Adult transition team

Supporting young residents of North Somerset aged 18 to 25 years who have care and support needs through into adulthood.

The adult transition team is one of the adult social care teams within North Somerset Council.

The team works collaboratively with child and education service professionals to identify young people who are approaching adulthood who may require adult social care services.

They will discuss making a referral with the young person and their family.

The team will assess the needs of those young people to identify if they have eligible needs under the Care Act (2014). It is the legal framework that guides the work we do in adult care.

If the young person is eligible, the team will develop a care plan and identify funding streams to enable a young person entering adulthood to transition seamlessly to adult services.

If the young person is not eligible, the team will signpost to partnership organisations who can provide support. The team will maintain oversight of the young adult’s care and support until such time that they either reach stability or turn 25. 

At this point, the team will oversee the transfer to the most appropriate adult service for that young person.

As a team, our primary focus is on the strengths of the young person. We work with them and their families to develop the right support networks to meet their identified needs and outcomes. Our aim is to move young people into adulthood by supporting them to develop their skills of independence.

To ensure that the rights of all young adults are upheld, once a child reaches 16 the Mental Capacity Act (2005) may apply to some children who lack capacity around decision making. At 18 years, the adult transition team will continue to work in a person-centred way with young people and their families using the Mental Capacity Act codes of practice to support decision making when appropriate.

We work with young people over the age of 18 with a physical or mental impairment who need help with:

• managing and maintaining nutrition
• maintaining personal hygiene
• managing toileting needs
• being appropriately clothed
• being able to make use of the home safely
• maintaining a habitable home environment
• developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships
• accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering
• making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community, including public transport and recreational facilities or services
• carrying out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child

All referrals need to come from a professional. If you are a parent with the permission of your young person, please speak with any professional who is involved about making a referral.

Referrals need to be made through Care Connect.