Transition to adult services of disabled young people leaving ‘out of authority’ residential schools

Methods

Telephone interviews with key practitioners in ten local authorities were used to explore:

• current practice
• key issues for future research
• feasibility of carrying out larger scale research on the outcomes of transition for this particular group of young disabled people.

Findings

The study found that the generic difficulties associated with transition for this group were magnified by the young people’s lack of familiarity with services and opportunities in their home local authority, and by the fact that they were less well known by home local authority staff. Consequently, post-transition placements and support arrangements for this group were considered more susceptible to breakdown. It was also harder to adopt person-centred planning approaches in these transition arrangements.

Earlier initiation of transition planning processes, and the designation of staff with specific responsibility for out-of-authority placements could help overcome geographic barriers. Specific attention is needed to identifying clear transition pathways to adult health services in the home authority.

Additional information