Models of Multi-agency Services for Transition to Adult Services for Disabled Young People and Those with Complex Health Needs: Impact and costs

Title: Models of Multi-agency Services for Transition to Adult Services for Disabled Young People and Those with Complex Health Needs: Impact and costs

Date: September 2010

Authors: Sloper, P., Beecham, J., Clarke, S., Franklin, A., Moran, N., & Cusworth, L.

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/1888/

Description of resource: Report by the Social Policy Research Unit on research that aimed to provide evidence of what works in developing and implementing multi-agency coordinated transition services for disabled young people and those with complex health needs and their families.

A bit more about it:

The research aimed to:

  • investigate arrangements across local authority areas in England for multi-agency assessment for, planning of, and actual transfer from child to adult services for the young people
  • compare the implementation and operation of different models of transition services
  • assess outcomes for parents and young people arising from different models of transition services
  • investigate sources of funding and costs of transition services.

Key points in relation to principles:

Key factors relating to better outcomes relating to satisfaction with the service, parents' and young people's met and unmet needs, and impacts on parental stress, were

  • having a transition worker who supported the young person and parents;
  • the family having a written transition plan; and
  • the manager of the transition service having strategic level involvement.

Other characteristics of services were also associated with more positive outcomes for families. These were:

  • transition workers setting up the adult care package for young people;
  • negotiating funding for it and supporting them until they were settled in adult services;
  • use of person-centred planning;
  • having designated transition workers;
  • having clarity on the role of the transition workers; and
  • having parental involvement in the service's steering group.