Children with complex or exceptional healthcare needs will experience many Transitions in their lifetime. These times can bring additional stresses and anxieties to your family. Any transition process can be improved by using a range of local resources, teams and professionals to identify your child/young persons’ on-going needs and then look at how they can support these.
Some transitions may be unplanned and unexpected but there are key areas where specific planning and preparation for the next stage should be undertake for example:
- From the neonatal unit to home
- Going to nursery
- Starting primary school
- Starting secondary school
- Moving from children’s to adult services.
All of these times can be very difficult for families of children with exceptional needs. At these times there are changes in care arrangements, the people looking after the child or young person and sometimes uncertainty about whether the new arrangements will fit the child’s needs. Parents have shared how challenging these times can be and may be in a situation of feeling that they are ‘fighting’ for the right choices for their child or young person.
The CEN NMCN endorses the ARC – principles of Good Transition 3, for how transition from children to adult services should be managed. These show transition as a seven step process:-
Principle 1. Planning and decision-making should be carried out in a person centred way
Principle 2. Support should be coordinated across all services
Principle 3. Planning should start early and continue up to the age of 25
Principle 4. Young people should get the support they need.
Principle 5 young people, parents and carers must have access to the information they need.
Principle 6. Families and carers need support
Principle 7. A continued focus on transition across Scotland
More information on Transition can be found on the Scottish Transitions Forum’s website https://scottishtransitions.org.uk. It is important to remember the transition from children’s to adult services can take up to 2 years so should be started for a young person aged 14.
When choices and decisions are being made it is essential that the young person’s rights and wishes are listened to. This may involve using whatever means possible so that their voices heard. It is important to remember it is the right of every child to be involved in any decisions that directly impact on their lives. The following useful websites can provide you with further information about he process and support your planning: