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Contents

1. Criteria
2. Arrangements for 16 to 18 year olds
3. Responsibilities for Families where the Parent and the Child/Young Person has a Disability
4. Transition Arrangements
5. Practicalities
6. Resolution of Differences

1. Criteria

When young people with Learning Disabilities reach the age of 18, case responsibility will transfer from the Department of Services to Children and Young People to the Community Team Learning Disabilities, provided that the young person does have a learning disability.

2. Arrangements for 16 to 18 year olds

The CTLD will provide consultation to the Department of Services to Children and Young People in the following circumstances:

1. Where decisions made by the Department could have a significant impact upon the young person's transition from the age of 16-21. Key decisions include decisions on placements away from home or agreements to fund home support arrangements which are likely to be long term;
2. When young people have very complex health needs Community Nurses will continue to be available to give advice on working with 16-18 year olds.

3. Responsibilities for Families where the Parent and the Child/Young Person has a Disability

1. Where the child or young person and their parent both have a disability there will be a shared assessment process, which ensures that needs are identified and addressed. It will remain the responsibility of the two services to complete their own assessment/care management documentation;
2. Where the outcome of the assessment indicates that home support is required then costs will be apportioned according to the respective needs of the child or young person and the parent. Where it is not possible to apportion responsibilities in this way then the costs will be shared on a fifty/fifty basis;
3. Where only the parent has a learning disability then the costs for any of their own individual support needs will be fully met by the Community Team Learning Disabilities.

4. Transition Arrangements

1. CTLD will start the transitional assessments of young people in receipt of respite care (looked after or day care), home support or direct payments following their 17th birthday. For young people who are looked after full time the Department will commence discussions with CTLD as part of the pathway planning process following their 16th birthday, joint decisions will then be made about the most appropriate time to complete a transitional assessment;
2. Referrals from will include the most recent assessment and review notes; it should be noted that the Department will not be required to undertake a new assessment before CTLD can start the transitional assessment;
3. It is expected that CTLD will consult with the allocated Children's Worker during the course of the assessment and in relation to the conclusions of this process;
4. A limited number of people with very complex needs will require an earlier assessment or involvement by CTLD to facilitate appropriate planning. This includes young people who are in permanent residential care, out of area placements such as residential schools, or those who have particularly challenging behaviour or highly specialised needs. For these young people assessments may start at 16 and The Department will refer to CTLD and provide a copy to the Transition Worker, CTLD;
5. Young people over 17.5 with a learning disability approaching the Department for a service will normally be assessed by CTLD if the planning relates to what they require at 18; any immediate needs will be assessed by the Department. Young people between the ages of 17 and 17.5 will be assessed by the Department with close consultancy with CTLD to ensure a consistent approach. Responsibility for services under the age of 18 will remain with the Department unless there has been an exceptional agreement to provide an adult resource;
6. CTLD will be responsible for transitional arrangements and will deal with matters relating to transition. Case management and therefore the electronic case file will remain the responsibility of the Department. The Department will ensure that CTLD has access to all the key papers for the young person;
7. It should be noted that Bradford District Care Trust is not able to provide daytime services for people under the age of 18 who have chosen to leave school;
8. The Transition Worker is available to be a contact point and give advice or discuss transition issues with parents/carers of young people over the age of 14 or young people or professionals, but will not undertake transitional assessments, unless referred via CTLD.

5. Practicalities

1. Where transfer of case responsibility is agreed then the whole file should be transferred to the Community Team Learning Disabilities;
2. Case files will be required to meet departmental standards. Therefore there will always be a transfer summary which provides an effective overview of the case, work undertaken, work planned, roles and responsibilities in order that CTLD can consider the implications for the future work with the case;
3. The Department of Services to Children and Young People should notify, where possible, the Community Team Learning Disabilities of its wish to transfer a case twelve weeks prior to the young person's 18th birthday;
4. Joint visits will be required where there are complex issues to be addressed;
5. All case files will be accompanied by transfer form SS011.

6. Resolution of Differences

It is expected that any difficulties in relation to transfers will be resolved between the Senior Care Managers of the respective teams. If a resolution still cannot be achieved then the Service Managers will make the final decision.

End