What is a transition programme?

An Adolescent and Young Adult Transition Programme involves young people and their family/caregiver(s) and healthcare teams working through a collection of units to help prepare and support young people throughout the transition period; well before transfer of care to adult services occurs and continuing up until a young person reaches independence. The units within the programme will generally cover important topics that help young people and their families identify some of the key skills and information needed to make the transition and integration into adult services a positive experience. Some of these topics may be supported with resources that can be downloaded and printed. Some will simply be discussed during face to face encounters with the healthcare team. Transition programmes will not be the same for all services but most services will cover the following information.

Key topics

Adolescent transition

  • What is transition

  • Changing roles and responsibilities

  • Goal setting for transition

  • GP involvement in health

Self-management

Confidentiality, trust and respect

Adolescent health concerns

  • Risk taking and choices

  • Drugs and alcohol

  • Sexuality and body image

Educational and vocational support

  • Goals in education

  • Career options

Navigating health care services

Preparation for transfer

  • Information about new services

  • Information about transfer process

  • Meeting and working with new teams

  • Getting familiar with new places

Transfer of care

  • Consent for sharing of information

  • Transition plan

  • Information about first appointment

  • Information about emergency care whilst waiting for first appointment

Settling into adult services

  • Welcome pack or process

  • Transition plan review

  • Goal setting