Local Offer - Preparing for Adulthood

The transition from childhood to adulthood is often a difficult time of change for many young people and especially those with a disability. There are many decisions for a young person and their families to take regarding the future. This can be a complex stage as support from agencies such as health, education and social care can change from the age of 16-18.

Disabled young people tell us that they want the same things in life as their non-disabled peers:

  • opportunities to succeed in education and work
  • to live independently and healthily
  • to be active members of their communities
  • have positive friends and relationships                                          

The choices for young people with special educational needs and disabilities leaving school have a significant impact on their experience of moving into adulthood. The aim of this section is to ensure that the family begin to prepare for the young person’s transition into adulthood and that they have clear expectations about what options and services are available and are able to make informed choices about the future.

For further help and information on next steps in Education, Health, accessing the Community and advice regarding future Independent Living options

Preparing for Adulthood Guide

Preparing for Adulthood Guide

The guide is aimed at young people with SEND who are approaching their latter school years, it gives information on the preparing-for-adulthood process, what to expect, what they should be considering at each stage and who to contact for support and information.

Parents and carers can also use the guide to find more information about the future options for young people in their care.

Topics covered in the guide include further education, training and employment, independent living, healthy lifestyle choices and how to participate in our communities.

The guide has been co-produced with staff from Sefton Council, Buddy Up, Health and Sefton Carers Centre in partnership with young people and the Sefton Parent Carer Forum.

Print Version of the Preparing for Adulthood Guide

Print Version of the Preparing for Adulthood Guide

When does the transitions process start?

Transitions planning begins at year 9 when the Transition Co-ordinators start attending the young person's annual education reviews. Future plans are made looking at opportunities including further education, living arrangements, leisure services, healthcare needs, day services and employment. The Co-ordinators are available throughout the transitions process to support, guide, and assist families to ensure a seamless transition to adulthood.

Sefton's Transition Service page

Post 16 Transition

The thought of Post 16 Educational Transition can be a worrying time for young people and parents and carers. However, it is important that everyone begins to think about Post 16 Transition as early as possible – certainly from the Year 9 Annual Review onwards where the idea of next steps and future education and employment options should be discussed. This enables young people and their families to explore possible destinations in Year 10 with visits to Open Nights being a useful way to find out about the type of courses and support offered at the Post 16 Provider. In Sefton, local Colleges aim to attend Year 11 Annual Reviews to get to know the young person prior to Transition. Young people should also be able to visit their preferred destination for taster visits during Year 11 so they are familiar with the new environment before starting.

It is important to know that young people and families are not on their own and the following help is available:

  • With local partners, Sefton has produced a Preparation for Adulthood Guide
  • Schools have a responsibility to provide impartial, independent Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). Parents/Carers and young people should speak to the school SENCO to see what support can be offered
  • Where appropriate, the Council’s commissioned Information, Advice and Guidance provider, Career Connect can offer additional support around IAG and Transition

It may be helpful to watch the following videos to see what College life may look like:

Health Care Transition to Adult Services - Alder Hey Hospital

What is health care transition to adult services?

When children become adults it is normal for them to make decisions for themselves and to lead a more independent life.  Children’s health and care needs also change as they grow up.  Transition to adult services (Transition) is the name given to the process of moving on from children’s to adult services. 

Transition is an important journey.   The team at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital will work with you and your family to ensure that you get the support you need every step of the way.  We will ensure that you and your family understand what is happening, feel confident and in control.

Some young people with more complex needs also have support from social care and special education.  When this happens we will work with these services to co-ordinate the different transitions.

 

Why do we need transition to adult services?

Transition is important to ensure that services are appropriate for your age and needs.   If we didn’t have Transition to Adult Services adults would be nursed on the same wards as babies and children.  Services that are needed for babies and children would not be available because adults were using them.

 

What will happen during transition?

Transition is a gradual process.  Young people and their families often need guidance and encouragement but you shouldn’t feel rushed or unsupported. 

