Who should do what?
Joint responsibilities
Everyone has a role in ensuring young people with additional support needs can achieve their ambitions, desires and potential. No one profession has sole responsibility. Relevant legislation: Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004, Section 2.
All young people with additional support needs have a right to transition planning. This should start at least 2 years before a young person is expected to leave school.
Usually the school coordinates the process and invites other organisations to become involved as necessary.
If the school doesn’t contact you, ask them about the transition process and your involvement. To find out more about putting together a transition plan, click here.
If a young person is home schooled, the education service still has a responsibility to be involved in planning and supporting transition.
If transition raises wellbeing concerns for a young person, tailored planning is a legal requirement under the Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) framework. Relevant legislation: The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014), part 5.
Education
Your child’s education setting and local authority…
- Should begin the transition planning process and ensure appropriate agencies are involved. Relevant legislation: Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 part 4 and associated guidance; Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 section 33(1)-(3); Children and Young Peoples (Scotland) Act 2014, regulation 3(2)a; Additional Support for Learning (changes in school education) Scotland Regulations chapter 6 paragraph 6; ASL codes of practice and sections 12 and 13 for post school transitions.
- Should ensure relevant information is available to other agencies at least 1 year before the young person is due to leave school. Relevant legislation: Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2004), section 12, codes of practice p.119, chapter 6, paragraph 31.
- Must tell any relevant agencies no later than 6 months before someone is expected to leave school: a) the date they are expected to leave; b) about any services the local authority may provide after they leave (for example social work services or housing); and c) any other information that will help agencies provide their services. Relevant guidance: Enquire factsheet “Education and Additional Support after 16″
Social work
- Should explore personal outcome planning with young people who meet the eligibility criteria. Relevant legislation: Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 (GIRFEC guidance)
- Should indicate a budget for services to enable planning. Relevant guidance: Self Directed Support guidance, paragraph 7.12.
- Should comply with requests for assistance to identify adult services (potentially 1 year prior to young person leaving school) if laid out in the Child’s Plan. Relevant legislation: Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Part 5.
Young people who already have a social worker should be assessed for adult services by the time they are 18. For more information on needs assessments and agreeing a support package, click here.
Health services
- Should work with social work and social care staff to ensure information is shared subject to consent from parents or the young person. Relevant legislation: Education (Additional Support for Learning) Scotland Act (2004) and the National Institute for Care Excellence Guidelines; Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. NB: duties relating to information sharing are currently being reviewed.
- Health representatives should attend transitions planning meetings following an invitation from education. Relevant legislation: Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2004), sections 12 and 13.
- Should respond to a request for help to involve adult health services if asked (one year prior to young person leaving school). Relevant legislation: Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (section.40 (1) – (6))
