Transition and Young People

• Every young person will have a named person to help coordinate the transition process.
• We use a transition programme called Ready, Steady, Go (opens in a new tab)which will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to manage your condition. You may also complete a condition specific checklist with a member of your healthcare team to ensure you understand the specific skills needed for your condition and medication.
  For some conditions, you will have the opportunity to meet the adult healthcare professional before your care is transferred.
• For some conditions, you will have the opportunity to meet the adult services doctor and/or nurse before you transfer.
• You will also be given a written transition plan detailing the age that you will transfer to adult services, a summary of any goals identified for you to work towards and areas where further information or advice is needed.

• Your current healthcare professional should be helping to coordinate your transition to our adult services
• Your service may use a transition programme such as Ready, Steady, Go (opens in a new tab)help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to manage your condition before you transfer to adult services.
• For some conditions, you will have the opportunity to meet the healthcare professional from the adult services before you transfer to it.
• The children’s service should ensure we have received the appropriate information about you and your needs. You should be provided with the contact details for the adult healthcare professionals.
• The children’s service should ensure we have received the appropriate information about you and your needs. You should be provided with the contact details for the adult healthcare professionals.

If you are aged 16 or older, you have the right to see a healthcare professional alone. Until you are aged 16, your parents have a right to come to clinic with you. However, that does not mean that they have to spend the whole of the consultation in the room with you. In fact, we encourage that before you move to adult services, you enter the initial part of your clinic appointment on your own and we then invite your parent/carer in to recap afterwards. It is important that we prepare you and your family for your move from being a child patient to being an adult patient.

At any appointment, you can have time on your own with the healthcare professional if you wanted to speak to them confidentially. See the helpful poster below for an explanation about what confidentiality and consent means.

• Learn about your condition/s and treatments
• Practice asking and answering questions during clinic appointments
• Try to take some responsibility for remembering what your medicines are called, what they are for, how much to take and when to take them
• Learn how to get more supplies of your medicines or dressings
• Practice arranging appointments with your consultant, GP, physiotherapist, dietitian etc.
• Keep important phone numbers and appointment dates on your mobile phone calendar
• When you agree to treatment plans, make sure that you follow them properly
• Try spending time without your parents for part of clinic appointments, then when you feel ready try spending the whole appointment on your own.
• Find out any changes in your condition that mean you should get urgent help
• Find out who to contact in an emergency

• If you are under the age of 16, you will be admitted to a children’s ward and looked after by a children’s doctor.
• If you are aged 16 or 17 you have the choice of whether you want to be admitted on to the adolescent unit on the children’s ward (as long as there is a bed available) or admitted to an adult ward.

Young Epilepsy(opens in a new tab)
Website and helpline for young people and Parent Carers including diaries, magazines and e-learning.

Epilepsy Action(opens in a new tab)
Epilepsy Helpline and Website information including information on puberty, periods, sex, contraception driving, having a baby, driving, work and Epilepsy, having a social life. There is also the “Tea Rooms” for 13-19 year olds to talk to other teenagers with Epilepsy.

Epilepsy Space(opens in a new tab)
The Epilepsy Space is for 16-25 year olds to help you manage your epilepsy.

Pituitary Foundation(opens in a new tab)
Website information and Endocrine Nurse Helpline including information on school, College, work, travelling, relationships, sex, fertility and living life.

The Buzz(opens in a new tab)
It’s the only website for deaf young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. This safe, online space, created by deaf young people, is entirely yours. You can read inspiring stories, connect with other deaf young people, find the latest information and support, sign up to events, ask questions and get involved.

Palliative Care

Together for short lives(opens in a new tab)

Contact(opens in a new tab)
Support families with guidance and information, bring families together to support each other. Online, printed and helpline advice on Education, Finance, Benefits, Childcare, Social Care and Medical information.

Sandwell Advocacy(opens in a new tab)
Sandwell Advocacy provides independent advocacy throughout Sandwell, promoting rights, voice and empowerment.

Advocacy Matters (Birmingham and Walsall)(opens in a new tab)
Provide free and confidential Independent Advocacy to vulnerable adults aged 18 years and over who live in Birmingham and have an issue in their life for which they require independent support.

Mencap(opens in a new tab)
Website information and helpline. Advice and support with Employment, Social Care, Benefits, health, Sexuality and Relationships, Wills & Trusts and Mental Capacity Act.

