Modern.gov Breadcrumb
- Agenda item
Modern.gov Content
Agenda item
Transitions between Children's and Adults Services
Minutes:
The Director of Children Services and Director of Adult Social Care and introduced the report.
· Members noted that the transition from childhood to adulthood was not the final transition, especially for people with special educational.
· Members were advised that to enable sustained and valuable support the system required ‘thinking lifelong’, and the Families, Local Officer, Resources and Advice (FLORA) team was set up to provide the required early support, and this early intervention provided data to help enable sufficiency planning. The ‘thinking lifelong’ approach enabled a better way of people interacting with the system, with clear process, interactions and communication.
· Members noted that having key staff in place was important to support transitional arrangements, and the system, and related support, was negatively affected if those required posts were not filled.
· The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Integrated Care System told the Commission that Adult Social Care had been working more closely with Children’s Services over the last few years.
· Members were advised that relationships were important, as successful support came down to understanding who knew the child best so appropriate services could be put in place from which they would benefit from; and the system would benefit from being simpler with a greater focus on outcomes.
· There was a discussion about the need to strengthen the strategic commissioning approach as lack of choice led to high costs, and Members were told that the aim was to focus services within Bristol.
· There was a question around how the Council drew on best practice, and Members heard the Council was engaged with the Council for Disabled Children and was involved in a Working Group with the Department for Education.
· There was a discussion around the need for flexibility within providers with regard to transitioning and Members were advised that the council had liaised with the CQC and OFSTED and would investigate how to enable smooth transition.
· The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Integrated Care System drew the Commission to, firstly, the use of Council General Needs homes for young people who moved into adult services, which demonstrated closer working between Housing and Adult Social Care; and secondly, the We Work for Everyone programme, which supported people with learning difficulties into employment.
· The Executive Director for People advised the Commission that all the reports on the agenda had a common theme, that episodic separate services did not serve people well or fully address their needs; and in order to support people have better lives there needed to be a focus on knowing and understanding people in the long term, which included a respect and recognition for preferences and aspirations, from childhood, adolescence, adulthood and into old age. This could not be done well with services that only dealt with episodes of problems, and so there was a lot to do to improve. The ambitions were to focus on investment and services within the Bristol North Somerset South Gloucestershire area.
· There was a query about support for parents and carers, and Members were told the focus was about working with young people and parents so young people could live independently.
· There was a query regarding a buddy system for children and Members were advised that WECIL was commissioned to offer support for young people, and that the council would look to have a buddy system developed.
RESOLVED;
That the report be noted
Supporting documents:
- Transitions between Children’s and Adults Services - People Scrutiny 7-3-22, item 8. PDF 1 MB
- Transitions between Childrens and Adults Services - Slides, item 8. PDF 262 KB