2. Young people should, wherever possible, have their needs met through support to access everyday community services and local community provision through timely support. 3. The development of universal and community services will be based on evidence provided by the: transition plans, Locality Transition Group (LTG), parent forums, young people's groups (e.g. the youth council). Our aim is to develop sustainable local solutions and promote community based support. Young people and family / carer groups that reflect the make-up of their community and provide feedback on 'what does and does not work' will enable the effective planning and commissioning of services to take place. Such evidence based practice is the way forward for future service development to meet identified local needs. 4. Through the early identification of needs, we will be able to map out existing services and gaps in service provision. This will enable young people to be supported within, or return as soon as possible to, their local communities. The aim is to invest in our local communities. and to build capacity 5. We will tackle the inequities in health and wellbeing between different groups of young people within Lancashire which result in poor life outcomes. A county health and wellbeing board will identify the priorities for improving and narrowing the health gaps. 6. We will work together to reduce the number of young people requiring access to targeted and specialist care by: - developing new ways of delivering services in more integrated cost efficient ways - developing early intervention approaches to work with young people and families before there is a need for specialist support - where possible, prevent the need for specialist, intensive support, by giving young people and their families more control over their lives and resources that are available. - Using a 'Total Family' approach will enable young people and their families to enjoy coordinated support. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 15 Transition Policy Version 1 ENSURE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN TRANSITION WORK WELL TOGETHER 1. Transition is a continuous planning process assisted by agreed clear decisions at significant points in a young person's life. A well managed transition process should enable the young person, their family and professionals, to work together. If regular meetings are established, it is more likely that issues will be raised and discussed and solutions considered that are right for the young person. 2. All partner agencies should take a 'Total Family' approach which challenges traditional practice and budget arrangements. Family members may be in contact with a number of different agencies and professionals; so, effective working is critical between partners. 3. Partners should work to the concept of a single assessment process where ever possible, ensuring there are robust systems in place for the timely transfer of appropriate information about each young person. Assessments should be co-ordinated, to ensure services are working towards a 'tell us once' approach. 4. We will ensure that our approach to transition is equitable, consistent and fair, providing support where it is most needed. The transition policy and procedures will be reviewed, at least annually, to reflect the diverse economic and cultural needs of young people and families living within our Lancashire communities. 5. Partners should ensure that children or young people who are not eligible for Adult Social Care services are signposted to the most appropriate support agencies, community or voluntary groups. 6. Partners should share data / information on who are using their services and expected to transfer to adult services in years to come. This will commissioners to plan ahead and agencies to develop their services, well in advance of the young person's transition taking place. 7. To reduce duplication of resources and promote more effective collaborative working, professionals need to know what resources are available locally e.g. through Help Direct and Libraries. Professionals with a lead on transition planning for a young person must ensure that they call on the widest range of expertise and get the most out of available local resources, to achieve the best outcomes for young people 8. Partners will work together to resolve any disputes through established channels with a focus on achieving a positive outcome for the young person. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 16 Transition Policy Version 1 CHECK THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS BEING DELIVERED 1. Agencies should ensure that they have regularly reviewed evaluation processes in place so they can effectively monitor transition arrangements at both operational and strategic levels. 2. As part of the monitoring process, every young person should be contacted by their last service provider within 3 months of formally leaving that service. This should be written into each provider's service contract. 3. The monitoring and review process must identify if the young person's needs are being met. It must check that for each young person their current pathway is working for them. This must take into account the young person's experiences and whether the outcomes are meaningful to them. 4. Feedback must be obtained from young people and their family / carer throughout the transition process. This is particularly important at the key points in the young person's life (e.g. after the year 9 transition review, on turning 18, or leaving school). The Locality Transition Group Meetings will consider all feedback and the results will be provided to commissioners to inform planning of future services. 5. There will be proactive and clear procedures that help the services to manage, monitor and improve transition planning and outcomes across organisations at both an operational and strategic level. 6. Feedback gathered from young people and their family throughout the transition process will make them a key partner in shaping the planning and commissioning process. This will enable us to evidence how effective support has been and to respond to developing trends, by flexible and responsive commissioning at a local and strategic level. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 17 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 4 - PROCEDURE Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 18 Transition Policy Version 1 HOW IT WILL BE DONE (HIGH LEVEL PROCEDURE)? Locality Group Meetings Review Meetings Operations Transition Management Meeting Joint CYP / ACS Management Meeting Sept Autumn Term Year 11 Review Oct - Post 16 provider receives 139a - Checklist for CHC - Benefits check Nov Dec Spring Term Jan Feb March Year 9 Review - preparation with young person - aspirations identified - transition plan started April Summer Term May June July Aug Year 10 Review - Decision re Out of Area placements - post 16 options - Young people staying post 16 schools Year 8 Preparation Year 10 Review - Reports provided identification of young people -letter to parents on transition process - post 16 options - Young people progressing to post 16 provision Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory Year 12 Review - joint 139a and ACS assessment - CHC Assessment - ISP application for funding agreement in principle Year 13 Review -review and update ACS and 139a assessment Year 14 Review -review ACS and 139a assessment -ISP application submitted by 13st Jan if appropriate Focus on Y11-14 Identification of Y9 Summary on the Y9 identified Trends for Transition Focus on Y11-14 ISP Deadline Report on ISPs ISP report Focus on Y10 Predictions? Mid year report Mid year report Focus on Y9 Recommendations regarding policy and procedures