5.3 Transfers Protocol Disabled Children's Team - Adults Services

This chapter was added to the manual in September 2010.

Transitions are a time for young people and their families to start thinking about the future and making plans. This can be a very stressful time as it is about the unknown.

There are many areas to consider, including going to college, careers advice, work options, ongoing short breaks / respite and alternatives for those who might not go onto work. For some this might include shared living or other types of residential placement; use of day centre facilities and personal budgets. Information about welfare benefits, and health needs will be transferred to the adult health services.

It is important that there is a clear transfer protocol between DCT and the Adult Social Services teams to make the transfer as simple and stress free as possible for young people and their family.

The transition process in the education setting will start when the young person is 14 years. It is intended that this protocol will work alongside that process.

To facilitate planning, the DCT manager will ensure that 3 monthly IT reports of young people aged 14+ known to the team with details of their school and current services provided / accessed are prepared for the Adult Social Services teams.

When a young person is aged 15 the allocated social worker should start discussing the transition process and the future with the young person and family. They should identify when the current service they access will finish e.g. school, Youth Club. This may range from age 16-21. This must include all health services. The social worker should explain the Transition process and the eventual transfer to the appropriate adult Team.
Young people who are Looked After are particularly vulnerable and should be formally referred to the Adult Team when they are aged 16 enabling the identified adult social worker to attend all LAC reviews in the following two years to ensure that the appropriate services are identified in time scales that allow good planning and outcomes for the young person. Transition plans will be included in the young person’s LAC reviews and will be overseen by the Independent reviewing Officer (IRO).
Young people who receive complex packages of care / residential short breaks should be referred at 16 years. The relevant Adult Team will be invited to residential respite reviews. If a young person is receiving residential respite care the IRO will oversee the transition process within the statutory reviews. For other young people a Transitions meeting will be arranged by the DCT.
Young people who receive a small package of services will be referred to the Adult Team age 17. A transition meeting will be held 17 years 6 months.
In all cases the DCT will facilitate a joint visit to introduce the identified worker from the Adult Team to the young person and family.
The DCT social worker will arrange Transition meetings which should include:
- Young Person.
- Parents/Significant other person.
- Social workers from both the DCT and the relevant Adult Team.
- Health Worker(s).
- Education.
- Current services and newly identified services should be asked to attend to enhance the sharing of information and planning.

The meeting will be chaired by the DCT and a transition plan will be made for and with the young person.

The Transition Leads from DCT and both Adult Teams meet regularly to share information, plan and consider practice improvements.
Referrals to the CLDT are made by contacting the Wandsworth CLDT Access Referral Management System (ARMS):-

Address:-	Wandsworth CLDT Access Referral Management System (ARMS) Joan Bicknell Centre (Building 19) (Springfield Hospital Site) Burntwood Lane London SW17 7DJ
Telephone No:	CLDT Access Service Tel: 020 8812 5270 Fax: 020 8700 0480
Email	CLDT Access Service E-mail: learningdisability@wandsworth.gov.uk.

Referrals to the PSI team are made by contacting

Address:-	PSI Team: Duty Desk 90 Putney Bridge Road SW18 1HR
Telephone No:	Duty Desk Tel. 0208 871 8297

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