 

Here is the link to our 10 steps transition website:

https://www.10stepstransition.org.uk/

Contact details

Alder Hey Health care transition team- 0151 252 5823

Team – Dr Lynda Brook – Clinical lead

Transition lead nurse- Jacqui Rogers- Jacqui.Rogers@alderhey.nhs.uk

Complex young person transition nurse- Kat Reid- Kat.Reid@alderhey.nhs.uk

Sefton's Transition Service

Sefton's Transition Service page

Useful Resources and Information

Useful Resources and Information

Sefton Transition's Team from Childhood to Adulthood protocols

Sefton's Transition's Team from Childhood to Adulthood protocols

Career Connect Services

Career Connect delivers Careers Information Advice Guidance, known locally as NEET ( Not in Education, Employment or Training) Reduction and Prevention Service, we are Commissioned by Sefton Council. Our Service supports NEET or ‘at risk of becoming NEET’ young people aged 16 -18 year old. We provide impartial bespoke Careers Information, Advice and Guidance to support transition into education, employment and training. 

We support particular vulnerable groups of young people across the borough: -

We work closely with our colleagues in Sefton council. We will provide a named advisor or careers coach to all young people who are NEET young people to support career planning and give individual advice to look at next steps. Our aim is to help young people reach their true potential in finding education, employment, and training. This is underpinned by strong partnership working with local social work teams, Sefton@work, colleges, training providers and employers to ensure young people have the support needed to progress and achieve. 

We offer targeted support to SEND young people with an Education, Health, Care plans and or High Needs Funded (From Year 9 to Year 14) who may be at risk of NEET - we have a team of SEND advisers that work closely with schools/colleges and the L.A. statutory assessment team to support work the council undertake in relation to young people with an EHC plans or HNF and their transitions. 

Menu of support Career Connect can provide;

  • Careers Advice and Guidance to support career planning
  • Person Centred Support in looking at short- and long-term goals for career journey
  • Motivational Interviews
  • Job Search
  • Employability Skills
  • Applications for college, post 16 training, education and employment.
  • Interview preparation
  • Named case worker to provide frequent contact
  • Transition support for post 16
  • Attendance at SEN annual review at key transitions and where possible.
  • We work in partnership with all professionals to provide co-ordinated support

If you have a Sefton resident 16-18, concerned about school, college, apprenticeships or work during this current situation you can call  07807 128 907  or email   sarah.vaughan@careerconnect.org.uk

Post 16 Education, Training & Employment Information

Post 16 Education, Training & Employment page

Young Person's Next Steps Annual Transition Event

Local Special Schools participated in the annual Transition Event. This gives young people with additional needs an opportunity to see what life might look like as they take their next steps in education.

Local Further Education Colleges and School 6th Forms were on hand to give an insight into the type of  courses and support that could be available and, importantly, pupils were able to hear from students who had already made the transition from school to Post 16 education.

For a sample of the type of information that was provided on the day, please click on the link below to see the Presfield video:

PfA Preparing for Adulthood FAQ's

PfA Preparing for Adulthood FAQ's

Sefton's Post 16 Learning Directory

Sefton's Post Learning 16 Directory

Living Independently

Living Independently

Adapting Your Home

Technology Enabled Care (TEC)

Supported Housing and Housing Related Support

Sefton Housing

Single Person Homeless and Housing Support Services

Housing Benefits

Who to Contact

Due to agile working the best way to contact us is via email.

Andrew Gladwinfield - Transition Coordinator

andrew.gladwinfield@sefton.gov.uk

07974429914

Laura Mepham - Transition Coordinator

laura.mepham@sefton.gov.uk

0151 934 3887

 

 

Stephen Evans - Preparing for Adulthood Manager for Education, Training and Employment

stephen.evans@sefton.gov.uk

0151 934 2347

Videos

We are always looking at improving Sefton’s SEND Local Offer, please click here to give us feedback.


Last Updated

Last updated: 01/02/2024

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