TY - JOUR

T1 - Multi-agency transition services

T2 - greater collaboration needed to meet the priorities of young disabled people with complex needs as they move into adulthood

AU - Clarke, Susan Evelyn

AU - Sloper, Tricia

AU - Moran, Nicola Elizabeth

AU - Cusworth, Linda Suzanne

AU - Franklin, Anita

AU - Beecham, Jennifer

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Purpose: Drawing on a wider study about the effectiveness and costs of different models of multi-agency transition services, this paper aims to present new evidence on the ways in which such services meet the priorities and concerns of young people identified in previous research. Design/methodology/approach: The evidence is based on qualitative interviews with 130 managers and staff in five transition services across England, and a quantitative survey of parents and young people receiving these services (pre-transition), or having received the services in the last two years (post-transition). In total, 110 pre-transition and 33 post-transition parents, and 73 pre-transition and 24 post-transition young people, completed questionnaires. Statistical analysis included calculating frequencies and mean values for the responses that measured met and unmet need, and qualitative results were analysed thematically. The consequence of, and reasons for, the low response rate to the family survey are also discussed. Findings: The research found examples of good practice and innovative services to meet young people's needs. However, provision of such services was patchy, and unmet need for transition support remained high in all the priority areas studied both during and after transition: ranging from 52 to 84 per cent in parent reports and 59 to 82 per cent in young people's reports. Originality/value: With the onset of public service cutbacks, the paper concludes that improved multi-agency commissioning of services, based on the priorities and concerns of disabled young people, and greater engagement of transition services with a broader range of agencies, will help to address these deficiencies.

AB - Purpose: Drawing on a wider study about the effectiveness and costs of different models of multi-agency transition services, this paper aims to present new evidence on the ways in which such services meet the priorities and concerns of young people identified in previous research. Design/methodology/approach: The evidence is based on qualitative interviews with 130 managers and staff in five transition services across England, and a quantitative survey of parents and young people receiving these services (pre-transition), or having received the services in the last two years (post-transition). In total, 110 pre-transition and 33 post-transition parents, and 73 pre-transition and 24 post-transition young people, completed questionnaires. Statistical analysis included calculating frequencies and mean values for the responses that measured met and unmet need, and qualitative results were analysed thematically. The consequence of, and reasons for, the low response rate to the family survey are also discussed. Findings: The research found examples of good practice and innovative services to meet young people's needs. However, provision of such services was patchy, and unmet need for transition support remained high in all the priority areas studied both during and after transition: ranging from 52 to 84 per cent in parent reports and 59 to 82 per cent in young people's reports. Originality/value: With the onset of public service cutbacks, the paper concludes that improved multi-agency commissioning of services, based on the priorities and concerns of disabled young people, and greater engagement of transition services with a broader range of agencies, will help to address these deficiencies.

KW - Transition services

KW - Young people

KW - Disabilities

KW - Multi‐agency

KW - Unmet needs

KW - Young adults

KW - Disabled people

KW - England

KW - Support

U2 - 10.1108/14769011111176734

DO - 10.1108/14769011111176734

M3 - Journal article

VL - 19

SP - 30

EP - 40

JO - Journal of Integrated Care

JF - Journal of Integrated Care

SN - 1476-9018

IS - 5

ER -