page 19 Confirm any changes to policy / procedures Transition Policy Version 1 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Forms and Records Management Form Transition Plan Year 8 letter Invite to review letter Feedback form Locality transition meeting, standard- Agenda Locality transition meeting, standard - Minutes The Transition Plan Friendly/easy read version Transition Plan Data information – minimum to be collected S139a Independent Specialist Provider Application Form Related Material Name Transition Procedures Transition Plan Guidance notes Independent Specialist Provider procedures / guidance Special Educational Needs Code of Practice ISISS procedures for transitions IDSS Child and Family Support Threshold Model FACE FACS CAMHS to AMHS Protocol Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory Link Link page 20 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 5 - GOVERNANCE Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 21 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 5 - GOVERNANCE HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS (GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE) Focus On CYP /ACS Management Group Strategy County Transition Group Processes Individuals Lancaster Locality Transition Group Fylde and Wyre Locality Transition Group Preston / Chorley Locality Transition Group South Ribble and West Lancashire Locality Transition Group Hyndburn/ Rossendale / Ribble Valley Locality Transition Group Burnley / Pendle Locality TransitionGroup WHO DOES WHAT? (ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY) CYP/ ACS Management Group County Transition Group Locality Transition Group To provide a strategic lead on the County Council's approach to transition (Terms of Reference appendix 1) To discuss operational issues and best practice, and make recommendations to the CYP / ACS Management Group for improvements (Terms of Reference appendix 2 ) To identify and track young people through transition to improve partnership working (Terms of Reference appendix 3) All partners involved in Transition have a responsibility to share accurate up to date information and attend the Locality Transitions Group meetings with the purpose of improving communication and facilitate co-ordinated planning Joint Commissioning Unit Complex Needs Panel Lancashire's Children's Partnership Maintained Schools Young Peoples Service To develop integrated services and approaches that meet the needs of young people entering transition that minimise duplication and deliver positive outcomes. To agree how the young person with complex need's support will be funded. To consider / agree funding for Independent Specialist Provider applications. To develop strategic solutions in line with the Every Child Matters 5 outcomes to address Lancashire wide issues. To organise and chair the year 9 and subsequent transition reviews for young people with SEN statements, ensuring the right people are involved and providing support to the young people and their families. To support the young person through transition, providing the information, advice and guidance required, and attending the Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 22 Transition Policy Version 1 transition reviews for young people with a statement. Children Looked After Team Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Leaving Care Team Inclusion and Disability Support Service Special Educational Needs and Disability Child and Family Support Child and Parent Support Services Child Protection Team Inclusion and Disability Support Service Special Educational Needs and Disability Integrated Assessment Alternative and Complementary Education and Residential Services 16-19 team Youth Offending Team Adult and Community To attend and, where there is no SEN statement, lead the integrated transition review processes for children looked after by LCC. The review of personal education plan should be undertaken as part of Transition process. The IRO will review the Care Plan for Children Looked After which from their Year 9 Review (age 14) will incorporate the Transition Plan and their Pathway Plan for all eligible, relevant and former relevant young people from age 16. To attend and, where there is no SEN statement, lead the integrated transition review process for young people leaving care. The pathway plan review, where appropriate, should be undertaken as part of the transition planning process, in order to avoid duplication. To provide support to children with disabilities who meet their threshold eligibility criteria and their families through the transition process To identify young people, without a SEN statement, who would benefit from a multi-agency approach to transition. To take responsibility for co-ordinating the transition reviews. To identify any young people who will still have a child protection plan at age 17 and above. If there is no SEN statement, to take responsibility for co-ordinating the transition reviews. To provide information to assist with the identification of young people who may be eligible for Adult Social Care. To provide initial communication to parents/carers regarding the year 9 transition reviews and to support schools in relation to the process for young people with a SEN statement. To co-ordinate the transition review for young people who have a statement and do not currently have a school placement. To provide support to ensure that any young person who has been permanently excluded from school, who does not have a SEN statement benefits from multi agency support through transition. To identify a professional who is responsible for co-ordinating the transition review. To provide support on 16-19 provision and to work with colleges to develop courses and training that enable young people's educational needs to be met locally. To provide advice and support on the ISP application process and submit all approved applications to the YPLA To provide support to young people who have offended and are known to the Youth Justice System. Where the young person does not have a SEN statement, and is with YOT long term, to take responsibility for co-ordinating the transition reviews. To support the young people who may be eligible for Adult Social Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 23 Transition Policy Version 1 Services Active Intervention and Safeguarding Help Direct Prevention and Early Intervention Panel Parent Partnership Service Health CAMHS Early Intervention Service (NHS) Care through the transition process until settled with a package of care and no longer requiring active support. The young adult will then pass to the Support Planning and Review Team. To safeguard vulnerable adults and identified young people in transition after their 17th Birthday To provide information and advice on low level, community services with an option of follow up support To provide assistance in identifying and developing appropriate early and preventative support; to help the young person, their family and community, to build resilience through a 'Total Family' approach. To provide support to parents of young people with SEN statements and help to explain and resolve any issues with the statement process To assess and meet the identified health needs of young people in transition To provide support to young people who experience emotional and behavioural problems, usually with short term interventions but occasionally on a longer term basis (up to age 16) for those with more serious problems. Where there is no SEN statement, to take responsibility for co-ordinating the transition reviews To promote early detection, provide education about psychosis and provide direction for those seeking help who are aged 14 to 35 together with their families/carers. To identify young people without a SEN statement, who would require a multi-agency approach to transition and take responsibility for co-ordinating the reviews Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 24 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 6 – LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 25 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 6 – LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE Name 1. