{"id":3552,"date":"2022-04-11T16:59:27","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T15:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?page_id=3552"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:03:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T14:03:39","slug":"moving-to-adult-health-and-social-care-services","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/life-stages\/transition\/moving-to-adult-health-and-social-care-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to adult health and social care services with complex needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-intro\">This page explains what will change when you move to adult health and adult social care services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-primary-bullets\">\n<li><a href=\"#Moving-to-adult-health-services\">Moving to adult health services<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Moving-to-adult-social-services\">Moving to adult social care services<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-grey-tint-10  align-right  size-medium\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sense is here for you at every stage of life<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">We support disabled people with complex needs of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">From our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/our-services\/support-for-children\/free-play-services-for-children-with-complex-disabilities\/\">free play sessions for children under eight<\/a>, to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/our-services\/support-for-adults\/residential-care\/\">adult residential care services<\/a>, we\u2019re with disabled people and their families every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Get in touch with our team to find out more about Sense services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-primary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/information-and-advice-service\/\">Contact us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>As a young person with complex needs, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ve had support from doctors and nurses through your childhood. You may also have had social care support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you reach 18, you\u2019ll need to move to adult services in both health and social care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can be a confusing and stressful time for you and your family. You may have a great support team who\u2019ve been involved in your care for years so it\u2019s normal to worry about moving on from them. You may also be concerned there might be gaps in your care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/life-stages\/childhood-and-school\/send-education-special-education-needs-disabilities\/education-health-and-care-plans\/\">education, health and care plan (EHC plan)<\/a>, provisions for health and social care should be included in that until it ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Moving-to-adult-health-services\">Moving to adult health services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a lot of differences between health services for children and adults. These are some of the things you\u2019ll need to get used to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-secondary-bullets\">\n<li>You\u2019re likely to be with a completely different healthcare team \u2013 only your GP practice&nbsp;will stay the same. And if you move away from home the GP might be new too.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The structure of the team will be different and the healthcare professionals will probably work together in a different way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There may be less \u2018joined up\u2019 care because there isn\u2019t an equivalent of paediatric services to link all your healthcare, therapy, and social care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your relationship with doctors and nurses will change as you get older \u2013 you\u2019ll start making decisions about your own healthcare and at some stage you may start going to appointments without your parents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your parents can help prepare you by gradually letting you take more responsibility in healthcare appointments. For example, you could start asking some questions in appointments you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your GP will continue to be your main point of contact so you can go to them with questions about transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gosh.nhs.uk\/your-hospital-visit\/transition-adult-services\/\">Great Ormond Street Hospital\u2019s website<\/a> has lots of useful information for young people moving into adult health services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Moving-to-adult-social-services\">Moving to adult social services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You are classed as an adult from age 18 so if you have had support from social care services as a child, you will be supported by adult social care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the Care Act 2014, your local authority (LA) should continue to support you through child social care services until adult social care services have decided what support they\u2019ll provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This should mean you don\u2019t end up without social care support for any time. However, making decisions about the support you will have as an adult can take a long time. So, it\u2019s important to start thinking and preparing for your adult life early \u2013 ideally, from the age of 14 (Year 9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your LA should carry out an assessment to decide what support needs you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are diagnosed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/conditions\/deafblindness\/\">deafblindness<\/a>, the LA must use a specially trained professional to carry out a specialist assessment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/contact.org.uk\/help-for-families\/information-advice-services\/social-care\/moving-into-adult-services\/\">Contact&#8217;s website<\/a> has more information on moving to adult social services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box  ctaBox    is-style-textured-secondary-tint-10\">\n    <div class=\"ctaBox__row\">\n      <div class=\"ctaBox__content\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Support from Sense<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re here for disabled people with complex needs and their families all over the UK. 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