Transitions to adulthood strategy: statement of intent

Priorities

We are not starting from scratch and will develop a strategy with solutions drawn from effective practice and the voices and expertise of those with lived experience of transitions to adulthood. This includes drawing upon the key learning from ARC Scotland's Principles into Practice trials; their widely-endorsed Principles of Good Transitions and the similar characteristics of good transitions outlined in our literature review:

ARC Scotland's Seven Principles of Good Transitions:

• Planning and decision-making should be carried out in a person-centred way
• Support should be co-ordinated across all services
• Planning should start early and continue up to age 25
• All young people should get the support they need
• Young people, parents and carers must have access to the information they need
• Families and carers need support
• A continued focus on transitions in our area

Characteristics of good transitions from our literature review:

• Early and sustained transition planning
• Holistic and coordinated wrap-around support
• Services delivered in partnership
• Designated keyworkers as a coordinating point of contact and continuity
• Person-centred support and preparation
• Family involvement in planning and decision-making
• Parental and familial support throughout the transition
• The provision of clear and accessible information
• Adequate services, resources and staffing

We want to further embed these principles and characteristics of good transitions into practice across Scotland so that all disabled young people can have a supported and positive transition to adult life.

The delivery of the proposed vision and priorities will also be interdependent with the range of legislation and policies already in place that support the objective of improving transitions to adulthood for disabled young people.

We want a strategy that can complement and help bring a more co-ordinated and joined-up approach to this broader landscape so that young people, their families and the practitioners who support them are better able to navigate it.

In order to achieve our ambitions, we propose a focus on five priority areas which are based on what we have heard will make the biggest difference from young people, and the families and organisations supporting them:

1. Choice, control and empowerment for the young person

Disabled young people should be at the centre of planning and decision making for their future. Early transitions planning should be available to disabled young people and should adopt a holistic, person-centred approach to empower young people to dream big and identify and pursue their goals and aspirations.

"I tell him the plan

A good plan will allow young people to decide what's in it"

Young person

2. Clear and coherent information

Disabled young people, their families and others that support them should be aware of their rights and entitlements, and the support and services available during different points of transitions. The provision of national and local information should be clear and accessible.

"Parents must seek out support and services for their child's needs

I stumbled across support"

Parent carer

3. Co-ordination of individual support and communication across sectors

Support for disabled young people during the transition to adulthood can require a multidisciplinary and multiagency approach (e.g health, social work, education, third sector, employment etc). Support from trusted professionals and consistent relationships are key to effective support during this time. Communication across all partners involved in transitions – including disabled young people and their families – with clearly defined roles and responsibilities are vital for ensuring a smooth transition.

"Transitions can be…exciting if handled properly, with a coherent set of people communicating efficiently so that the young person is at the centre of the planning process"

Young person

4. Consistency of practice and support across Scotland

Professionals who support disabled young people during their transition to young adult life should work to incorporate the principles and characteristics of good transitions into policy, planning and practice to ensure consistency of practice across Scotland. Professionals should be given the support and guidance they need to explore and improve transitions practices. Disabled young people, their families and professionals supporting them should have access to learning opportunities to support better transitions.

"Postcode lottery"

Parent carer

5. Collection of data to measure progress and improvements

The measures of successful transitions to adulthood should consider life courses, in addition to traditionally-understood positive destinations. Data relating to young people's experiences of their transitions to adulthood should be collected, analysed and reported upon regularly in order to understand the extent to which young people are experiencing a positive and supported transition to young adult life.

"[S6 in school] was mainly on writing personal statements for uni or college… I think money management, travel and cooking skills would've been better… it makes you feel more of an adult – you're not relying on other people to help you be independent"

Young person