Assessment for transition to adult services

[vjg13]

Posted here rather than teens for more traffic. My daughter is 17 and so 2 women are coming from the Council to do this shortly. She currently receives 5 hours direct payments and some additional aiming high hours. She has severe learning difficulties and attends a special school.

Will the aiming high hours stop at 18? Also has anyone experience of this and any potential pitfalls. The woman on the phone kept saying 'if she meets the criteria for adult services...' Which did worry me. TIA

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Sorry I don't know what aiming high hours are. If they are education related they should continue while she is still at school.

We fell below the bar for adult ss but ds is at mainstream school and has HFA (for what it's worth as a diagnosis). He does get some indepedence skills hours but that is through mental health as he is recovering from a severe mental health problem.

The adult services bar is quite high but if she has severe learning difficulties she should have more chance of reaching it.

Sorry that's probably not very helpful. But good luck transition to adult services is scary.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

My experience is that it is a slow drawn out experience... they came out to assess DS2 in the August and we got the report Xmas Eve!! DS2 has moderate LDs and AS and initially they decided he was above the cut off for adult LD services cognitively but not in independence etc and he came back to the as 'best fit' service. (he was in special school too)

On his 18th birthday direct payments stopped..and we got a form to fill to say what was left in his account (so they can claim it back) He has been allocated the same amount from adult SS but as yet (he was 18 on 8th June) we haven't heard from anyone.. SW said someone would come out to set it up . I have no idea if it will work the same as his DPs or not! The only good thing is apparently he will be allocated the same DP amount plus an extra amount to use for respite.. he's never been away from us overnight and they feel he should.

I have had to chase everyone. I have not been impressed with their service or their approach. The whole transition thing has been a nightmare tbh. DS2 went from SS at 16 to SN college (as our school only went to 16) and now he wants to leave instead of staying to 19. He has just over a week and NOTHING set up for the future as yet. We are hoping he will get a place on MECAPS traineeship ..waiting to hear. That will cover two days a week, but what we will do the rest of the time, as not enough personal budget to cover the other days... god knows.

Good luck and be prepared to chase people even if they make positive noises!!

[vjg13]

Thanks for your replies. I remember the initial set up of direct payments as being fairly drawn out but that sounds ridiculous!

The whole transition for hospital services from children to adult is scary for us and this sounds awful.

What is a MECAPS traineeship, Medusa?

[Anomia10]

There are now national criteria for adult services in the Care Act 2014, which came into force in April this year. There are some fact sheets here, including transition and eligibility:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-part-1-factsheets

As part of her assessment, there should be a carers assessment - if you need respite say, then it should be assessed on her, as part of her needs. (She would also have to have a financial assessment, but presumably she doesn't have money in her own right, except benefits coming in?)

There should not be blanket policies about ASD and cognitive abilities - its about need, and the assessment should be carer blind (ie they ignore what care, parents, friends and family provide)

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

Sorry... I meant MENCAP . They run traineeships for young adults with LDs (unpaid).. basically a supported work experience and they then try to help them find a few hours of paid work if at all possible. I have no idea how well it pan out but I;m crossing my fingers , otherwise I have young man who can be left alone for a little while but not all day, with nothing set up, no place to go... (and I work in specia ed..so school hours but am not home all day)

Arggh!

[vjg13]

Thanks for that link Anomia, I think national criteria should in theory make it a fairer system but who really knows.

When do you think you will find out Medusa?

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

I'm hoping next week! You can imagine how anxious I am! (DS2 is , thankfully , oblivious ) We are in the position where he is too aware, too able, to be just going bowling and to day centres with carers, but not able enough for a job if you kwim? In the right setting he COULD do a job..something simple, part time but he would need a lot of support to start. We have just got him helping at the local nursing home for 3 hours one day a week after college, and he now helps with the junior Sn sports club.. he is gentle and very caring and will do exactly as he's told..but no more or less.. he needs very simple specific instructions. In some ways he is clever.. his memory in incredible and he can read; but in daily life, independence, understanding people.. nope.

Adulthood is bloody scary, because all the familiar slips away :/

[vjg13]

In our area there are a couple of cafes run by churches that offer people with learning difficulties supported work. Is there anything like that near you?

I am hoping my daughter will get 2 years in specialist college when she finishes school and so am starting to look. I want to put off the end of her education as long as possible! It is all too horrific to think about!