Principle 4

All young people should get the support they need

Looking back, it’s hard to think how quiet I was about the problems with the way I was treated because of my ASD. Thanks to the support I have been receiving I am now beginning to understand what it means, as a young person with a disability to have a voice and to have my voice heard.
Young Person

Jump to section:

Indicator 4a
We have an understanding of the number of young people who require support and levels of unmet need
Indicator 4b
We provide support for those who do not meet eligibility criteria for funded social care support
Indicator 4c
Our planning and decision-making is done in partnership with young people and their carers
Linking with the other Principles
Evaluation Questions
Resources
Download – Principle 4

Indicator 4a​

We have an understanding of the number of young people who require support and levels of unmet need

Assessing

  • In our organisation we are identifying the data available to us both locally and nationally relating to transitions and are working to identify levels of unmet need.
  • Working with others in our local area we are trying to establish the numbers of young people to whom we are collectively providing post education support, including healthcare, the outcomes they are achieving and levels of unmet or inappropriately met need. This includes young people with complex needs who might be at risk of, or currently in, out-of-area placements, or who have a higher level of overlooked and unmet health needs.

Improving

  • In our organisation we are accessing and analysing all available sources of data to establish how many young people require support and levels of unmet need.
  • Working with others we have developed our own data capturing processes to meet gaps within existing data sources.
  • Working with others we are collating data to help us understand the average age a young person (who was assessed as having additional support needs while in education) receives adult social care support and is fully transitioned into the adult health system.

Delivering

  • In our local area we have the data we need to give us a full understanding of the numbers of young people who require support, the age at which young people are assessed for and receive adult health and/or social care support, the outcomes they are achieving and levels of unmet need.
  • We provide support at an early stage for young people to help prevent them requiring more intensive social care support or developing avoidable health complications in the longer term.
  • Working with others we use this data to inform the planning and commissioning of all local services, and to tackle unmet need.

Indicator 4b​

We provide support for those who do not meet eligibility criteria for funded social care support

Assessing

  • Working with others we are asking young people if they are getting the support they need to do the things most important to them in all aspects of their lives.
  • Working with others we are identifying what support is available to young people, enabling them to be involved and feel valued in their communities. This includes support for young people to continue to be involved in their communities after leaving education.
  • In our organisation we ensure staff are aware of the ILF Transition Fund and provide information about this to young people and their parents and carers.
  • Working with others we ensure representatives from Skills Development Scotland, employability organisations, further and higher education are included in our local transitions forum.
  • Working with others we are gathering information about the numbers of young people who are accessing employability services, and levels of unmet need.

Improving

  • We are working with others including young people to raise their awareness of the range of options outwith those usually provided by health and social care services.
  • Working with others we are providing advice and support to community-based resources to enable them to be inclusive of young people with a wide range of support needs.
  • We are working with others to understand the barriers young people may experience, for example lack of public transport, and how to overcome these.
  • In our organisation we ensure all relevant staff are aware of the range of employment support options available to young people and the referral routes to access these.
  • Working with young people and carers, we are reviewing the availability and accessibility of the information they are given about employment options.

Delivering

  • Young people tell us they are able to do the things most important to them.
  • Young people tell us they know what support they can get to make their dreams and goals a reality.
  • Young people tell us they feel excited about their future.
  • Parents and carers tell us they are satisfied with the support their young person is receiving.
  • Young people, parents and carers tell us they are satisfied with the information and support given about the options and support available to them.
  • Parents and carers tell us about the biggest challenges their young people face, and we use this information to improve our services.
  • Professionals tell us they are aware of the range of employment support options available to young people and the referral routes to access these.
  • Data demonstrates the employment gap for disabled people in our area has reduced.

Indicator 4c​

Our planning and decision-making is done in partnership with young people and their carers

Assessing

  • In our organisation we are reviewing and updating our policies and procedures to ensure they include the involvement of young people and carers in the planning and decision-making processes most affecting them.
  • In our organisation we are reviewing existing guidance and frameworks for involvement, such as the Charter for Involvement, and making plans to implement these into our organisation.

Improving

  • In our organisation we are consulting with young people, parents and carers about how to best to include them in our planning and decision-making processes, and how to make these processes accessible to them.
  • We are working with others to support young people and their parents and carers to develop their skills, confidence and knowledge to be able to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes.

Delivering

  • Young people and carers tell us they have chances to give their views on services for young people with additional support needs in their area.
  • We report to young people and carers on the changes we have made in response to what they tell us.
Linking with the other principles

How this Principle relates to the others

Here are some prompt questions to help you to identify how this Principle relates to the others.

  • Are decisions relating to eligibility criteria made in sufficient time to allow for realistic planning to take place? (see Principle 3)
  • Are decisions clearly communicated to all those involved, in particular young people and their carers? (see Principle 5)
  • Are employability services invited to transitions planning meetings for young people who are considering entering into employment? (see Principle 1)
Evaluation questions

The questions we asked

We asked young people:

Scale: Select one of the options – Yes, Not sure, No

  • Do you feel excited about your future with no worries or concerns?
  • Are you able to do things most important to you?
  • Do you know what your options are for your future?
  • Do you know what support you can get to make your dreams and goals a reality?

We ask parents and carers:

Rate the following statements using a scale of 1 – 5 (where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree)

  • I am satisfied with the support my young person gets from outside the family.
  • I have chances to give my views on services for young people with additional support needs in my area.
  • I have the information I need about options and support available for the future.

We ask practitioners:

Rate the following statements using a scale of 1 – 5 (where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree)

  • You are aware of the range of employment support options available to young people and the referral routes to access these.

Data question:

  • What is the average age a young person (who was assessed as having additional support needs while at school) receives adult social care support?
  • What proportion of young people with additional support needs are assessed as eligible for adult social care services?
  • What outcomes are young people achieving?
  • How many young people have asked for support but have not received it, e.g. do not meet eligibility or are on a waiting list?
  • What variation in outcomes / unmet need is there between different groups of young people?
Resources

Links to relevant resources

Clicking the links will take you to the relevant resources:

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ARC Scotland, Unit 12, Hardengreen Business Centre, Eskbank, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 3NX

Scottish Charity No: SCO 39129. Registered in England Company No: 01658354. Registered Charity No: 285575

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