Transition
Transition is a challenging process because of the different methods of delivery of service in the paediatric and adult services. Parents and the young person can find the moving to different services and the building of new relationships with a range of different professionals daunting. Transferring from child to adult services can bring additional stresses and anxieties to a family. The transition process can be improved by using a transition team to identify the young person's on-going needs and then look at how there can be accommodated within the adult service.
Key Themes
- Start planning early
- Get information about the choices available
- Involve parents and the child as appropriate in all discussions
- Identify what needs to change
- Determine who will provide that service in the 'adult world'
- Inform acute hospital LD Liaison Nurses (if service exists) to do preparation work for any hospital admissions in adult service
- The adult world operates differently: a lead professional transition worker will facilitate the process
Parents and carers need to be well informed about the changes in legal rights and responsibilities with the adults with incapability legislation for young adults over the age of 16 years old.
Useful web sites:
- http://www.pamis.org.uk/_page.php?id=30
- http://www.act.org.uk/shop.asp?itemid=127&itemTitle=The+Transition+Care+Pathway§ion=143§ionTitle=Resources+and+shop
- http://www.signpost-online.co.uk/
- http://www.transitioninfonetwork.org.uk/
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/awi
Useful documents:
- Vision for Transition multi agency project (July 2008, NHS Highlands)
- Integrating Services for Young People and Young Adults with Additional Support Needs as a result of Disability and/or complex health (2008 NHS Highlands)
- Transition moving on well (2008, Department of Health, England)
- Transition from child to adult health care services, issues and recommendations for practice (Lothian)
- Transition Bridge pathway between GIRFEC child's plan & adult's personal plan (NHS Highland)
- My transition guide (June 2008, NHS Highland)
- GIRFEC Integrated Transitions and Pathway Maps (Sept 2009, NHS Highland)
- Clinical Pathway for Adolescent Transition (Aug 2008, NSH Borders)
- Transition to adult health services care pathway (NHS Borders)
- Notes regarding clinical pathway (NHS Borders)
- Integrated Care Pathway, Managing Transitions to Adult Service (July 2009, Northern Island)
- Adults with Incapacity (NHS Lothian)
- Think Transition (Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (2008, Edinburgh)
- Information about Adults with Incapacity Act AWIAC
- Transition Service- Referral guidelines (Lothian)
- Transition Planning Guidelines (Sept 2010, Lothian)