Transition groups ‘a priority’ for disabled children

Multi-agency transition groups are needed in all areas to improve
services for disabled children moving into adulthood, according to
a group providing guidance on disability to the National Service
Framework for Children.

The working group believes the new bodies are needed to improve the
co-ordination, commissioning and planning of disabled children’s
services.

Francine Bates, chairperson of the working group and chief
executive of Contact a Family, a charity for families with disabled
children, described present transition services as “patchy”. She
said that in many cases services were so poor that parents had to
give up their jobs when their child left school in order to look
after them.

Bates went on to explain that transition boards should set local
targets and consist of professionals from agencies including social
services, education, health, Connexions, Valuing People teams and
disabled young people themselves.

– For further information go to www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/children.htm