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Green Paper 2011 Summary Support and Aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability. This is a major consultation on the identification of disabled children and young people's needs and the process of planning to meet those needs. Proposals include: Replacing statements of special education needs with Education, Health and Care Plan. These will last until the age of 25, incorporate learning difficulty assessments (S139as), set out commitments from health, education and social care services on the support they will have the same legal protection as statements. Replacing, School Action and School Action Plus with a single classification of SEN. Offering all families of children and young people with an Education, Health and Social care plan the option of a personal budget to meet their needs. Requiring Local Authorities and other services to set out a local offer of all services available. Exploring how disabled young people can be better supported into employment, including extending access to supported internships. Exploring bringing together the funding streams for disabled learners‟ post 16 education and training provision. Exploring improvements to adult health services including annual health checks for all disabled young people from age 16. Reforming the assessment process to introduce greater independence and enabled earlier identification of need. The document proposes for the majority of reforms to be implemented by 2014 2. The Equality Act 2010 The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). EHRC has also produced non-statutory guidance summarising what the Equality Act means for: Schools, Further and Higher Education Institutions 3. Local Authorities’ role in Post-16 learning Statutory guidance on the 16-19 funding arrangements was published by the Young People's Learning Agency in December 2010. Local authorities are expected to work with the YPLA and local providers to identify and fill any gaps in provision for young people aged 16 to 19 and for Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 26 Transition Policy Version 1 young people 4. The Education Bill (The Bill seeks to implement the legislative proposals in the Department for Education’s schools White Paper, 'The Importance of Teaching' and measures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to skills and the reform of higher education funding. It is therefore a very wide-ranging Bill). 5. Young People’s Information Advice and Guidance Currently before Parliament will abolish the YPLA, whose functions will be transferred to a new executive agency, the Education Funding Agency from 2012. Will repeal the duty on local authorities to secure provision of 14-19 Diplomas for young people. Will also create a new duty for the Chief Executive of Skills funding to fund Apprentices with a learning difficulty and/or disability between 19-24 years old. Plans to develop a new National Careers Service. The Education Bill will remove the LA's duty to provide universal CEIAG in schools but some responsibilities for SEN and vulnerable young people will remain. The changes will come into effect in September 2012. However, the Education Bill will place a duty on maintained schools to provide impartial careers advice to young people from age 14 until they leave school. The SEND Green paper states that the extension of this duty to apply to colleges will be explored. It will also remove the requirement for local authorities to act under directions in their provision of support for participation in education and training. It has been made clear in the SEND Green Paper and elsewhere, however, that there are no plans to remove the primary legislation underpinning local authorities' provision of Information, Advice and Guidance to young people. 6. Supporting young people with learning difficulties to participate and progress - incorporating guidance on Learning Difficulty Assessments, DCFS 2010 This guidance helps local authorities make consistent, effective and robust decisions that will lead to positive outcomes for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities but it does not – and could not – tell them what to do in each individual case. The guidance will be of interest to staff working directly with young people and their managers and the Young People’s Learning Agency 7. Learning for Living and Work Framework Version 1.5 10 May 2011 This version reflects feedback received during the test phase (October 2010-April 2011). The Framework is now designed as a tool to capture all information required to help and support the learner to make informed decisions 8. The Foundation Learning Curriculum for Adults. Skills Funding Agency The adult Foundation Learning Curriculum (FLC) is relevant for those learners aged 19 and over (with the exception of those learners with a Learning Difficulty Assessment (S139A) aged 19-24 years.) Those with a Learning Difficulty Assessment (S139A) will not be eligible to access the adult FLC Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 27 Transition Policy Version 1 until the age of 25. Those serving custodial sentences are classed as an adult at 18 and over and those serving sentences in the community are classed as adults aged 19 or over. The adult FLC is the generic name used to describe provision at entry level (accommodating current ‘preentry’ type provision) and level 1, and includes (but is not limited to) the units and qualifications at these levels within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) 9. A Guide to Funding Foundation Learning. January 2011. Version 2 For learners aged 16-18 working predominantly at entry and level 1, and up to age 25 for learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities funded by the YPLA 10. Vision for Adult Social Care The Department of Health published in November 2010. This vision sets out the government's new agenda for adult social care in England. The vision is built on seven principles: Prevention, Personalisation, Partnership, Plurality, Protection, Productivity, and People. It recognises the importance of information, personalisation and prevention. While in terms of prevention there is much focus on the role of Carers in the Big Society, there is also recognition of the preventative value of employment and services such as supported housing. It proposes better information for all people with care and support needs, strengthened guidance on personalisation and combined health and social care personal budgets. A social care white paper will set out plans for reform, including changes to funding, later in 2011. 11. Carers Strategy 12. Autism Act Guidance Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory The Government published a refreshed Carers strategy in November 2010 with better Personalised Support, through the changes outline in the Vision for Adult Social Care. In December 2010 the Department of Health published statutory guidance on the implementation of the Adult Autism Strategy, which applies equally to both local authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities, and will apply to the new agencies created by the Health and Social Care Bill. The guidance contains a chapter on “Planning in relation to the provision of services to people with autism as they move from being children to adults” which gives a useful summary of the duties of these agencies in relation to disabled young page 28 Transition Policy Version 1 people in transition. 