Bridging the Divide at Transition: What Happens for Young People with Learning Difficulties and their Families?

Bridging the Divide at Transition: What Happens for
Young People with Learning Difficulties and their
Families?

Pauline Heslop, Robina Mallett, Ken Simons and Linda Ward, BILD,
£10 ISBN 904082084

Ensuring that young people with learning difficulties have a
smooth transition from adolescence to young adulthood is something
that has been ascending the policy agendas of social care.

Indeed, if legislation, codes of guidance and models of good
practice were observed and implemented, there would be little cause
for concern. Unfortunately, this study shows there is a glaring gap
between policy and implementation.

Here are the experiences of young people and their carers as they
try to find a way through the maze of services in education, social
services, housing, employment, social security and elsewhere. For
the most part it makes for grim reading. Many young people do not
have the statutory transition plan, and those who do seem little
better off.

Overall, the report paints a disturbing picture of poor
communication, inadequate co-ordination, official complacency and
downright poor professional practice. Helpful suggestions for
improvement are made, and this report needs to be on the desk of
every professional involved in transition work.

Bob Hudson is principal research fellow, Nuffield Institute
for Health, University of Leeds

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