Information for parents and other carers of disabled young people 14 years and over
This page tells parents and carers of disabled young people what happens as they move from Children's to Adult Services. Young people will have permanent and substantial physical or sensory difficulties, severe learning difficulties, mental health problems or long term illnesses. The page takes you through the way services are planned in Children's Services to prepare young people for adult life. It then says how Social Services assesses the services the young adult needs and sets out what services are available. It tells you what other, more detailed information, can be obtained from Access Teams at Social Services Offices.
For disabled young people the formal transition from school to adult life begins at the age of 14. This is the stage when Social Services has to decide which young people with statements of special educational needs are disabled. The young person and his/her parents are sent a letter to tell them that they can be assessed for Adult Services before the young person is 18.
In the meantime the Education Department sets up a Transition Planning Meeting which produces a Transition plan. The meeting involves the young person, his/her parents, Children’s Services and other agencies working with the young person. Social Services will be represented by someone from a Disabled Children’s Team or the Cheshire Deafness Support Network. In West Cheshire this service is provided by Barnardos on behalf of Social Services. The Transition Plan is then reviewed each year.
Once the young person becomes 16, Social Services will arrange for an Adult Services Worker to meet the disabled young person and his/her parents. S/he will work alongside the Children’s Services Worker for the next two years. They will liaise with Education, Connexions and Health Services to plan with the young person and his/her family. While the young person is 17 the Adult Worker, either a Social Worker or Community Care Worker, will start talking to the young person and his/her parents about the kind of help they need and get information from the Transition Plan. This will include Children’s Services Assessment, School Reports and Health Assessment.
Assessment
The assessment will be completed by the Adult Worker with the young person and his/her parents. The approach of listening to the young persons view will continue on from Children’s Services into Adult's Services but now the Adult Worker must take into account that the young person has the same rights as any other adult.
Full time education may continue and care services maybe provided from a variety of sources. The Adult Worker called the Care Worker will co-ordinate the plans including what happens when education finishes.
Anytime after the age of 18 a new assessment of the young person’s needs can be requested. Carers can also have an assessment of their own needs.
1 Help in your own home
Help with personal care and daily living can be provided by an individual care worker, who may be employed either by Social Services or by a private agency. The worker will work to an agreed Care Plan.
People can have this care by receiving a payment to employ their own carer, if they prefer. This is known as a Direct Payment. Help and advice to manage this arrangement is provided by the Cheshire Centre for Independent Living.
For people who need a lot of care, the Care Manager may request a contribution from the Independent living fund.
2 Equipment and Adaptations
People with disabilities may require items of equipment to help them at home or to get out and about, and adaptations may be needed to their home.
These are assessed arranged through the Occupational Therapy Service.
3 Help Away From Home
Day Services can provide activities to help disabled people to gain more confidence and greater independence through developing skills and interests.
Social Services provides a Supported Employment Service for those adults who want to obtain work and need help to do so. A variety of work opportunities, work placements and voluntary work can be arranged, leading to paid work wherever possible. Other things Social Services can help arrange include community groups, college courses, clubs and social groups.
4 Accommodation Services
Most adults with disabilities move into a tenancy of their own once they leave their parents’ home. Tenancies can be provided by Borough Councils or Housing Associations, and can be shared arrangements with other disabled people, or single tenancies. Social Services work with people to find a place of their own, and to arrange the care and support required.
Other forms of accommodation include residential homes, nursing homes and placement in the home of a family-based carer.
5 Short Break Services
There are a range of service which can provide short breaks away from home for people with disabilities. These can be planned and regular short stays to give carers a break, emergency arrangements if support is needed unexpectedly, or the opportunity to see what being away from the family is like.
Short breaks can be arranged in Social Services homes, independent homes, family-based care or for those with a higher level of needs, special houses provided by Health trusts.
All services provided by Social Services for people over 18 may have to be paid for. Each disabled person is asked to provide details of their own income from benefits and any other sources, and a Financial Assessment is made. Parents or carers may provide this information on behalf of the person.
Anyone who looks after someone else regularly is considered to be a carer. Carers can ask at any stage for an assessment of their own needs, and for services to help them. Please ask the Care Manager or contact your local Access Team.
For all young people and their parents involved in Transition from school, the information here will be discussed in more detail as planning progresses. For more information you can contact your local Access Team. More information about how Social Services can help you when you become an adult is available under Physical Disabilities and Learning Disabilities. |