13. Welfare Reform Bill The Welfare Reform Bill, currently before parliament, will enable the replacement of Job Seekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance with a new Universal Credit by 2013/14. The Bill will remove the legislation relating to Disability Living Allowance in preparation for its replacement with a new Personal Independence Payment. This will be including 2 payment rates for care as opposed to the current 3 and introduce a new system for assessing entitlement. Reforms are intended to be introduced by 2013/14 and deliver a 20% saving on current spend. 14. Mental Health Strategy In February 2011 the Department of Health published No health without mental health: a crossGovernment mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. Actions set out include: Extending access to psychological therapies to children and young people Increasing access to personal health budgets to people with mental health conditions. Developing a long term conditions strategy to improve health and wellbeing of people with long-term conditions. Producing guidance on public health for schools, colleges and further education establishments 15. NHS Reform and the Health and Social Care Bill The Health and Social Care Bill, currently before parliament, will enable key structural changes set out in the NHS White Paper. These include the abolition of Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities and new duties on local authorities regarding public health and patient involvement and the devolution of commissioning responsibilities to GP Consortia. The Bill will also establish statutory Health and Wellbeing Boards in each local authority area, which will include Directors of Children's Services and Adult Social Services, representatives of service users and local GPs. The Boards will undertake joint strategic needs assessments and develop local Health and Wellbeing Strategies to guide health and social care commissioning. 16. Achieving Equity and Excellence for Children This publication from the Department of Health sets out the Government's vision of how the reforms proposed in the 2010 NHS White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, will improve health services for children. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 29 Transition Policy Version 1 17. Children’s Trusts Children's trust arrangements have been used in some areas to develop strategic joint working around transition in the past few years. The Government has announced its plans to reform Children's Trust arrangements. Including: removing the duty on schools to co-operate through children's trusts via the forthcoming Education Bill removing the requirement on local authorities to set up Children's Trust Boards and the requirement on those Boards to prepare and publish a joint Children and Young People's Plan. The duty to cooperate under the Children Act 2004 will remain. LCC will continue to operate under the Children's Trust arrangements and implement the 5 outcomes for Every Child Matters 18. Localism Bill and Modernising Commissioning Green Paper Could impact greatly on the way services are provided in the future. They include: Roll out of community budgets for use with families with multiple problems Introducing a community right to challenge commissioning decisions Potential requirement for local authorities to allocate a percentage of their budget to the civil sector to deliver services on its behalf Encouragement of voluntary sector organisations to identify new sources 19. National Framework for Children and Young People's Continuing Care (DOH, 2010) Equitable, transparent and timely process for assessing , deciding and agreeing bespoke packages of continuing care for those children and young people under the age of 18 who have continuing care needs that cannot be met by existing universal and specialist services alone. 20. SEN Code of Practice 2001 The current SEN Code of Practice for England and Wales came into effect on January 1st 2002 and takes account of the provisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. The Code of Practice sets out the way schools and Local Authorities should provide extra support the meet children’s special educational needs. 21. The National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS funded Nursing Care in England (2010) The framework is intended to set a single policy on who (aged 18 and above|) should receive NHS funding, and establish a standard process for assessing eligibility for these services, to help support consistent decision-making. 22. Guidance on direct service payments for community care, services for carers and children's: Updated 29 October 2010 States that direct payments and individual budgets have key roles to play in enabling disabled children and families to purchase the services that they need. In some cases the young disabled person at age 16 or 17 may wish, as part of the transition to adulthood, to take control of part or all of the direct payments that have to date been managed by the person with Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 30 Transition Policy Version 1 parental responsibility. This can allow them to gain experience of managing direct payments in a gradual way prior to reaching adulthood. 23. Think Local, Act Personal: Next Steps for Transforming Adult Social Care This document was originally released for comment at the National Children's and Adult Social Services conference in November 2010. It asserts that councils, health bodies and providers need to work more collaboratively to personalise and integrate service delivery across health and adult social care; and make vital public funding go further. It also recognises the contribution that individuals, families, carers and communities make in providing care and support - both to those who are publicly funded and those who either pay for themselves or rely on family carers. 24. The 16-19 Bursary Fund In March 2011, the Government announced the new £180 million Bursary Fund to help 16 to 19 year olds continue in full time education, where they might otherwise struggle for financial reasons. This is made up of: A £1200 bursary to help the most vulnerable young people including children in care, care leavers, those on income support and those in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance A discretionary fund, administered by schools and colleges, to help students facing financial difficulties stay on the course 25. ARC guide for services – Supporting disabled young people from black and minority ethnic communities through the transition to adulthood A new guide to help local areas provide the best support in transition planning for disabled young people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities has been published. It aims to provide information, highlight the differences (and often similarities) in planning for disabled young people from BME communities and share examples of good practice from across the country. 26. Young people with special educational needs/learning difficulties and disabilities: research into planning for adult life and services (2011) Local Government Education and Children's Services Research Programme aims to shed light on how young people with SEN or LDD have been prepared for adult life and adult services, and where the process of planning for this transition might be improved. 27. Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: a whole system approach to eligibility for social care - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, England 2010 This guidance is issued under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and replaces Fair Access to Care Services - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care which was issued in 2003. This guidance applied from April 2010 28. Models of Multi-Agency Services for Transition to Adult Services for Disabled Young People and Study by the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, "Many multi-agency transition services for disabled Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 31 Transition Policy Version 1 Those with Complex Health Needs: Impact and costs (2010) young people are at an early stage in their development, and there is considerable variability in how they are being implemented. This study provides information on aspects of such services that are likely to provide a more positive impact for young people and families, and highlights the importance of properly resourced services that provide direct support to young people, provide timely and clear information and support young people until they are settled in adult services. It also points to the importance of the wider range of services in providing opportunities for disabled young people as they develop into adulthood, and the lack of such opportunities at present which contributes to high levels of unmet need." 29. Healthy children, safer communities - a strategy to promote the health and well-being of children and young people in contact with the youth justice system (December 2009) This cross-Government strategy aims to help tackle youth crime and anti-social behaviour, and contribute to community safety in England. It sets out a strategic approach to inform the work of the Healthy Children, Safer Communities Programme Board to fulfil the vision that children and young people will be safer, healthier and stay away from crime. 30. Putting People First Makes it clear that personalisation will only flourish where investment is made in all aspects of support for individuals and their carers including: • Universal services – the general support available to everyone within their community including transport, leisure, education, employment, health, housing, community safety and information and advice. • Early intervention and prevention – helping people live at home independently, preventing them from needing social care support for as long as possible and potentially creating future cost efficiencies. • Choice and control – giving people a clear understanding of how much is to be spent on their care and support and allowing them to choose how they would like this funding to be used to suit their needs and preferences. • Social capital – fostering strong and supportive communities that value the contribution that each of their citizens can make. 31. Independent living: a crossgovernment five year strategy The cross-government Independent Living Strategy (ILS) was published in March 2008. Taking a life course approach, from young people in transition to adulthood through to very old age, the strategy’s aims are that: Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory disabled people, who need support to go about their daily lives, will have greater page 32 Transition Policy Version 1 choice and control over how support is provided disabled people will have greater access to housing, education, employment, leisure and transport opportunities and participation in family and community life. 32. Creating Circles of Friends, Newton and Wilson, Inclusive Solutions 2008 Circle of friends is an approach to enhancing the inclusion, in a mainstream setting, of any young person (known as ‘the focus child’), who is experiencing difficulties in school because of a disability, personal crisis or because of their challenging behaviour towards others. 33. Working Together for Change; using person-centred information in commissioning. (DOH/Putting People First Programme/Personalisation 2009) Describes a six stage process for using information from individual person-centred reviews to drive strategic change and commissioning. 34. Personalisation through PersonCentred Planning (2010) This guidance seeks to share learning about how person centred thinking and planning can make a useful contribution to Putting people First and Valuing People Now. It is offered as a resource to people who use services, family carers, managers and practitioners. It also makes reference to 'Person Centred Transition Reviews (2007) by A Wertheimer. 35. Person-Centred Planning Advice for using person centred thinking, planning and reviews in schools and transition DOH, 2010 This workbook describes good practice in using person-centred approaches with young people as they move into adulthood. It is intended to show how person-centred thinking, planning and reviews can be useful in schools and in transition, to ensure that young people with disabilities are listened to. 36. Ordinary Residence: Guidance on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services, England. DH 2010 This guidance explains how to decide where a person is ordinary resident for the purposes of the National Assistance Act 1948 and certain other legislation. It sets out how to identify where responsibility lies between authorities for the funding and/or provision of care for people aged 18 and over (young people in transition from children's services to adult services). This guidance also sets out the changes to the ordinary residence provisions introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 37. Guidance on Looked After Children with Special Educational Needs placed out of authority. DCFS 2010 Guidance explains how local authorities' responsibility for meeting the special educational needs of children looked after placed out of authority operates. 38. Think Local, Act Personal: Next Steps for Transforming Adult Social Care (2010) Asserts that Councils, health bodies and providers need to work more collaboratively to personalise and integrate service delivery across health and adult social care; and make vital public funding go further.' 39. A Strategy for Change. Making A final report setting out four years of work from In Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 33 Transition Policy Version 1 personalisation a reality for children, for young people and their families. In Control 2011 Control's children's programme with 40 children's services. It builds on approaches which start from children and family's own assets and resources, in the context of their whole lives and communities. It avoids limiting young people and their families to 'the goals and resources provided by specialist services. The important contribution of services is via self directed support, with the massive opportunities this presents for flexibility and joint contribution'. 40. Transition from school to employment – What works? Beyer et al, 2008 Describes the outcome of a two year research project that sought to identify ‘what works’ in terms of employment support for 16-24 year olds with learning disabilities and their families. 41. Valuing People Now: a new three years strategy for learning disabilities. DOH, 2009 Sets out the Government's strategy for people with learning disabilities for 3 years from Jan 2009. All young people with learning disabilities should have person centred transition reviews, so that they can plan where they want to live, a real job, and friends and relationships. 42. Valuing Employment Now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities. DOH 2009 Sets out an ambitious goal to increase radically the number of people with learning disabilities in employment by 2025. The Government jobs to be at least 16 hours per week and aspires to close the gap between the employment rate of people with learning disabilities and that of the disabled population as a whole. Chapter 3: Better work preparation at school, college and adult learning. 