Issue - meetings

Report ACS11052

The Portfolio Holder introduced the draft Integrated Transition Strategy for young people with learning difficulties/disabilities, produced jointly by Adult and Community Services and Children and Young People Services with input from colleagues in health. The report proposed that the draft strategy be released for consultation.

The Interim Strategic Commissioner, Learning Disabilities, reported that LB Bromley, in conjunction with LB Bexley, had been one of only three London Boroughs that had been awarded SEN and Disability Green Paper pathfinder status.

The Committee considered the issues surrounding transition in depth.  Mr Brian James reported a level of concern about the value of transition and felt that improved communication between Adult’s Services and Children’s Services would improve the transition process for all parties involved.  Mr James highlighted that whilst he welcomed the pursuit of independence for young people going through transition, the process could create a level of isolation that could cause young people who had been more protected in children’s services to deteriorate.  Mr James felt that independent living with some communal facilities could be more beneficial to young people with more complex needs.

The Assistant Director (Older People) recognised that transition had not always been a smooth process but that over the past year a significant amount of work had been undertaken.  The new Department currently being formed within the Council would further help to develop the integrated care pathway.  Work was currently being undertaken to ensure that the needs of the young people currently known to the Local Authority would be met in the future and should a request for communal facilities be received it would be given due consideration.

The Committee acknowledged there had been significant improvements in the past four years.  A Member stressed the need to ensure there was enough flexibility in the process to ensure that young people going through the transition process could take the necessary steps at their own pace in order to find their independence.  Lynne Powrie highlighted the need to ensure there was adequate information and support available to parent carers as young people went through the transition process.

The Committee recommended to the Portfolio Holder that reference to support for carers and families should also be included in the strategy.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

(a)  Agree to the inclusion of reference to the support available for families and carers within the draft strategy;

(b)  agree to the release of the draft strategy for consultation for a period of 3 months from November 2011,

(c)  note that the results of the consultation will be reported back to both Portfolio Holders being asked to endorse the final strategy via the appropriate PDS Committees.