Post 19 Support

It is important that young people start to think about their aspirations as early as possible. From year 9 at the latest, local authorities (LA's) should help young people (and their parents and carers) to start planning for a successful transition to adulthood. Consideration should be given to any further education or training that will enable young people to secure a positive adult life.

Young people should be supported to exercise choice and control over their lives, including the 4 ‘preparing for adulthood’ outcomes:

moving into paid employment and higher education
independent living
having friends and relationships and being part of their communities
being as healthy as possible

More information on the 4 ‘preparing for adulthood’ outcomes can be found in chapter 8 of the SEND Code of Practice.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Some young people with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND) need longer to complete their education and training. The length of time will vary according to each young person.

LA's must not cease (stop) an EHCP simply because a young person is aged 19 or over. Young people with EHCP may need longer in education or training to achieve their outcomes and make an effective transition into adulthood. However, this does not mean that there is an automatic entitlement to continued support at age 19 or that young people with an EHCP should all remain in education until age of 25. LA's may cease a plan for a 19 to 25 year old if it decides that it is no longer necessary for the EHCP to be maintained. Cumberland Special Educational Needs and/or Disability Information and Advice Service (SEND IASS) can give you support if the LA informs you that they are considering ceasing your EHCP.

A young person's EHCP will automatically end if:

they progress to a level 4 course (degree level) at college or university
they leave education to take up paid employment
they leave education and no longer wish to return

A young person (or their parent or carer on their behalf) can request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment at any time before their 25th birthday.

The Council for Disabled Children have produced a video explaining what an EHCP is.

Education Beyond 19

‘Education’ has a broad meaning for young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in this age group. It does not have to include studying for formal qualifications. Work experience or learning to do daily tasks independently can be part of an educational programme.

Although there is no legal right to full time education across 5 days a week for young people over compulsory school age, LA's have a duty to consider whether this is appropriate to meet a young person’s needs.

Education or training does not have to be at one provider and can include work experience and other activities such as independent travel training, managing money or communication and self help skills. Some of this support may be funded by adult social care.

Social Care

A young person may need social care support as an adult, whether or not they have been getting this support already.

A young person will transfer from children’s to adult social care services at around 18. LA's have a duty to carry out a transition assessment before a young person turns 18 if they are likely to need social care support as an adult. An assessment should also be carried out for a young person who is not receiving social care support but is likely to need this in the future. Young people, or parents on their behalf, can request this assessment. Further advice about transferring to adult care services can be found at Moving into adult services | Contact.

Health

If a young person has health needs they may have been under the care of a paediatrician as a child. This can continue after 18 but at some point they will need to transfer to adult health teams. General Practitioners (GPs) are required to offer an Annual Heath Check to all adults and young people over 14 on their register with moderate to profound learning disabilities, or those with mild disabilities and complex health needs. Young people who have been receiving support from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), will transfer to adult mental health services if they need ongoing support. A young person's CAMHS caseworker should coordinate the process. Transfer between the services should be smoothly coordinated so that support does not abruptly end with nothing to replace it.

The Council for Disabled Children have produced a video on how the Information Advice and Support Service (IASS) can support young people.

Mental Capacity

It is assumed that a young person has this right unless they lack the mental capacity to make a specific decision. A person has mental capacity if they can:

Understand the information given to them.
Remember it.
Use and weigh up the information to make a decision.
Communicate their decision.

An animated guide to the Mental Capacity Act produced for the Dorset County Council Mental Capacity Act team. The guide explains the key principles in an easy to understand form.

Young people must have access to independent support to make decisions and communicate their views, if they want this. Cumberland SEND IASS can give you information on independent support.

If a young person does not have the mental capacity to make a particular decision about their education, the expectation is that a parent/carer will do this on their behalf, except where the courts have appointed a deputy.

Parent/carers can continue to support young people if they are happy for them to do this. Even if a young person can make some choices independently, they may still need help from a parent/carer in other ways.

For example, they might need support with form filling or exploring course options.