Agenda item

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Integrated  Community Services, County Durham Care Partnership and the Director of Children and Young People’s Integrated Services which provided information on transition services provided and commissioned for children and young people with complex needs, to Adult Services or out of services, where appropriate (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes).

The Committee welcomed Jennifer Illingworth, Director of Integrated Children’s Services to the meeting to provide information on the work of the Preparing for Adulthood Steering Group and to seek members’ views on the work in progress. 

Delivering a presentation, the officer described how the work of the steering group is concerned not only with transitions from service to service but also transitions within services, for example, a young person’s transition from education to employment or a young person’s transition from a residential home into a home of their own. Whilst transitions are currently provided for within the Council, the Preparing for Adult Steering Group differs from existing provision in that its focus is on young people aged 14 to 25, residing within County Durham, who are registered with a GP practice and who are known to more than one service and therefore are considered to have more complex needs. The steering group aims to build on existing provision.  

The Director of Integrated Children’s Services explained how the work of the steering group aligns with national strategies and local priorities and the group includes representation from partners including housing, education, health, adult social care and Investing in Children. The steering group which reports into the Starting Well Partnership Board chaired by the Director of Children and Young People’s Services, held an initial workshop in September 2023 to examine the purpose and governance of the group. The workplan includes mapping of the current offer to avoid duplication, to identify any gaps in provision and to share information between agencies. The Director of Integrated Children’s Services highlighted that the voice of young people is at the core of the work.

Setting expectations, training and communications are a key focus of the work, which recognises that some services which are provided for children do not continue when the child reaches adult services and families are not always aware that services will cease. Therefore, more work will be carried out to improve family preparedness.

The Committee noted the national principles of the healthcare transition pyramid and that models of transition use a variety of arrangements based on local objectives. Challenges continue with regard to the recruitment and retention of staff and the signposting of families to support available. The Director of Integrated Children’s Services outlined the next steps for the group will include the hosting of an event for young people, their families and carers and a separate event for professionals in February 2024, to identify areas of focus during the next year.  Further details of the event will be circulated to members in due course.

The Chair thanked the Director of Integrated Children’s Services for the presentation and invited comments and questions from the Committee.

In response to a question from Councillor Scurfield regarding the provision for children looked after and care leavers, the Director of Integrated Children’s Services provided assurance that children looked after and those making the transition from care are included in the work, with representation on the steering group from the Residential Care service.  She highlighted that the care leavers’ experiences will inform principles and policies. 

Councillor Scurfield referred to lengthy waiting times for young people’s mental health services and she expressed concern that if the criteria of the Preparing for Adulthood work was that the young person must be known to more than one service, being on a waiting list for a service may delay that young person from receiving support. The Director of Integrated Children’s Services referred to the work being done to reduce CAMHS waiting times and she informed the Committee that young people’s needs will be met whilst waiting for services. 

Councillor Deinali asked whether the work would consider the increased risk factors for those with complex needs, for example, online safety and managing finances and she asked for information on the plans to offer additional support to families. The Director of Integrated Children’s Services replied that that a dedicated team, also called Preparing for Adulthood, within the Children and Young People’s service provides assistance with issues such as digital awareness, money management and healthy living and links will be made with that team.  Consideration is being given to changing the steering group’s name in order to distinguish the two services. 

Councillor Hovvels gave the view that mental and physical health and wellbeing are crucial aspects in preparing for adulthood and she asked what work could be done with those who are hard to reach and she also asked whether the steering group includes representation from the police. The Director of Integrated Children’s Services responded that the steering group would include representation from the police and she added that forthcoming engagement work and learning from colleagues and partners and from within communities will help to identify young people who are in the greatest need and hotspots for targeted intervention.

In response to a question from the Chair, the officer responded that the Youth Justice Service is represented on the steering group.

Resolved: 

That the joint Children and Young People’s and Adults, Wellbeing and Health Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee received the report and presentation and provided comment.