Preparing for Adulthood
The next chapter
Not all of us begin our journey from the same place. Some of us know our child has a disability from birth or sometimes before, others do not find out until a lot later on; sometimes in their late teens or even adult years.
Whenever you discover your child has a disability or an additional need, there are so many questions and feelings you may have, so where do you start?
with our help…
you can find your way
Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) TOP TIPS
CONNECT ONLINE
Join SGPC’s emailing list for local information, support and guidance
Join our PFA Facebook group and relevant online Facebook groups, to chat with other parents
See our additional sources of information for guidance
See our useful resources for inspiration and guidance
Check out Preparation for Adulthood – on the Local Offer for more information
TO DO
Contact your GP and express your concerns, you may need to register as a carer with the surgery
Familiarise yourself with any benefits your child may be entitled to claim
If your child was eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) this generally ceases at age 16 and is replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which you need to apply separately for
Keep a record of key information to share with professionals (one shareable document is easier than constantly re-telling your story)
Get in touch with SEND and You (South Gloucestershire’s SENDIAS service) who can provide information, advice and support about SEND, they also work with young people as well as Parent Carers
Remember, making the most of what is available without feeling guilty is looking after your wellbeing – it’s practising good self-care
Start Planning Early On
To make sure our children get the best start in adulthood, it is important that planning and support take place from a young age, instead of waiting until a young person turns 18 to start talking to them about what job they might like or how they can live independently.
Services refer to this as “preparing for adulthood” or “PFA”. PFA planning is a time to think about all the skills and qualities that your child has, and to capture their hopes, goals and dreams for their future. The purpose of this early planning is to help them achieve their goals. This can take time and therefore needs to start early so that things can happen when they should.
Education
Choices relating to education or training will be based on the assessment or review of the needs of your child and any combined information, both personal and professional. The council’s Information and Advice website details the different types of educational choices available.
If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), annual reviews should focus on Preparing for Adulthood before or during Year 9. You can contact SEND and You if you require help with this process.
Health and Social care
Planning the transition to adult hospital services should begin in Year 9, with the move taking place between 16 and 18 years.
Preparing to move from CAMHS to Adult Mental Health Services should occur 6-12 months in advance. CAMHS website details some information regarding transitions.
If your child is under social care, transition planning should also happen in Year 9. Details re PFA are available on the Council’s Local Offer website
Independence
Apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if eligible.
Familiarise yourself with the opportunities for independent living and community inclusion – see the Local Offer for details
Employment
Your child’s journey to paid employment may need to be in small steps and there are many routes to employment – see the Preparing for Adulthood employment guide and Local Offer for details
Take care of your wellbeing
We offer a range of supportive activities, including virtual and in-person support sessions.
Our Community Base is a place where you can join other Parent Carers for a cuppa and a chat – sometimes just feeling heard can be all you need, to know you’re not alone. Read more.
Join us, and:
hear about all the developments that may affect your family
raise your voice
get invited to support, engagement and empowerment activities
hear about informative bookable training events
help us collaborate and shape services to ensure they are fit for purpose
receive our quarterly informative newsletter, SGPC NEWS
Help us collaborate and shape services to ensure they are fit for purpose.
When you share your views and experiences with us, we can feed them back to the service providers and stakeholders via the collective voice of our community, to form and shape the services we use. Working with us in this way truly makes SGPC Our community for positive change.
This can be in the form of:
Completing the surveys we create to gather your views
Speaking directly to our team
Giving feedback at any of our support groups or training and information sessions
Volunteering opportunities
