Transition to adult services

How does transition work in neurodisability? 

We know that the transition to adult services can seem quite daunting, for both young people and their parents. In Sheffield we will start to discuss transition at the age of 14 years and aim to transfer your care between 16 and 18 years of age. Our main Transition page has lots of details on this process. You can also find out more on the ‘Local Offer’ website. For young people with additional needs and under lots of different teams, the complex transition team based at Sheffield Children’s Hospital can coordinate care.

In Sheffield most of the medical support for young people will be led by their own doctor (GP). It is a good idea if young people can be encouraged to see their own GP, with help from family if needed. The GP might sometimes refer onto one of the services listed below, or for further assessment with ‘Right to Choose’ if they think that might be the best option. Young people can also access the services below directly if they want to.

Useful links

Below is a list of links to services around the country that can support young people with transition. 

• Easy read version of transition to adult services. 
• Sheffield Directory provides a list of great local services which are available for teenagers.
• Sheffield Futures can advise about careers and education, and also provide counselling.
• The National Autistic Society has advice for young people with autism.
• Mencap have resources to help support young people with a Learning Disability with transition in health care
  Mencap has information on the learning disability register to help doctors and healthcare staff know what support to give. 
• The William Merritt Centre offers assessments for driving mobility.
• The Parent Carer Forum is an group of parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) Team is a council run service to help with social care. This service is for young people aged 16-25 who may have care and support needs.
• The Sheffield Directory transition guide is an online guide for young people with special educational needs or disabilities. Covering education, health and social care services.
• The Adult Autism Support Hub offers free support to autistic and ADHD people, aged 16 and above, and their carers and families. They can be contacted at: adultautismsupporthub.mhm@nhs.net
• Sheffield Mental Health Guide lists agencies and charities who provide support for young people with autism, ADHD and learning disabilities. 
• The Community Learning Disability Team is a specialist health service for people with learning disabilities, and their carers, living in Sheffield. 
• Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service (SAANS) provide diagnostic assessment and post-diagnostic support for autism and diagnostic assessment and medication for ADHD.
• This Sheffield Children’s NHS page outlines the Mental Capacity Act. This is a legal framework around people over 16 years of age making decisions for themselves and what to do if they are unable to make the decision themselves.
• The Young Person’s Support Directory lists a number of organisations which provide support for young people covering areas such as mental, physical and sexual health, finances, lifestyle, relationships, SEN and disability support.
• The Neurodisability Transition Plan gives details on how and when transition plans will be started and used. There are links to Ready, Steady, Go questionnaires to help with the process. 

Videos on YouTube

• Going to the Northern General Hospital
• Going to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital 
• Going to Graves Health and Sports Centre 

Hospital passports

• Autism Health Passport
• Learning Disabilities Passport