43. Getting a Life was a three-year cross government project (April 2008 to March 2011), 44. Pathways to Getting a Life: transition planning for full lives. DOH March 2011 Getting a Life was set up to show and drive change so that young people with a severe learning disability achieve paid employment and full lives when they leave education. It focused on what needs to happen during the vital transition period between ages14 and 25 to create better job outcomes. This document sets out best practice in transition planning for young people with learning disabilities. It shows what needs to change in order to improve the life chance outcomes for this group of young people and suggests ways to make these changes. The outcomes focus on the Valuing People Now priorities of health, housing, social inclusion and employment. 45. Health Action Planning and Health Facilitation for people with learning disabilities: good practice guidance DOH, 2008 Guidance describes and clarifies good practice in health facilitation and health action planning 46. How to guide: learning from the Valuing People Now employment demonstration sites. DOH March 2011 This document sets out learning and case studies from the Getting A Life, Jobs First and other Valuing People employment demonstration projects. It gives practical information and examples of how to Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 34 Transition Policy Version 1 improve employment opportunities at a local level. 47. National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services – Disabled children and young people and those with complex health needs (2004) It is a ten-year plan: by 2014. Disabled young people need high quality multi agency support to allow them to have choice and control over life decisions and to be aware of what opportunities are open to them and the support they may need to access. 48. Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC), Launched in May 2007, was the government’s transformation programme for disabled children's services in England. One of the issues identified in AHDC was that more work was needed to improve and co-ordinate services for disabled young people in transition to adult life. To address this, the government announced the Transition Support Programme, which aimed to raise the standards of transition in all local areas. 49. Progression through Partnership 2007 Sets out a five year programme of change which includes improving the experience and quality of transition to adulthood 50. Transitions in Mental Health Care: 2011 YOUNGMINDS A guide for health and social care professionals on the legal framework for the care, treatment and support of young people with emotional and psychological problems during the transition years. 51. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 Transfers the commissioning of post16 education and training to local authorities 52. The Education and Skills Act 2008 Raises the participation age of young people in education and training to the age of 18 by 2015 53. National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990: Section 47: This imposes a duty on local authorities to carry out an assessment of need for community care services with people who appear to them to need such services and then, having regard to that assessment, decide whether those needs call for the provision by them of services. 54. Mental Health Act 1983 Section 117(2) This section creates a joint duty on the local Health and Social services Authorities to provide after care services to various categories of people who have been detained in hospital for as long as the person needs them 55. Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986: Disabled children are those with disabilities defined by Section 5/6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1986. Section 5 applies to disabled persons' leaving Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 35 Transition Policy Version 1 education. Section 6 relates to the review of expected leaving dates from full time education of disabled persons. 56. The Children Act 1989, Vol.6, Guidance and Regulation, Children with Disabilities and the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their families Provide the statutory framework for the assessment and support under section 17 for children with disabilities as defined by the act. 57. The Children's Act 2004: Local authorities, PCT'S and other key partners have a duty to cooperate in making arrangements to improve the wellbeing of children (and young people) in their population and allows for the provision of pooled funds. 58. Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 and Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004: Gives carers, aged 16 or over, the right to an assessment of their ability to provide care or continue to provide care. A person with parental responsibility for a disabled child has the right to an assessment from the local authority of their ability to provide (and to continue to provide) care for the child. The local authority must take that assessment into account when deciding what services, if any, to provide under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. 59. The Mental Capacity Act 2005: Within the MCA’s Code of Practice, ‘children’ refers to people aged below 16. ‘Young people’ refers to people aged 16–17. This differs from the Children Act1989 and the law more generally; where the term ‘child’ is used to refer to people aged under 18. Most of the Act applies to young people aged 16–17 years, who may lack capacity within Section 2(1)* to make specific decisions but there are three exceptions: - Only people aged 18 and over can make a Lasting Power of Attorney, an advance decision to refuse medical treatment and a statutory will made by the Court of Protection. 60. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (inserted section 507B into the Education Act 1996) This imposes a duty on local authorities to promote the well-being of young people aged between 11 and 19 years (and up to 25 years for young people with learning difficulties). It places young people at the heart of decision-making on the positive activity provision available to them. 61. Children & Young Persons Act 2008: reform of the Children Act 1989 The most significant reforms to the law about lookedafter children since the Children Act 1989 was first enacted. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 36 Transition Policy Version 1 62. Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children The Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers Statutory Guidance explains how the regulations should be put into practice, offering advice to local authorities on how to carry out their duties, so that young people leaving care are able to reach their potential as they make the transition to adulthood. "Care leavers with complex needs, including those with disabilities, may transfer direct to adult services and the pathway plan will need to ensure that this transition is seamless and supported. Local authority responsibilities toward disabled care leavers are the same for all other care leavers. Because of their additional needs, some young people may draw on a number of services, receive support from several professionals and have multiple plans. The local authority must ensure that these processes are streamlined as much as possible and roles and responsibilities discussed with the young person and their carer(s)." 