What the service does
Who provides the service
Service location
Additional info
Contact
What the service does
The role of the Transition Planning Co-Ordinators within the Children with Disabilities Team is to:
- Support young people, between the ages of 14 to 18, as they transition from children services into adult services.
- To liaise with the Community Access service within their locality which supports young people aged 12-17 with a disability to access social opportunities.
Who provides the service
Transition Planning Co-ordinators which are located within each of the three Children with Disabilities Team of the SHSCT.
Where is the service based
The Transition Planning Co-ordinators work within each of the Children with Disabilities teams within the Trust, with offices located in St Lukes Hospital Site, Armagh; Dromalane House, Newry and Moylinn House, Craigavon.
Additional info
Transition Planning for young people follows a process:
- Age 14: Transition Planning Co-Ordinators become involved with all young people on CWDT and sensory team caseloads and begin to attend transition school reviews, where an educational plan is agreed. This is reviewed at age 16 and again at age 19 for special school leavers.
- Age 16: Ensure that NISAT referrals are made to adult services to allow for timely planning of support post 18. Also ensure that necessary psychology referrals have been made for those wishing to avail of adult learning disability services.
- Age 17-18: Person Centred Planning meetings are facilitated –involves liaising with young people, carers, relevant professionals (e.g. teachers, allied health professionals) and social workers to agree a pathway for our young people to help promote confidence and independence and prepare for adulthood. This involves links with a range of voluntary groups and agencies. Young person will be introduced to new key worker from adult services and final plan will be agreed. The young person will continue to be supported by Children with Disabilities Team social workers until age 18. The period of 17 to 18 allows time for joint planning to ensure seamless transition from children to adult services.
- Ensure progression for children age 16 leaving learning support unit in mainstream schools and review career progression until they leave our service at age 18
Person Centred Planning
Person Centred Planning places the young person at the centre of the planning process, focusing on what is most important to them from their own perspective and how they can be supported to achieve their goals. This Person-Centred Planning is facilitated through a meeting of the young person, their family/carers and a range of professionals that are involved in their care (e.g. CwD Keyworker, Transition Co-ordinator, health professionals, school etc.) to discuss the steps that need to be taken to ensure a smooth transition to adult services.
Transition Planning Meetings
These meetings happen between the age of 17-18 for the young person and these meetings primarily discuss future planning, such as what team they will transfer to, day care/short breaks and potential ‘out-of-home’ placements. These meetings include all teams/professionals involved in the young person’s care.
STEP Programme
The Supported Transition Entry Programme (STEP) prepares young people who are leaving school for moving into training and/or opportunities within adult services, by promoting their independence, resilience, confidence, self-esteem, social skills, and physical health. This programme runs from September to May and young people attend this one day a week supported by staff from the Education Authority and the Trust. The Transition and Community Access Team, based within the Children with Disabilities Service in the Trust, organised a celebration for the end of the programme to show everything they got up to this year. The young people celebrated with their parents and staff from the schools involved and the Education Authority. Below are photographs showing some young people who attended the programme.
Contact
Transition Planning Co-ordinators
Tracy MacFarlane – Transition Planning Co-Ordinator
Newry & Mourne Children with Disabilities Team
Tel: 028 30825000 | email: Tracy.MacFarlane@southerntrust.hscni.net
Karen Edgar – Transition Planning Co-Ordinator
Craigavon & Banbridge Children with Disabilities Team
Tel: 028 38348248 | email: Karen.Edgar@southerntrust.hscni.net
Gerald Donnelly – Transition Planning Co-Ordinator
Armagh & Dungannon Locality Short Breaks Team
Tel: 028 37565270 | email: Gerald.Donnelly@southerntrust.hscni.net