Transition to Adult Social Care

About transition

Transition is the period of time when young people move from childhood into adulthood. Our Adult Social Care Transitions Team supports young people with their transition to Adult Social Care. They will first get involved by carrying out a statutory assessment known as the Transition Care Act assessment. 'Statutory' means it is legally required.

This assessment helps the Transitions Team work out whether the young person will be eligible for adult social care support when they turn 18. To be eligible, they must meet at least 2 of the support needs from The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014.

The assessment will also look at:

• the young person's current needs for care and support
• how their needs impact their wellbeing
• whether they are likely to have care and support needs after they turn 18
• the outcomes that the young person or carer wishes to achieve in their daily life

Transition to adult care and support may involve changes to education, health and care services. It may also involve getting support from new organisations, such as support for housing, employment or further education and training.

What to expect during the transition assessment

The transition assessment should support the young person and their family to plan for the future. It should provide them with information about what they can expect. Transition assessments can also help to provide solutions that do not necessarily involve the provision of services. This may help planning that helps to prevent, reduce or delay the development of needs for care or support.

During the transition assessment, the local authority will also consider how the needs of carers, young carers and other family members might change. We'll discuss carers assessments, which can be offered to family members or carers.

The young person, or carer, must be involved in the assessment for it to be person centered and reflect their views and wishes. The assessment must also involve anyone else who the young person or carer wants to include. For example, many young people will want their parents involved in their process.

The transition assessment often involves professionals from different agencies, families, friends and the wider community. They will work together to help raise the young person's aspirations and achieve the outcomes that matter to them. The local authority can combine their transition assessment with other assessments that are being carried out (provided all parties agree), or carry out the assessment jointly with other organisations. This flexible combination of assessments is usually in everyone's interest.

Transition assessments could also become part of a child or young person's Education, Health and Care plan, or could contribute to the Continuing Health Care Assessments.

When the transition assessment will happen

Most transition assessments take place before a young person turns 18, or around their 18th birthday. However, this can vary and is dependent on individual circumstances. We will consider the young person or carer's circumstances when deciding whether it is an appropriate time for the assessment.

Make a referral to the Adult Social Care Transitions Team

Professionals, parents or carers can make a referral to the team. We do also accept self-referrals.

You can make a referral:

• internally via the Single Assessment (when a young person has a social worker from Children's Services)
• by completing the Transitions team referral form [43KB]  and emailing it to asctransitions@westberks.gov.uk
• by completing the online enquiry form

Find further information

Our Local Offer transitions page has further information about the transition process. You can also find services on the Local Offer 'Preparing for Adulthood' section of our directory.

You can read our  West Berkshire Council's Adult Social Care Transitions Information Guide [474KB]  for young people, parents and carers.

The NHS also have guidance on moving from children's social care to adult's social care.