Process
Care Act Assessment which will identify any Transition Assessment needs
At Southend City Council, Adult Services will carry out what we call a Care Act assessment, which will include information which will identify and constitute a `Transition Assessment` (TA).
Everyone has the right to refuse any assessment, however the relevant Council Department (Children's/Adults) must undertake an assessment regardless, if it suspects that a child or adult with care and support needs is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect.
As per chapter 16 of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance, the features of a TA are as follows:
The TA should support the young person (and their family and carer if applicable) to plan for the future, by providing them with information about what they can expect. All TAs must include an assessment of:
- both the young person and any carer's needs for care and support
- current needs for care and support and how these impact on wellbeing (this refers to the needs of the young person at the time the assessment is commenced, so for SCC this will be when the young person reaches 17 years of age)
- whether the child or carer is likely to have needs for care and support after the child in question becomes 18, if so, what those needs are likely to be, and which are likely to be eligible needs
- the outcomes the young person or carer wishes to achieve in day-to-day life and how care and support (and other matters) can contribute to achieving them.
The TA for young carers or adult carers must also specifically consider whether the carer:
- is able to care now and after the child in question turns 18
- is willing to care now and will continue to after 18
- works or wishes to do so; and
- is or wishes to participate in education, training, or recreation
The assessments must include an assessment of the outcomes, views, and wishes that matter to the child or carer in question, and an assessment of their strengths and capabilities.
The young person or carer in question must be involved in the assessment for it to be person centred and reflect their views and wishes.
The assessment must also involve anyone else who the young person or carer wants to involve in the assessment. For example, many young people will want their parents involved in their process.
The TA should be carried out in a reasonable timescale. The Local Authority should inform the young person or carer of an indicative timescale over which the assessment will be conducted and keep them informed.
The TA should consider the immediate short-term outcomes that a young person or carer wants to achieve as well as the medium and longer-term aspirations for their life. Progress towards achieving outcomes should be monitored.