Transition Protocol for Disabled Children

oung disabled people will normally be transferred from the Disabled Children's Team to Services for Adults on their eighteenth birthday. Forward planning is essential and from Year 9 (age 13) this planning process begins when at the review of the statement of educational needs a Transitions Plan is introduced.

The actual date of transfer will be clearly indicated on the Transition Plan and the Transition Contact Assessment form.

If a disabled young person moves into the area when he/she is approaching their eighteenth birthday, the manager of the appropriate adult service should be consulted as soon as possible. A young person already known to Walsall and approaching their eighteenth birthday who suffers a permanent disability following an accident / medical condition the appropriate team manager of the receiving adult service should be consulted.

It is essential that the children's with disabilities team and the appropriate adult's team work in partnership to ensure a smooth transition between services and agree which team will undertake the Single Assessment etc.

Both the Integrated Learning Disabilities Team (LDD) and the Younger Adults with Disabilities Team (YADS) use the eligibility criteria as determined by the Fair Access to Care (FACS) Protocol.

A bi - monthly transition panel has been established to ensure that all young people with either a learning disability or a physical disability within Walsall or placed at an out of county school / college are discussed.

Membership of the panel consists of:

• LDD Team;
• YADS Team;
• Leaving Care and Transition Team;
• Forensic Social Work Team;
• Children with Disabilities Team;
• Representative from education once a year (to advise on children educated out of borough)

1. All young people age 13 and above who have a learning disability or physical disability details will be brought by the relevant professional to the bi-monthly Transition Panel for discussion. It is the responsibility of the referring professional to have completed the Transition Contact Assessment document;
2. The Transition Contact Assessment form contains details about the young person, services they are currently receiving, summary of issues / evaluation of risks, identified needs and a recommendation for further actions / outcomes;
3. The LDD team and YADS team will then decided which team will take the referral forward. In situations where it is unclear which team should lead, the relevant team managers will decided if a joint visit by a representative from both teams is required to determine who the lead agency will be;
4. Although young people from age 13 are discussed they will not transfer over to adult's service until the age of 18. It is important that the social worker ensures attendance at both combined education reviews and children's looked after reviews representatives from the appropriate adults' service and advisor from when the young person reaches 16;
5. The school Special Education Needs Co-ordinator will organise the Annual Review meeting but the head teacher is responsible for ensuring that the Transition Plan is produced. A copy of the Transition Plan is sent to parents / carers other professionals who work with the young person and the Local Education Authority (LEA);
6. If the young person is a care leaver the Personal Adviser of the Transition and Leaving Care Team will continue to jointly hold the case file of the young person until they are 25 years of age.

In order to assist the Adults team where a young person is receiving a substantial care package the Transition Contact Assessment must be presented to the transition panel at age 16. This allows the relevant adult team to undertake a reassessment of need and apply for the provision of funds from the relevant adult funding panel.

If Direct Payments are being received by a parent / carer or the service users in their own right it is important that the assessment by the relevant adults team and the securing of funds for the direct payment to continue is agreed in advance of the young persons 18th birthday. This will allow for the service user to have continuity of direct payments from the date of transfer between services.

Once the young person has reached the age of 18, the social worker from the children's disability team will close the file they hold and send back to the Quest for archiving.

Young people with a learning disability will normally be transferred from the Disabled Children's Team to the Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities) on or around their eighteenth birthday. 

The actual date of transfer will be clearly indicated in the with the young person and his/her family to begin implementing the Transition Plan and will be agreed by the managers of both services.

If a disabled young person moves into the area when approaching their eighteenth birthday, the managers of adult services will be consulted in order to determine whether the referral should be made directly to Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities) or Services for Adults for an assessment. 

In some cases a single assessment will be carried out by the Disabled Children's Team. 

In order to be eligible to receive a service from Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities), the young person must have a learning disability or autism. 

Also see (Reference to follow), which contains the service eligibility criteria for Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities). 

If cognitive functioning is unclear further consultation with psychology is needed and an assessment may need to be under taken. 

If the learning disability is not the predominant feature, for example where a young person also has a physical disability, mental health problem or sensory impairment, the appropriate division within Children's Services to deliver the necessary service, must be determined at least two months before the young person reaches eighteen.

1. Six months before the young person reaches eighteen, an Internal Referral Form will be sent to the Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities) responsible for the area in which the young person lives.
2. The referral will give basic information about the young person, and will be presented to the Community Team staff meeting and/or manager for action.
3. Acceptance of the referral will be sent in writing to the manager of the Social Work Team for Disabled Children and recorded on the young person's file.
4. Three months before the young person reaches eighteen the following must be undertaken:
   • The allocated social worker or duty social worker in the Disabled Children's Team will complete the Transition Plan;
   • The manager of the adult team will decide on allocation in accordance with the priorities of the work of the team;
   • The care manager, Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities), and social worker (Disabled Children's Team) will work together with the young person and his/her family to begin implementing the care plan;
   • A copy of the Transition Plan must be given to the young person and his/her parent/carer.
5. Transfer of case responsibility will normally occur on the young person's eighteenth birthday but he social worker (Disabled Children's Team) may continue to be involved for a further three months if necessary and appropriate.
6. If the young person is a care leaver the Personal Adviser of the Transition and Leaving Care Team will continue to jointly hold the case file of the young person until they are 25 years of age. 

Funding for individual packages of care must be agreed in advance.

Funding for provision through Community Team (People with Learning Disabilities) must be agreed by the relevant adult panel. 

In exceptional circumstances, and to allow continuity of service, the manager of Disabled Children's Team may agree to continue funding a provision for up to two months after the young person's eighteenth birthday. 

If a Direct Payment is being considered, the Care Manager in Services for Adults must make the arrangements in accordance with the local guidance for Direct Payments.