Transition - Planning for your future

Transition Planning

The individual disabled young person will be at the centre of their plans for their future.

What is transition planning?

Thinking about your future, talking with your family, teachers, friends and people who help you about what you want for the future, preparing for adult life.Thinking about what you want to happen now to help you plan.

An important time for young people and their families to start talking with services about their plans for the future happens at Transition Planning Reviews in the school setting. The first Transition Planning Review should be in year 9 when a child turns 14. At this meeting a Transition Plan will be written down. The individual and their family should always receive a copy of the plan.

What is a transition review?

Part of your annual review when you reach age 14.

You, your family and other people who help you will be invited.

Together you can talk about your future.

What is a Transition Plan?

A Transition plan is written at your Transition Review. 

It will say what you woud like to do next and when you leave school, and who will help you.

The plan should be about everything in your life.

We have been looking at Transition Planning Reviews locally and two major points have arisen from this. Firstly parents are not always aware that developing a Transition Plan will form part of their child's annual review or what their role and rights are at the meeting. An information handbook is being published during Summer 2005.

Secondly it is apparent that services are not aware of all the young people who may need their support and therefore are not offering any input into the transition process for these individuals and their families. In response a multi-agency panel was set up whose task was to take a holistic view of children in the transitional years. The panel work will ensure improved co-ordination and awareness of children in transition who may need their services in the future so planning with families can begin much earlier.  The panel acts as a referral group and early alert of a particular child's needs. It also highlights the services people are likely to need in the future; thereby helping services to develop their long term plans with more focus on individuals needs.

Another area of transition is one in which people living at home with their families and where the family are concerned about who will look after their son or daughter when they can no longer do so. Person Centred Plans will be offered to people to help them and their families plan for the future.

Building good clear communication between all those involved with transition issues is fundamental.

Where you can get more information and help

For more information on Transition ring the Transition Co-ordinator, Telephone Number 07900383638 or 01628 788556 or Transition Care Manager, Telephone Number 01753 638643.

The Connexions Service.

You should meet your Adviser at school.  You can also contact them through their local office, Telephone Number 0845 408 5102.

Social Services

You may already have a social worker to help you; if you do they should attend your Review.  To find out if they can help you phone the Disabled Childrens Team on 01753 638643 and ask to speak to the Transitional Care Manager. Alternatively you can contact the Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities on 01628 670117.

Benefits Advice

Will help you find out if there is money you or your parents can get to help you.  Phone the Benefits Advice helpline on 0800 666 555.

Parent Partnership

Provides information to parents on special needs education.  They can support parents when dealing with educational services. Telephone Number 01628 683182

NATSPEC

Detail on residential colleges nationwide. Telephone 010 8471 3884. Website address: http://www.natspec.org.uk/

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 Thinking About Work

Your school and Connexions Adviser will give you lots of information and advice about work, college courses to help you and work experience. Here are some of the Services you can talk to about work:

Job Centre

They can help you find out about jobs and what training is available. Telephone 01628 844900.

Ways into Work

This service helps people with disabilities who want to work.  They can help people once they are aged 18. Ways into Work Telephone Number; 01628 670117.

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A place of your own.

At sometime in the future you might like to live by yourself or with friends.  It is a good idea to find out what the options are in plenty of time. You can get help and advice from either Social Services or the local Housing Department. Telephone 01628 683800.

United Voices

United Voices may be able to help you if you would like someone to support you in meetings or to help you tell other people what you want. You can ring them on 01753 581711

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The following websites may be helpful:

http://www.trans-active.org.uk/

Provides an information section section on transition and games and resources for young people.

http://www.sw-special.co.uk/

Provides a Transition Planning workbook

http://www.valuingpeople.gov.uk/

Provides information on Valuing People - there is a page related to transition.