Agenda item

The Strategy Director of Social Care and Education submits a report to update the Commission on the achievements of the current Joint Health, Social Care and Education Transitions Strategy which ended in 2024, and the plans for the

development of a new strategy going forward.

The Strategic Director for Social Care & Education submitted a report on the Transitions from Children’s to Adults and set out the achievements of the current Joint Health, Social Care and Education Transitions Strategy which ended in 2024, and the plans for the development of a new strategy going forward.

The Head of Corporate Parenting and the Head of SEND Integrated Service presented the report. It was noted that:

• The transition strategy was developed to support children and young people (CYP) moving into adulthood and to ensure families were better prepared for this change and improving long-term outcomes.
• The original strategy covered 2019–2022, with the current strategy extended to 2022–2024. Planning for the next phase was underway.
• The strategy supported CYP who may require ongoing input from both social care and health services into adulthood, aiming to make transitional services more navigable for families.
• The focus has been on:

­   Earlier identification of CYP needing continued support.

­   Improving collaboration between Children’s Services, Adult Social Care (ASC), and health partners.

­   Outlining what support involves and how it will be achieved.

• Progress highlighted in the report included better joint working and earlier transition planning.
• A checklist approach from age 14 onwards across a range of settings to include:

­   Planning from age 14 to give more time to prepare for adulthood

­   Enabled Independent Travel Training (ITT) so schools and colleges can help CYP learn these skills.

­   Joint panels to manage complex cases and shared tools like the Adult Social Care Checklist.

­   Built information guides and improved the Local Offer and Leaving Care Offer websites to give clear and simple information.

­   Created ways to share views so all voices are heard when planning support.

• A pilot employment programme supported 75 young people through partnerships with Leicester College, hospitals, hotels, and the Council. With 16 young people retained employment after the programme and Families reported they wouldn’t have achieved this without the programme, praising localised support.
• Collaboration with housing services led to the development of an information pack and clearer transition pathways for young people.
• A joint workshop for families, ASC, education, health and SEND was well received, followed by informal drop-ins for further support.
• Feedback had suggested a need for more specialist workshops for those with complex needs.
• Oakland School proposed adapting the transition approach to support younger children as part of future planning.
• The Council supports 600 CYP, with 124 having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Around 100 are of school age with complex needs.
• Emphasis placed on the Council’s role as a corporate parent, ensuring ongoing support whether or not CYP meet ASC eligibility.
• Work continued to improve support for adult care leavers, including over 300 aged 18–21 and 100 aged 21+.
• Work was underway to co-produce the next strategy, identifying what had worked and what future priorities should be. Focus areas include:

­   Internal improvement across services.

­   Continued support for care leavers.

­   Meeting the needs of those not eligible for statutory support.

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that: 
 

The key priorities for the Cohort in the 2019-2022 strategy were all met and progress was made in all areas.

AGREED:  

• The Commission noted the report.
• The new strategy would come to a future commission meeting.