Agenda item

Cllr Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Services, Sam Harper, Head of Learning Disability Provision Services, and Kathy Liddell, Family Support Manager – Oxfordshire Family Support Network (OxFSN), have been invited to present a report on the Transition into Adulthood.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Services, Victoria Baran, Deputy Director of Adult Social Care, Sam Harper, Head of Learning Disability Provision Services, Kathy Liddell, Family Support Manager – Oxfordshire Family Support Network (OxFSN), and Jessica Jones, Interim Manager – Moving into Adulthood, attended to present a report on the Transition into Adulthood.

The Cabinet Member for Adults presented the Council’s strategy for helping young people with additional needs transition to adult services. Since 2018, new pathways and a Moving into Adulthood Team had improved assessments and support plans by age 18, earning external recognition. He noted ongoing issues like aid for young carers and communication between agencies.

The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services outlined the national and local challenges faced by young people with additional needs as they transition into adulthood, noting the complexities arising from changes in social care, education, and health services. He described the Council’s response, including the Moving into Adulthood Team established in 2021 to promote early involvement, consistent support, and multi-agency collaboration, which has led to more timely assessments and improved support planning. The Family Support Manager highlighted how overwhelming the transition process can be for families, stressing the need for dedicated social workers and effective communication. She explained that the Oxfordshire Family Support Network supports families and collaborates with the Council, suggesting that a dedicated learning disability team would further enhance the process.

Members raised the following questions:

·       Members asked about working with voluntary organisations in the context of supporting young people transitioning into adulthood. The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services explained that the Council worked closely with groups such as the Oxfordshire Family Support Network, which had been involved in co-producing the moving into adulthood team and developing resources like the transition handbook. The Family Support Manager, representing the voluntary sector, described how her organisation provided support to family carers, acted as a critical friend to the Council, and helped improve communication and information for families. Both emphasised the importance of collaboration with voluntary organisations to ensure families received the guidance and support needed during the transition process.

·       Members enquired about the Council’s engagement with both special and mainstream schools and colleges, as well as support for parents or carers with learning or SEND needs. The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services explained that the Council had strong links with special schools and resource bases and reached out to mainstream schools via targeted initiatives and webinars. For parents or carers with additional needs, the Council collaborated with locality teams or Oxford Health colleagues to provide tailored support, such as parenting and independent living skills, ensuring families received appropriate assistance.

·       Members asked about transport arrangements for individuals attending school or college once they turned 18, and what the cut-off was for supporting young people in their education. The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services explained that, depending on individual circumstances and eligibility for adult social care, the Council sometimes provided transport for those over 18. The Council also considered independent travel training, working with charities and a county travel training team. The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services also clarified that the Council supported young people until they finished their education, which could be up to age 25 if they had an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and involvement continued until the individual was settled into their next stage.

·       Members asked about the rising numbers of EHCPs and whether conversations and planning were taking place with the children's directorate. The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services confirmed that this was indeed a real challenge and that the Council was engaged in ongoing discussions with the children's directorate. The Council had been mapping demand and working strategically to plan for future needs, including supported housing, and emphasised the importance of the Oxfordshire Way in considering alternatives to paid-for support.

·       Members noted the significant improvements shown in the figures within the report, but specifically queried what sort of people were still falling through the gap and what was being done to address this. The Head of Learning Disability Provision Services responded that some challenges remained, such as staffing issues and the need to prioritise those most in need. They explained that young people who were stable at home or did not require immediate support might not be reached as early, but all had access to a worker if needed. The team analysed late referrals to identify patterns, such as schools or colleges, and undertook targeted information sessions to improve awareness and referral processes. The Deputy Director added that the focus was not on excluding anyone, but on ensuring clear rationale for any cases not reached and using this to improve publicity and engagement with families.