Policy & Practice: Briefing - Disabled young face trials intoadulthood

"A nightmare"? Are things really that bad? Not for everyone, but for too many. For all young people with multiple, complex needs, the transition from children's to adult services is going to be a challenge. Councils and charities provide more services for disabled children than they do for adults. And those leaving residential care can find it much harder to access services in the community.

But isn't there a statutory requirement on children's services to plan for transition? Yes there is, along with their partners. But that of course is no guarantee that it's going to be done well everywhere. The Commission for Social Care Inspection's case in this report is that while big improvements have been made, it has not happened everywhere. Inadequate planning can mean inappropriate placements, separation from family and other support networks, and the failure to build on the opportunity for a degree of independence.