A good practice guide for health professionals and their partners on transition planning for young people with complex health needs or a disability.

Published by the Department of Health on the 18th March 2008.

This guide builds on a wealth of good practice and aims to:


* place the young person’s needs and aspirations at the centre of the transition process;


* reinforce the need for a clear inter-agency planning structure which is based on good communication, education and training of staff, has agreed protocols that take account of national standards and evaluates outcomes of local planning to improve experiences of transition for these young people;


* acknowledge that transition does not end when the young person moves on from child-centred services but continues in adult services;


* highlight practical approaches through which both the children's and adult health services can contribute to improving the transition process for young people with complex needs (including mental health, long-term conditions and palliative care) and disabilities (both those with and without statements of special educational needs (SEN)); and

* support the commissioning process by clarifying the driving principles of person-centred planning and partnership working, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the professionals/main agencies involved in the transition process.