Models of multi-agency services for transition to adult services for disabled young people and those with complex health needs: Impact and costs

SPRU research team

• Patricia Sloper
• Sue Clarke
• Linda Cusworth
• Nicola Moran

External collaborators

• Jennifer Beecham, PSSRU, Kent

Project summary

There was considerable evidence from research that for most young people with disabilities or complex health needs the process of transition from child to adult services was problematic. Policy developments and the growth of multi-agency working may lead to improvements in that situation. However, there was little research which identified the components of models of good practice in transition services or the costs of such services. This research addressed both these issues in order to inform good practice in services for disabled young people and their families at transition.

Aims

The aims of the project were:

• to investigate arrangements across local authority areas (LAs) in England for multi-agency assessment for, planning of and actual transfer from child to adult services for young people with disabilities or complex health needs
• to compare the implementation and operation of different models of transition services
• to assess outcomes for parents and young people of provision of different models of transition services
• to investigate sources of funding and costs of different models of transition services.

Methods

A survey of all local authorities in England (n=150) was undertaken to investigate arrangements for multi-agency assessment for planning of and actual transfer from child to adult services for young people with disabilities or complex health needs.

Five case study areas were then selected, representing different models of transition services and a range of demographic variables. Selection focused on services that had transition workers, key workers or transition teams to coordinate the services for the young person; formal multi-agency partnerships; and a systematic approach to management of the service. In these case study areas, interviews were undertaken with managers and staff to investigate the process of establishing partnerships, setting up, and operating the service.

The effectiveness of the services in providing co-ordinated care and in meeting young people’s and parents’ needs was investigated through questionnaires to all young people and their parents receiving the service. They focused on the amount of service use, satisfaction with the service, processes of care and met and unmet needs.

In order to explore views of the services in more depth, interviews were carried out with a sub-sample of young people and their parents who have been through the transition process. Cost-related analyses provided descriptive results on costs of such services.

Follow-on study

A follow-on study looking specifically at the needs of young people with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) on transition started in 2009. Click here for more detail of this project.

Additional information