63. The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Vol 3: Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers Including The Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010 The guidance replaces that issued when the provisions of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 amending the Children Act 1989 came into operation in 2001. Chapter 6 refers to care leavers who require additional specialist support. In order to avoid duplication, wherever possible, protocols will need to identify how the pathway planning process related to other frameworks for planning the transition to adulthood for young care leavers, such as those for special educational needs. 64. Transforming service delivery for children and young people; A multi-agency strategy for action, Lancashire Children's Trust, November 2010: This document captures Lancashire Children's Trust's commitment to a different approach to service delivery for children and young people which is coowned, co-delivered and co-located. The overall vision has now been agreed by the Children's Trust Board 65. The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011: The Short Term Breaks Regulations provide further detail on how local authorities must perform their duty in the Children Act 1989. 66. NHS Outcomes Framework: The 2011-12 framework identifies improving children and young people's experience of health care' as a key priority. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 37 Transition Policy Version 1 67. Healthy lives, brighter futures – The strategy for children and young people’s health (2009) It presents the Government’s vision for children and young people’s health and wellbeing. The Strategy has specific importance for disabled young people and transition. It recognises the importance of continuity of services transition: 'it is important that care and support do not fall away or become fragmented as they come into contact with adult services'. 68. Transition: Moving on Well (2008) A good practice guide for health professionals and their partners on transition planning for young people with complex health needs or a disability. 69. A transition guide for all services: Key information for professionals about the transition process for all disabled young people (2007) This Good Practice Guide aims to show that the handover from children's and young people's services to adult services should be planned and managed as a process. The Guide suggests how this can best be accomplished in the context of the evidence base. 70. Working Together to Safeguard Children - a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (2010) Working Together sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. Part 1 of the document is issued as statutory guidance. Practitioners and agencies will have different responsibilities under different areas of the guidance and should consult the preface for a fuller explanation of their statutory duties. 71. What is Good Practice in Autism Education? (Autism Education Trust) In April 2011 the AET was awarded a Government grant to develop a set of standards for the delivery of good practice in education provision for children and young people with autism. These standards could form the basis for nation-wide training in education provision for children and young people with autism to be delivered by local partners and accredited by the AET. 72. Someone on our side: Advocacy for disabled children and young people. (2011) The Children's Society The report highlights how advocacy support at transition can lead to: increased and better quality involvement of disabled young people, a positive impact on the behaviour and knowledge of professionals and better quality service provision post-transition. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 38 Transition Policy Version 1 ABBREVIATIONS ACERS Alternative and Complementary Education and Residential Service ACS Adult and Community Services AMHS Adult Mental Health Services CAF Common Assessment Framework CAMHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services CHC Continuing Health Care CLA Children Looked After CSC Children's Social Care CYP Children and Young People CYP/ACS Children and Young People/Adult Community Services CYPP Children and Young People's Plan ECM Every Child Matters EET Employment Education and Training EFA Education Funding Agency EIS Early Intervention Service for Psychosis EHRC Equality and Human Rights Commission FACS Fair Access to Care Services FACE Overview Assessment for Adult Social Care services HAP Health Action Plan IAG Information Advice and Guidance IDSS Inclusion and Disability Support Service IDSS SEND Child and Family Support Inclusion and Disability Support Service Special Educational Needs and Disability Child and Family Support Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 39 Transition Policy Version 1 IDSS SEND Integrated assessment Inclusion and Disability Support Service Special Educational Needs and Disability Integrated assessment INMSS Independent Non Maintained Special School ISP Independent Specialist Provider IRO Independent Reviewing Officer KPI Key Performance Indicators LCC Lancashire County Council LCTP Local Children's Trust Partnership LLDD Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities LLWF Learning for Living and Work Framework LSCB Lancashire Safeguarding Children's Board NEET Not in Education Training or Employment NHSCCA National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 PCP Person Centred Planning PEI Prevention and Early Intervention PEP Personal Education Plan PSHE Personal Social Health Education RAS Resource Allocation System S139a Section 139a of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 SDS Self Directed Support SEN Special Educational Needs SENCO Special Educational Needs Coordinator SEN COP Special Educational Needs Code of Practice SEND Special Educational Needs and Disability SFA Skills Funding Agency YOT Youth Offending Team Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 40 Transition Policy Version 1 YPLA Young People's Learning Agency YPS Young People's Service Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 41 Transition Policy Version 1 SECTION 7 – APPENDICES Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 42 Transition Policy Version 1 APPENDIX 1 – TERMS OF REFERENCE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE & ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (CYP/ACS) MANAGEMENT GROUP Group: CYP / ACS Management Group Frequency: Quarterly Day /Times: After the County Transition Group (August, January, March, June) Venue: County Hall Joint Chair: Meetings will be chaired and hosted alternatively by DCYP & DACS at Head of Service Level. Core Membership: Directors from DCYP or DACS as determined by the joint SMT. Representative from the following Service: DCYP Inclusion and Disability Support Service Safeguarding Mainstream children's social care Integrated health Children's commissioning Young People's Service DACS Invited Membership: Active Intervention and Safeguarding Commissioning Adult Mental Health network Senior Officers As required for specific projects/areas of work Other Appropriate Professionals Vision: To work together across DCYP and DACS to lead the council's work in relation to developing excellent integrated services to meet the needs of young people to enable the achievement of positive outcomes. Purpose: The group will: Determine operational / service delivery matters that have major resources implications or will impact on other services Determine the County Council's response to local / regional / national issues and initiatives To align commissioning approaches, particularly in respect of the development of a resource allocation system. Ensure services and approaches are joined up wherever possible to minimise duplication of service delivery and maximise effective use of funding streams and resources, identify other potential sources of resource that could be utilised. This will include identifying and agreeing the financial