Assessing young people’s needs

The ‘wellbeing conversation’ is the council’s approach to assessing people's needs and embedding community-led support.

The conversation  focuses on what the young person wants to achieve, their strengths, what may be available in their local community they can access and, if required, what services may support them to achieve their aims.

This conversation will take a strength-based, person-centred approach.  This will be embedded throughout the young person’s contact with adult social care. 'Strength-based’ means we will focus on the young person's abilities.

The process is designed to minimise handoffs between practitioners, so young people receive a joined-up service. 

In addition to the wellbeing conversation, Child Disability Teams and Lifelong Services (Adults) use a document called 'My Plan'.

The plan is designed as a passport, so that important information about the young person can be smoothly transferred between services as they transition into adulthood. 

Conversations about the young person’s future needs will be taking place prior to a transition care manager becoming involved.

A useful starting point is the accessible Preparing for Adulthood Wiki. This includes useful documents for supporting young people to prepare and plan for adulthood. For example:

• Pointers for parents/carers - A guide for parents/carers of children with a lifelong disability
• My Views - For young people to complete and share with their social worker and Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) worker
• My Path - For young people to complete and share with their social worker and EHCP worker
• What to do in an emergency social story - For young people to read and practice.