More support needed for vulnerable in transition to adult services

Children’s professionals and commissioners are being called on to improve the support they give some of the most vulnerable young people as they make the transition to adulthood.

The Revolving Doors Agency has published two guides, Aiming Higher, aimed at professionals working with young people with “multiple needs” such as housing problems, drug addiction and crime. The second, called Towards a Shared Future, is aimed at commissioners of services for such young people.

Both focus on the importance of ensuring young people are well supported during the difficult transition between children’s and adult services, especially at a time when budgets in this area are shrinking due to central government cuts.

They also highlight the importance of information sharing between children’s and adult services and ensuring young people have a say in the services they are offered.

Catherine Hennessy, director of development and partnerships at Revolving Doors Agency, said: “The transition to adulthood can be traumatic for young people with multiple needs. Often the strong relationships, trust and support that they have with the youth services are lost as responsibility transfers to a different set of agencies.”