Foreword

One of the most pressing challenges we see in local areas is how best to support young people as they prepare for adulthood. This report captures an important conversation hosted by ADASS, bringing together people with lived experience, leaders and practitioners to explore both the successes and the gaps in how we prepare young people — particularly those with complex needs — for adulthood. I am pleased to introduce this report from our recent ADASS roundtable on Preparing for Adulthood. This is an issue that is very close to me, both professionally and personally. We know from the lived experience of people that at times we fall short in delivering positive outcomes for young people as they move from children’s services into adult social care. We can struggle to get it right and families tell us there is such a difference in the way we work the two systems that it can feel like a cliff edge. These transitions can be bumpy, and for some families, it can feel confusing, and frustrating.

The complexity is amplified across social care, health services and education. Our services often operate in silos, and the lack of coordination makes the process even more challenging. The young people we work with need support that is cohesive, coordinated, and responsive to their individual needs. Yet, we are operating in systems that don’t align and have not been built with the young person at their heart.

I believe this is something we must and can improve. As a wider system, we have known many of these young people for most of their lives – why is it so difficult to provide them with the smooth, supported transitions they deserve? I am pleased that the roundtable discussion focused on practical solutions to these long-standing issues. There are many issues that are outside of our direct control, but this is not just about rethinking policy; it’s about reshaping the way we approach transitions together. Our discussions and insights must now translate into meaningful change, and we have a responsibility to act on the learnings from this work.

For me, this is about ensuring that every young person can move into adulthood with confidence, dignity, and the right support in place to help them thrive.

Melanie Williams,  President of ADASS, Director of Adult Social Care, Nottinghamshire County Council