From Children’s Services to Adult Complex Care: A Transition Checklist for Young People and Families

For young people with complex health needs, moving from children’s services to adult services is a major life event. Often, it happens alongside other big changes too—finishing school, exploring college or work, and building confidence and independence.

Families frequently tell us this stage feels daunting. The support network you’ve known for years begins to shift, and adult services can feel unfamiliar or fragmented. However, a clear transition plan can reduce stress and help everyone feel more prepared.

This article shares a practical checklist to guide young people and families through the move from children’s services to adult complex care.

Why the Transition to Adult Services Feels So Big

Children’s and adult services are structured differently. In children’s services, support is often more family-centred and multi-disciplinary. In adult services, care can be split across separate teams, which may feel harder to navigate at first.

Common worries include:

• Will we lose existing support?

• Who will be in charge of care in adult services?

• Will funding change?

• What happens with college, work, or daytime opportunities?

These worries are valid. Therefore, naming them early—and planning for them—usually makes the process less overwhelming.

When to Start Planning the Transition

Transition planning works best when it starts early. In many cases, that means beginning around age 14–16 and continuing until the early 20s.

Key milestones often include:

• Early conversations about hopes, goals, and concerns

• Identifying adult health, social care, and education contacts

• Planning handovers between children’s and adult professionals

• Reviewing funding (for example, children’s continuing care vs adult Continuing Healthcare)

Even if adulthood feels far away, starting early gives you more time to explore options calmly.

A Practical Transition Checklist for Young People and Families

Use this checklist as a guide. You don’t need to complete everything at once. Instead, work through it step by step and revisit it as plans develop.

1) Health and Care

• Do we understand the young person’s current diagnoses and treatment plans?

• Who are the key professionals now—and who is likely to be involved in adult services?

• Is there a written care plan that can be shared with new teams?

• Are there any referrals that should be made before transition?

• Are current care routines documented clearly (medication times, feeding, seizure plans, equipment use)?

2) Education, Work, and Daytime Activities

• What does the young person want after school: college, training, work, apprenticeships, or day opportunities?

• How do health needs affect these choices day to day?

• Is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place—and does it need updating?

• Are we thinking about the next 3–5 years, not just the next step?

3) Independence and Daily Living

• What does the young person want to do for themselves—and where is support needed?

• What are their priorities (friends, hobbies, relationships, living arrangements)?

• Are there goals around public transport, managing money, or making everyday decisions?

• What skills would help build confidence gradually (for example, choosing routines, directing care, planning outings)?

4) Decision-Making and Consent

• Does the young person understand their health needs and the decisions being made?

• Are there concerns about capacity for certain decisions?

• Do we need to explore legal arrangements (for example, lasting power of attorney or deputyship) with appropriate advice?

• Are professionals involving the young person directly, not only speaking to parents or carers?

Funding and Eligibility in Adult Services

Funding can change during transition. Because of that, it’s important to ask the right questions early.

Key points to review:

• The difference between children’s continuing care and adult Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

• When adult CHC assessments will happen

• Whether a Personal Health Budget (PHB) might be suitable

• Whether social care funding will change after 18

• Whether benefits need updating as the young person becomes an adult

A nurse-led complex care provider can often work alongside CHC and other teams to build a package that supports both clinical needs and life goals.

Choosing the Right Adult Complex Care Provider

Not every adult provider is the right fit for a young person. Therefore, it helps to ask questions that focus on age-appropriate care and independence.

Consider:

• Do they have experience supporting young adults, not only older people?

• Can they support education, work, and social life alongside clinical needs?

• How do they involve the young person in staff selection and routines?

• How do they support families during and after transition?

• Do they offer trial periods or gradual handovers where possible?

Meeting providers can also help the young person feel more in control—and reduce anxiety about change.

How Aeon Nursing Supports Transition to Adult Complex Care

At Aeon Nursing, we see transition as a process, not a single event. That’s why we focus on gradual planning and consistent communication.

Our teams can:

• Work alongside children’s services to plan smooth handovers

• Involve young people in staff selection and care planning

• Design packages that support education, hobbies, and social life—not only clinical tasks

• Review care regularly as goals and needs evolve over time

Most importantly, we aim to help young people build independence in ways that feel realistic and safe.

Planning a Transition and Need to Talk It Through?

If you’re a young person or family approaching the move from children’s services to adult complex care, we’re here to help you explore options and plan what adult support could look like.

For a friendly, no-pressure conversation, contact info@aeonnursing.co.uk.

Important Information

This article is for general career information only and does not form part of any job offer or employment contract with Aeon Nursing. Roles, duties and benefits described are examples only and may vary by position, location and service needs. All employment is subject to Aeon Nursing’s usual recruitment procedures, professional registration requirements and safeguarding checks. For current vacancies and full terms, please contact our recruitment team or visit our careers page.

Author & Content Writer: Dr Naeem Aslam