Preparing for aduthood route planner

Preparing for adulthood is about taking steps to make sure that as a young person with special Educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), I receive the right level of support to enable me to live as full and active a life as is possible.

The 4 main things that young people say are important to them are:

• employment,
• independent living
• community inclusion, and
• health

These areas should be discussed as part of transition planning which usually starts in year 9 (13 or 14 years old) with the annual review of my education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Age 13 to 14 years

• Who will be able to help me?
• Which services need to be involved?
• Who needs to come to my review meetings or send reports?
• Do I need a referral to adult social care to help my support planning?
• My plan should be about my needs, hopes and goals for the future.

Age 15 years

• Have my goals changed?
• What needs to happen?
• Who needs to help?
• Are there any schools or colleges I need to visit?
• Do I need a benefits check?

Age 16 years

• This could be my final year at school.
• Have my goals changed?
• What job do I want?
• What do I need to be independent?
• Do I want to stay at school or go to college?
• What support might I need when I am an adult?
• Has a referral to adult social care been made?
• Do I need a referral for a continuing healthcare assessment?
• Do I need a referral to adult social care for assessment?

Age 17 years

• Update actions.
• Have my goals changed?
• What needs to happen?
• Who needs to help?
• Do I need a referral to adult social care for assessment?

Age 17 1/2 years

• Has a referral to adult social care been made?
• Has a continuing health care assessment been done?
• Is my general practitioner (GP) involved?
• Are my benefits in the right name?
• Will I have a personal budget? Who will help me with this?
• What further learning do I need?
• Where do I go for signposting and support?
• Do I need a referral to adult social care for assessment?

Age 18 to 19 years

• Do I want to follow a higher education or employment pathway?
• Am I getting the right benefits?
• Are there any community services I can use to build relationships?

Age 19 to 25 years

• I can live the life I want and do the things that are important to me as independently as possible.
• I am able to have a good time with my friends.
• I am part of my community.
• I have good health.
• I am in employment or training.

Throughout the preparing for adulthood process

• All reviews and plans should be centred around my needs, hope and aspirations for the future.
• I need to agree who will need and can be sent information about me, including adult services.
• I will need my GP to have information about me.
• Each meeting should be recorded and shared with the people who support me now and those who are going to be supporting me as an adult.