Participation Event 8 June 2018 Jo Willmott – Assistant Director, Adult Social Care and Health Kathryn Anthon – Programme Manager, Deal for Adult Social Care and Health Leah Edwards – Principal Manager – Children’s Social Care

Overview We know that young people and their families still experience transition as “falling off a cliff edge” despite 20 years of national and local work to try and resolve this We’ve made a commitment across Wigan to work with young people and families to find a sustainable solution We’ve done a lot of work already with families, young people and parent carer forums to find out what’s not working - be great to test out today that we’ve captured the main themes and areas of concern

Overview Working with families and young people we’ve pulled this into a vision for the future – great to hear your views Successfully applied to be part of Greater Manchester innovation hub to move this forward – Parent and Carer Forum, Embrace, Learning Disability Partnership Board helped put bid together and attended launch event on 22nd May This will bring additional capacity and small amount of funding to build further momentum for improvement and change.

Vision Preparing for adulthood is a positive experience for young people and their families, which takes place throughout their childhood, laying the foundations for a valued and purposeful life.   There is an increased focus from age fourteen on capturing and working towards aspirations and plans for the future, working in partnership: Family, friends and relationships Health A good place to live Learning and independent skills Employment and volunteering Money Transport Fun and leisure Community connection

What’s not working: Duplication in services, multiple plans and processes leading to a disruptive experience. Lateness in the transition process starting. For children with complex needs this rarely starts at 14 and can be as late as 19. Silo working – practitioners look at their area of responsibility, breakdown in communication rather than the needs and aspirations of the young person to live a valued life. Lacking in person centred and creative transition support planning – limited information and advice around support and opportunities in adulthood. Lack of positive role models and support for families thinking of alternative routes for young people with additional needs. Over reliance on emails.

What’s not working: Limited opportunities being offered to young people with complex needs approaching adulthood as part of the Local Offer. Confusing - services lack understanding of each other roles – no clear ownership within the transition process – nobody knows what each other are doing. Worried that their son/daughter will no longer have a paediatrician once they turn 18 Being transferred to an adult system – people unfamiliar with often complex health interventions, described as having a “comfort blanket” of paediatric services suddenly removed. Prescriptive application of Adult Social Care eligibility criteria disrupting people’s journey and leading to crisis intervention further down the line.

Where do we need to be Preparing for adulthood modelled on peers life experiences and milestones e.g. choosing options, career planning, increased independence, developing relationships Co- production with young people and families to get this right Seamless service – joined up assessment, planning, intervention and review at an earlier stage. Closer partnership working with and between Health, Social Care, Education, Housing and other relevant professionals and agencies throughout the transition journey that act as a ‘liaison link’ between the young people and their families. More focussed preparing for adulthood starting at the earliest opportunity and at time that it right for families – year 9 onwards. Significant increase in the use of personal budgets and direct payments Person centred planning focussing on people’s life rather than individual services – focusing on strengths, aspirations and working in partnership with families and communities.

Where do we need to be Using person centred tools and technology such as Rix Wiki Delivering training/information sessions about transition to young people, their parents/carers and relevant others (Personal Assistants, Circle members, other family members) Consistency and continuity for family and young person into adulthood. Information told once, acted on and good accurate and free from jargon communication. Treating post 16 transition as an ongoing process which may last several years rather than a leaving school event. Sharing positive stories about young people with additional needs who have already undergone transition and have achieved or are achieving their goals/dreams for adulthood. Increased range of opportunities and choices for young people with additional needs to live the life of their choice, based on the 9 areas outlined in the vision.

Next Steps Copies of draft vision document and bid on tables Have we properly captured what’s not working? Are we on the right track going forward? Participation: On going opportunity to be involved – feed views into Parent and Carer Forum, Embrace, Learning Disability Partnership Board, Family Forum or direct to ourselves: K.Smart@wigan.gov.uk J.Willmott@wigan.gov.uk Leah.Edwards@wigan.gov.uk