Preparing for Adulthood
Information provided by Sandwell Family Information Service Hub
Preparing for adulthood means moving on from being a child to becoming an adult.
The principles and processes of effective preparation for adulthood are
- Early planning at the point which is right for the young person, but as early as possible between the ages 0-25.
- Holistic assessment, planning and review.
- Active involvement of young people and their families.
- Promotion of maximum independence throughout a young person’s childhood. This would be done at the point which is right for the young person, but as early as possible between the ages 0-25.
- Raising aspirations and focusing on key life chances.
- Provision of information and advocacy.
- Integrated streamlined assessment and planning processes across all agencies. Children’s Social Care, The NHS ( children and adults), Education and Adult Social Care.
General Information for Young Adults with SEND
Between the ages of 14 and 25 you will need to make important choices about your future, such as:
- Going to College
- Finding a job
- Where you’ll live
- What extra help and support you will need and how to access it
In the downloads section of the Sandwell Family Information Service Hub you can find further resources to help you prepare for adulthood:
- An editable vocational profile to help with person-centred approaches to post-16 options along with supporting information
- My Skills My Future guide to help with skills development and choosing next steps
You can also find a lot of information about these areas on the National Development Team for Inclusion(NDTi) website.
There is also guidance about what schools, colleges and other agencies should be doing to support the transition to adult life in the SEND Code of Practice, particularly chapters 6, 7 and 8.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
If you can’t find what we are looking for in these pages you may be able to find other services in Sandwell which can help. There are a number of ways to do this:
Useful Resources and Websites
Get in touch with us if you find another website that may be of interest to others and we can include it here
Family Information Service
Sandwell Family Information Service offers free, impartial information to families with children aged 0 to 19 years (or up to 25 years with a special educational need or disability), young people and professionals.
SCVO
Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a charitable organisation based in Sandwell which supports Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector, comprised of voluntary-run community groups, charities, not-for-profit businesses, faith communities and social enterprises.
NDTi
Preparing for Adulthood tools and resources compiled by the NDTi. We exist to make change happen by celebrating what’s possible, supporting changemakers and building self-determination.
SEND code of practice
Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.
British Youth Council
The British Youth Council empower young people aged 25 and under to influence and inform the decisions that affect their lives.
Help at Hand
If you’re in care, leaving care, living away from home or working with children’s services Help at Hand can offer you free support, advice and information.
Local Offer (SEND)
Our vision for children and young people in Sandwell with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is that they will be able to achieve their aspiration for a healthy ordinary life through meaningful employment and fulfilling relationships within the community of their choosing.
Care Leaver Covenant
The Care Leaver Covenant is a national inclusion programme that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently. We create meaningful opportunities for care leavers in five key areas and support care leavers to access those opportunities.