Children usually move to the adults social care team during one of three stages:

1. On their 18th Birthday when they are no longer in education.

2. At the end of the term of their 19th Birthday.

3. At any point in between, or if there is an agreement between the children's with disabilities team and adults social care team that the young person could go early. This is usually so that there are not too many changes in their lives in a short period of time.

The most beneficial time for the young person to move to adult services will vary for separate individuals.

From the age of 16 up to 18, the transition to adults social care will start. 

This should include all the services that assist, including areas such as: 

• health and social care

• working age adults

• education

• financial benefits for the young person and their family work housing.

The transition process should be an ongoing endeavour rather than one action, and it should also strive to specifically suit the child’s/young person’s needs.

If a local authority refuses a request to complete an assessment, it must explain clearly in writing how and why it has reached that decision.

The local authority must also provide information and advice about what you or the person you care for can do to prevent or delay the development of care and support needs.

Transition from child services to adult services will mean your child may start seeing different staff and professionals who will be supporting them. This is likely to be both within social care services and health services, for example at the hospital. There should be an exchange of information between the children's to adults teams to support with the transition.

This can be a confusing time for young people as the teams they are comfortable with have now changed. Resources to support with transitions can be found in here.

It is important that all family members, staff and professionals involved understand the process, and feels supported and prepared to try to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.

Your child/ young person shouldn't be discharged from children's health services until their care has been moved over to adult health services.

At the age of 16, and beyond, young people will often become increasingly independent and may want to take more control over the support they receive for their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Education, your local authority and others who provide services for young people, when they're over compulsory school age, are expected to communicate directly with the young person.

From the September after your child's 16th birthday, you'll only be able to get payments for them as a dependant if they're in full-time education or on an approved training course.

If you're a parent or carer of a child with a disability, you can claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for your child until they turn 16.

Once a disabled person is officially 16 or older and wants to claim a disability benefit, they'll need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

PIP has replaced DLA for working-age adults (aged 16 to 64) with a disability.

If a young person is thinking of moving away from home, they might want to consider supported housing.

Supported housing is available for people who are vulnerable or have a disability. It allows people to live independently and still receive the care they need.

The care offered in supported housing can range from on-site support to occasional visits. It can be a few hours a week or up to 24 hours a day, depending on the person's needs. Speak to the adult social care team for more information.