Havering Council

The Challenge    

The London Borough of Havering faces the challenge of providing a high level of care and support for young people with complex needs, while minimizing the cost impact on local government. The service landscape for special needs families is diverse, including ongoing support from healthcare, social services, government, third sector and special-education providers. However, a drop-off in the resources and provision available from adult services once these children reach age 18, creates a sudden service gap that can tip families into crisis.

To address this issue, the council sought to improve the transition process from children’s to adult services for developmentally challenged youth. This included finding ways to minimise the drop-off in support experienced by families during this transition, without impacting the council’s budget.

What We Did  

Our process began with a research phase including ethnographic interviews and stakeholder workshops to understand the contexts and experiences of both service providers and of families with complex-needs children approaching the transition to adult services.

Research analysis was applied to the development of a revised Transitions Pathway and protocol. Our solution was guided by an understanding that the transition to (legal) adulthood should not be viewed as a moment in time at age 18, but as a journey to be collaboratively planned for and proactively prepared for together with service agencies years in advance.

Result

Our recommendations and service blueprint included concepts for new tools, processes and roles for service providers and family members. Service innovation included strategies for improving dialogue and transparency between families and administrators, helping local government anticipate and budget well in advance for the provision-needs of future cohorts, and equipping young people and their families with skills for long term coping and independence.

consulted together with: LiveWork