Transitioning to adulthood

Help and support for young people as they enter adulthood.

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a stressful time of change, especially if a young person has special educational needs and or a disability.

The young person will need to think about and prepare for:

  • higher education and employment
  • independent living and housing
  • participating in society (having friends and supportive relationships, and participating in the local community)
  • being as healthy as possible in adult life

The young person should begin discussing transition at school from the beginning of Year 9 (approximately 14 years old) to complete the process by age 25.

It is important that the transition process is tailored to each individual and their specific needs.

The young person will be actively involved in discussing what they wish to do when they leave education or training and the support that they need to do this.

This means that the age at which a young person has completed their transition into adult life will vary.  

The Transition Social Care team

The Transition Social Care team (in Adult Social Care) works with young people and their carers who may continue to need social care support after the age of 18. These are young people who will meet the eligibility criteria for adult’s services set out under the Care Act 2014.

From ages 16 to 18, the Transition team will work with the young person's children's social worker to ensure that the young person has a smooth, well managed transition into adult services. 

The children's social worker will remain the young person's allocated social worker until they turn 18, continuing to monitor, update and review their children's support package and support plan. 

From 18 up to 25, the Transition worker will be their allocated adult social care practitioner.

When a young person reaches 18

If a young person has support from children's social care and will be eligible for social services as an adult, their support will be provided by Adult Social Care services.

For young people not meeting the access criteria under the Care Act 2014, statutory social care services will end on their 18th birthday. They will be directed to alternative support options including the voluntary sector.

If a young person has ongoing health needs, their health team will support them to plan their future. This could include their GP, paediatrician, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, physiotherapist and nurses.

You can find more information on preparing for adulthood from the National Development Team for Inclusion (NTDi).

Get support from the community

You can find out about help and support in your local area. This includes:  

  • education
  • health and wellbeing  
  • housing  
  • leisure activities and sport  
  • money and benefits  
  • travel and transport  
  • work, volunteering and training  

Go to:

Get support from the council

You can get support with learning disabilities and autism from our Active Lives service. 

Active Lives can help with:

  • emotional and physical wellbeing
  • developing skills
  • the transition from care to independent living
  • using tech support
  • building confidence and reducing isolation
  • training for families, carers, professionals and communities

To get a referral to Active Lives, you need to 'request support for an adult' either:  

  • online
  • by calling 020 8726 6500

We will:

  • offer you the support that suits your needs best, not only the support you apply for
  • let you know how much it costs and how you pay

We can also direct you to: