Camphill Scotland

The membership body for Camphill communities in Scotland

Parents support Transitions Bill

Type: Consultations
Topic: Transitions

It is well known by too many parents and carers that the transition from childrens’ to adult services for people with a learning disability does not always go well.  Kate Monahan, a parent whose son Wilf attends Camphill School Aberdeen, told STV news her story about the appalling dislocation that took place in the life of the family when the local authority mismanaged Wilf’s transition from education to adult services.

Kate said in an article for Parenting Across Scotland:

As a result of our own experiences, our family is supporting Johann Lamont MSP’s Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions) (Scotland) Bill. We feel strongly that the legal right to a transition plan and a transparent transition process which compels the local authority to be collaborative, clear and accountable throughout all their processes and to meet needs as assessed, would help eradicate the undesirable, opaque, crisis-led decision-making, as experienced by so many families.

We hope it would also mean no-one else experiences behind-closed-door decision making regarding the care of their vulnerable young person with support needs, like we did.

It is because of stories like these that we are supporting the Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions)(Scotland) Bill.  The Bill has been developed by Johann Lamont MSP with support from Camphill Scotland, Camphill School Aberdeen, Ochil Tower School and Inclusion Scotland.  We are greatly encouraged by the support from parents and carers for this Bill, and would encourage all parents and carers to take part in the consultation.

Neil Henery, Camphill Scotland’s Director said:

Around 70% of people with a learning disability who live in Camphill communities in Scotland come from ‘out of area’ and we know how hard many families have to fight to make this happen.

This is a rare chance to act at a national level to rebalance some of the power towards people with disability and their families and we would be very grateful if you would consider making a response on behalf of your community and/or as an individual.

The Bill

The Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions)(Scotland) Bill would give a right to a Transitions Plan to every child or young person with an impairment or long term health condition. Support with transitions would then remain in place until no longer needed, or the young person’s 26th birthday.

The Bill would also require the Scottish Government to introduce a national transitions strategy to improve outcomes for children and young people with a disability in the transition to adulthood, and require the Scottish Government to appoint a Minister with special responsibility for transitions.

4 Ways You Can Support the Transitions Bill

This Bill will improve outcomes for children and young people in the transition to adulthood.  To support the Bill, we would be delighted if you would take the following actions by 22nd January:

  1. Submit a response to the consultation (see page 24 for details on how to submit your response), including examples of difficulties faced by children and young people and their families in the transition to adulthood
  2. Circulate details of the consultation through your networks, including social media
  3. Contact your local MSP, and any MSPs with whom you work closely, and encourage them to support the Bill. You might like to adapt our template letter
  4. Email Johann Lamont MSP a public statement in support of her Proposed Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions) (Scotland) Bill

We would be very grateful if you could let us know when you write or respond to the consultation or take any other action in support of this campaign.

Further information