From August 2019 young people with disabilities, under the age of 18 years, will be supported by the Children with Disabilities Team in Middlesbrough.

The current Transitions Team will become part of a specialist life-long Learning Disabilities Service within Adult Social Care, working solely with adults who have a diagnosis of a Learning Disability.

Young people who do not have a diagnosis of a Learning Disability but have eligible needs as an adult (Care Act 2014) will be supported by the appropriate Adult Social Care team from the age of 18 years.

Following discussion at quarterly Transitions Forum there may be a period of joint working. The adult worker being the Involved Worker until the age of 18 years, when if appropriate, following assessment, they will become the Allocated Worker.

This new system will ensure that young people preparing for adulthood, regardless of their additional needs, will have equality in relation to their transition to adult social care.

At Forum we aim to identify a preparing for adulthood pathway, at the same point for all young people, where they are likely to be eligible for ongoing social care support as an adult, with one planned transition at the age of 18 years.