consequence of decisions taken. To receive regular budget, financial and performance management information Consider local and national policy, trends and issues that will Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 43 Transition Policy Version 1 impact on the effectiveness of an integrated approach to service delivery To communicate effectively, coordinate activity and share information to ensure that the interface between Directorates is not a problem for young people and their families. To ensure that there are robust and effective links between Adult and Children’s Services in order to safeguard children and to ensure that all transition between services are a positive experience for children and their parents. Authority: To be able agree and make the changes to services across the county to deliver improvements in line with the corporate strategy. Outputs: Commission the undertaking of projects Report to Joint SMT Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 44 Transition Policy Version 1 APPENDIX 2 – TERMS OF REFERENCE COUNTY TRANSITION GROUP Group: County Transition Group Frequency: Quarterly Day /Times: 3 weeks after the Locality Transition Groups (December, February, May and August – in line with the procedures) Venue: To be determined locally Joint Chair: Meetings will be chaired and hosted alternatively by DCYP & DACS at Area Manager level Core Membership: Adults ACS: Area Managers – Active Intervention and Safeguarding ACS Adult Commissioning Manager Adult Mental Health network Transition Coordinator (North) Children's IDSS Service Manager for with lead for Integrated Assessment IDSS Service Manager with Lead for Child and Family YPS – Assistant Head of Service District Manager with Lead for transition – Leaving Care Team / Children Looked After Area Manager – Youth Offending Team Manager – 16 -19 Team CAMHS Joint Commissioning Policy Development Officer Health Invited Membership: Other Appropriate Professionals Vision: To work together to deliver excellent integrated services to respond to the views of and meet the needs of young people through transition to adulthood to enable the achievement of positive outcomes. Purpose: The group will: Secure and sustain necessary changes to culture and practice so that services improve outcomes for all young people through transition and are organised around their needs Ensure services and approaches are joined up wherever possible to minimise duplication of service delivery Maximise effective use of funding streams and resources and identify other potential sources of resources that could be utilised Consider local and national trends and issues that will impact on the effectiveness of an integrated approach to service delivery and make recommendations to the CYP / ACS Management Group Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 45 Transition Policy Version 1 Provide a forum for barriers to be considered and solutions identified at a multi agency level and where appropriate make recommendations to the CYP / ACS Management Group on a county wide approach. Monitor and evaluate service outcomes and performance measures around transition To ensure professionals working in children and adult services see the family as a whole To ensure that there are robust and effective links between adult and children's services in order to safeguard children and ensure that all transition between services are a positive experience for young people To resolve any disputes that has been escalated to the group relating to departmental / interagency working, and professional or resource issues. To consider any appeal in relation to Independent Specialist Provision Authority: To agree and make the changes to local practices across the county to deliver improvements within their services. Outputs: Quarterly report on the effective delivery of transition highlighting outcomes, potential demands and any issues, making recommendations for improvements to the CYP / ACS Management Group Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 46 Transition Policy Version 1 APPENDIX 3 – TERMS OF REFERENCE LOCALITY TRANSITION GROUP Group: Locality Transition Group Frequency: Quarterly Day /Times: To be organised locally – during November, January April and July (in line with the procedures) Venue: To be determined locally Chair: Transition Co-ordinator Deputy Chair: Team Manager – IDSS SEND IA Core Membership: Operational Manager – YPS Advanced Practitioner – Active Intervention and Safeguarding Team manager – IDSS SEND Special Education Needs Assessment Community Nurse – Children with Learning Disability Team manager – IDSS SEND Child and Family Support Health (roles at Team Leader level) CAMHS (roles at Team Leader level) Transition Worker Invited Membership: Team Manager – Leaving Care Team and Children Looked After Team Manager – Child protection Team manager – Youth Offending Team Head teacher – Special Schools Student Support Manager – FE colleges Adult Mental Health Other Appropriate Professional Quorum All core members or appropriate representation for each core member Vision: To work together to provide a seamless pathway through transition that is tailored to the young person enabling them to receive commissioned services that meet their individual needs and improve their outcomes. Purpose: The group will: Discuss individual young people at least once a year from age 13 -25 years identified as requiring additional support through transition. Review the individual Transition Plans to ensure that the views of the young person remain at the centre of an integrated approach to support them to achieve their aspirations Work together to ensure the young person achieves a smooth transition from children's services to adult services across all agencies Identify barriers that prevent a smooth pathway and make recommendations to the County Transition Group on how these could be removed. Promote multi-agency working by maintaining effective communication with all organisational representatives on the group Ensure that services and approaches are joined up wherever possible to minimise duplication and align as a single Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 47 Transition Policy Version 1 Accountability: Members of the group will: Outputs: assessment process To monitor the delivery of the transition plans Ensure that young people will have their needs met through universal services where ever possible To achieve positive outcomes and the safeguarding of young people Inform Commissioning of future needs to enable informed forward planning To work together to develop multi agency solutions that will reduce the need to send young people to Independent Non Maintained Special Schools or out of county specialist providers The group will provide a forum for resolving at a local level any departmental /interagency professional or resource issues. Where this cannot be achieved or where issues of practice need to be resolved the matter should be recorded and placed on the agenda for discussion and resolution at the County Transition Group or where funding is involved, through the Complex Needs Boards. Have the authority to determine the level of support required on an individual case basis Be able to agree a support package principle before taking back to panel for ratification Quality assure individual Transition Plans, Section 139a Assessments and ISP applications Quarterly report including identified gaps in provision, procedural issues, feedback from customers, recommended improvements and forecast trends / needs to go to the County Transition Group. Please Note: Printing this document may make it obsolete. For the latest version of this policy always check the Policy and Procedures Directory page 48
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