Sandwell Local Offer and Preparing for Adulthood(opens in a new tab)

Birmingham Local Offer and Preparing for Adulthood(opens in a new tab)

Health For Teens(opens in a new tab)
This website features content and quizzes and covers all areas of your health: including feelings, growing up, sexual health, your lifestyle, alcohol, and much more.

Physical Health

Better Health Healthier Families(opens in a new tab)
Website with information on how to eat well and move more

Sandwell Leisure Trust(opens in a new tab)
Maintains nine affordable leisure centers in Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath, Smethwick, Tipton, Oldbury and Wednesbury. Classes are open to customers aged 14 and over.
Birmingham Community Leisure Trust- check out the website for your local leisure Centre and facilities available.

Drugs and Alcohol

DECCA(opens in a new tab)
The Drug Education, Counselling and Confidential Advice Team are Sandwell young people’s alcohol and drugs service. The team work with any young person that lives in the Sandwell area aged 18 or under and also works any agency that work with them.

Aquarius(opens in a new tab)
For young people in Birmingham who are affected by substance misuse, working with young people who are drinking or using drugs themselves OR who have a family member who drinks or uses drugs.

Frank(opens in a new tab)
Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol

Sex and Sexuality

Sandwell Sexual Health Services(opens in a new tab)
Sexual health and contraception service that offers free and confidential emergency contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and information about sexual health

Umbrella(opens in a new tab)
Online information and confidential clinics for sexual health including contraception, STI testing and treatment. Some Birmingham Youth Services have Umbrella clinics at their youth Centres. There is a section on the website dedicated to Under 25’s.

Mencap(opens in a new tab)
Advice and support on relationships and sexuality for people with learning disabilities

Stonewall Young Futures(opens in a new tab)
Aim to support and empower young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people to live their lives free from discrimination and fulfill their potential.

Leisure

Sandwell Youth Service(opens in a new tab)
General youth services available including outdoor activities, media bus, street side, youth clubs, youth bus. Sessions include music, dance, drama and media. See Just Youth website for locations/times.

Birmingham Youth Service(opens in a new tab)
There are numerous Youth Services in Birmingham according to the area that you live. Check the Birmingham City Council website for information.

Over the Wall(opens in a new tab)
Over The Wall is a charity that helps children, young people and their families reach beyond the boundaries of serious illness to discover a world of mischief, magic and new possibilities.
They do this by providing free of charge, transformative activity camps throughout the UK. More information on the criteria of the Health Challenges that can support is found at:

https://www.otw.org.uk/criteria/(opens in a new tab)

School/Careers

National Careers Service(opens in a new tab)
Website, telephone and web chat service providing information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work.

Birmingham Careers Service(opens in a new tab)
Is a free and friendly support service providing careers information, advice and guidance to young people aged 16 to 19 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Employment advice(opens in a new tab)
If you have special educational needs or a disability and are looking for work, there are lots of places you can find help.

Childline(opens in a new tab)
A confidential advice and support service covering a wide range of issues by telephone or online. 0800 1111

Black Country CAMHS(opens in a new tab)
Information on CAMHS. Online help and advice for teenagers on wide range of topics including Anger, Abuse, Anxiety, Body Image, Low mood, Eating Disorders, Panic, Self-harm, stress and more.

Forward Thinking Birmingham(opens in a new tab)
A mental health service offering support, care and treatment for all 0-25s through one organisation, making it easier for you to access the right support at the right time.

Kooth(opens in a new tab)
Free online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people.

YoungMinds(opens in a new tab)
Advice and information on young people’s mental health as well as a Crisis Messenger Services that provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis If you need urgent help text YM to 85258

The Mix(opens in a new tab)
Offer support if you’re worried about your mental health, or someone else’s, from anxiety and depression to self-care and counselling. Phone, text, crisis messenger service and online resources for under 25’s.

BBC “Own it”(opens in a new tab)
Online advice centre for children and young people. Bullying and Trolling, Body image, online identity image, gaming advice.

Ditch the Label(opens in a new tab)
Anti-bullying charity. Talk to them online about bullying & anything else that you have on your mind for advice & support. They don’t’ just talk about bullying, they also talk about things that are connected such as body image, mental health & sexuality.