The guidance, written by an independent committee of experts, considered how children and young people are treated as they move to adult services. The draft guidance is aimed at helping the health service and social care sector to offer good care. The experts found that support for young people can be patchy and as a result, some young people may ‘drop out’ of the system during the move between services.

NICE has published a draft guideline for public consultation highlighting best practice for both health and social care services.

Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive and director of health and social care at NICE, said: “Becoming an adult is a major milestone for any young person, but for those who require health and social care support it can be a confusing and stressful time.

“Without good support, our young people risk being lost within the system as they move between child and adult services. A poor transition can also have long-lasting consequences, potentially affecting a young person’s independence, wellbeing and education and employment opportunities. We can’t let them down.”

A review by the Care Quality Commission, which was published last year, found that the process of moving young people with complex health needs from child to adult services can vary in quality, with previous good practice guidance not always implemented.

Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice at the Care Quality Commission, said: “We reviewed people’s experiences of transitioning from children’s to adult’s services last year and found that while there are many committed professionals who provide excellent care, there clearly still needs to be a system-wide change.

"It is unacceptable that young people and their families are being excluded from planning and decision-making about their care and for them to be without essential services or equipment temporarily, while arrangements are resolved.

“Commissioners and providers of health and social care need to work together at every level. There is no excuse for people not receiving the care they need.

"Collectively, we need to stop young people with complex physical health needs from falling between gaps of care and not getting the support they need. I encourage all providers and commissioners to take part in NICE’s consultation.”

The draft guideline makes a series of evidence-based recommendations to support commissioners, providers and health and social care staff in providing high quality and consistent care for young people who are moving from children’s to adults’ services.

Provisional NICE recommendations focus on: how and when the move between child and adult services should be planned and managed; what support should be available before and after the transition process; how to develop a young person’s independence; and the training and development requirements for staff.

Community and Social Care Minister Alistair Burt said: “Young people should have the peace of mind that they will carry on getting the care they need both before and after their 18th birthdays and I am determined to make sure this transition is as easy as possible.

“This is exactly why we asked NICE to look at how we can improve the move between children’s and adult services. Our Care Act is making sure councils help young people and their carers plan for the move into adult social services and I hope this guidance will go even further and mean everyone gets the support they need at the right time.”

Professor Leng added: “While the Care Act and other policy outlines what organisations are duty-bound to provide, our guidance will help them fulfil these duties by focusing on what works.”

The draft NICE guideline recommends that young people should be involved at every stage and treated as equal partners. It says that support should be tailored to ensure it is developmentally appropriate and includes recommendations to help build young people’s independence.

Young people should also be helped to identify a single named worker to coordinate their transition between services and support. The draft guideline says this should be someone with whom the young person has a meaningful relationship who can represent the young person and provide advice and support to them and their family.

NICE also suggests that local authorities, health and social care services and adults working in the education sector should liaise more closely to ensure a smooth and gradual transition.

Ends

For more information call the NICE press office on 0300 323 0142 or out of hours on 07775 583 813.

Notes to Editors

• The guideline focuses on young people up to the age of 25 with health and/or social care needs, including those who have mental health problems, disabilities or who are looked after.
• The consultation will remain open until Thursday 22 October 2015. The final guideline is expected to be published in early 2016.
• For further information about CQC’s review, “From the pond into the sea: Children’s transition to adult services”, please visit: http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/teenagers-disabilities-and-long-term-health-needs-lack-appropriate-support-they-approach