Transitions (Branching Out)

Planning for Transition to Adult Life

Transition means change

This transition is about the change from being a teenager to an adult. It includes the change from Children's Service to Adult Service and from School into adult life.

Within Worcestershire Adult and Community Services Directorate, can offer help and support to people with  learning disabilities who are 18 and older. They also have Transition Social Workers who can help young people with learning disabilities plan for adult life.

If your son or daughter needs help when he or she is younger than 18, this help is provided by the Children's Services Directorate.

Transition Social Workers

Worcestershire Adult Learning Disability Service has Transition Social Workers who help young people with learning disabilities and their families plan for adult life.

The Transition Social Worker can tell you about different types of support which are available and how you can get support for your son or daughter in adult life.

Transition Social Workers will also link with other agencies, such as;

• Schools
• Connexions
• Health Services
• Youth Services
• And others

Transition Planning

This is an outline of how the Adult Learning Disability Service can help you in Transition Planning.

Getting information from Age 14

Transition Planning should start in school from age 14 (School Year 9). If your son or daughter has a Statement of Special Educational Needs, he or she should have a transition review of the Statement which is organised by the school.

The Annual Review of your daughter or son's Statement will include making a Transition plan.

If your son or daughter has a learning disability, and is likely to need support from Adult and Community Services in adult life, a Transition Social Worker will be invited to attend his or her review.

The Transition Social Worker can give you information about different types of help and support. The Transition Social Worker will ask you for information about your son or daughter.

A Connexions Adviser must also attend the transition review meeting.

Planning from Age 16

If your son or daughter has help from Children's Services, and is likely to need help from Adult and Community Services, the Transition Social Worker will attend any review meetings to find out more about him or her. Children's Services have responsibility for providing support and services to young people up to the age of 18.

Some young people with learning disabilities will need extra support to do things that are important to them in adult life. The Transition Social Worker will get to know your son or daughter by visiting at home, at school and other places and will begin planning for adult life with your son or daughter.

The Transition Social Worker can give you information about things like: -

• Direct payments  
• Supported Living  
• Day Services  
• Independent Living Fund  
• Supported Employment  
• Housing Options  

Help from Adult and Community Services from age 18

Adult and Community Services can:

• help people who are 18 years and above.
• help maintain the independence of people who need services
• encourage them to take part in ordinary life activities,
• recognise differences in individual need by taking account of race, culture, religion, disability, gender, sexuality and age.

To get help from Adult and Community Services, a social worker (this may be transition social worker) must carry out a Community Care Assessment or a person's needs. When the assessment has been completed, a decision is made about the types and amount of help that can be provided. This is done on a priority basis. If you get help from Adult and Community Services, you have to pay towards the cost of the services.

The Transition Social Worker will assist with the introduction to any new services and check that your son or daughter is happy with the new support and services.

The Transition Social Worker will hand over to Adult Learning Disability Team who will regularly review the support provided, ensuring that it is appropriate to your son or daughter's needs.

Some other options on leaving school

Local College

Your son or daughter may choose to go to local college. The Connexions Adviser is the main person to help with this. The Transition Social Worker will no longer be involved. If your son or daughter goes to a local college and needs help from Adult and Community Services in the future, you should contact your local Adult Learning Disability team.

Residential College

If your son or daughter chooses to go to residential college, the Connexions Adviser is the main person to help with this. If your son or daughter goes away to residential college the Transition Social Worker can help your son or daughter plan for their life after residential college if this is needed.

Wherever possible, your son or daughter will be offered support and services in your local area when they leave residential college.

Training/Work

Connexions can signpost your son or daughter to training and work opportunities. The Disability Employment Adviser at the Job Centre can also help. A social worker can help adults with learning disabilities to access supported work scheme.

Information Download

Download the Branching Out - Planning for Transition to Adult Life information.   (164 KB)

  Large print version of the Branching Out information.  (170 KB)

Find out more

You can ask for help yourself or you may ask someone such as a relative, friend or health professional to contact us on your behalf. In the first instance contact should be made with the Adult Duty Team or a Customer Services Advisor at:

The Access Centre.

Tel: 0845 607 2000

Email: socialcare@worcestershire.gov.uk.