As you prepare for your transition to adult services, you may find the resources below helpful. Information is available to help you communicate your views around transition, to help you understand changes you may experience as part of adolescence and resources to support you to be as independent as you wish.
Advocacy: Onside, Worcestershire & Herefordshire (onside-advocacy.org.uk) Onside provides advocacy services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Speakeasy N.O.W Self-advocacy charity based in Worcestershire run by people with learning disabilities who have lived experience.
Young Solutions Young Solutions Worcester is a charity that represents the views of children, young people, families and those that work with them in a wide range of strategic and decision-making forums.
Some of the resources in the 'Spiritual, Emotional and Psychological Well-being' section may also be relevant when considering adolescence.
Personalisation: Introduction e-learning courses (SCIE) If you are receiving social care support this e-Learning course will help you to understand personalisation.
Support for young people with their sexuality and identity (startingwellworcs.nhs.uk) Information on ‘Trancakes’, which are safe space groups for young people in Worcestershire who are Transgender or questioning their gender identity.
Out2gether.org.uk A friendly community driven group for LGBT+ adults living in and around Worcestershire. Their aim is to bring ‘Friendship, Support and Community’ for the LGBT+ community, by providing opportunities in safe spaces to meet and socialise.
The ability to understand and make a decision when it needs to be made is called ‘mental capacity’. The Mental Capacity Act (MCA, 2005) applies to everyone over the age of 16 and those who work in Health and Social Care and are involved in the care, treatment or support of those aged 16 and over who are unable to make all or some decisions for themselves.
If you lack the capacity to make a decision and the decision needs to be made for you, the MCA states the decision must be made in your best interests. In certain cases a person who lacks capacity may need to be deprived of their libery in order to enable their care or treatment. Liberty Protection Safeguards have been designed to put the rights and wishes of these people at the centre of all decision making on deprivation of liberty. For more information please see Liberty Protection Safeguards: what they are (www.gov.uk).
What is The Mental Capacity Act? (Mencap) An easy to use interactive guide to the Mental Capacity Act.
NHS - Best Interests At End Of Life Booklet (eolcare.uk) Practical guidance for ‘best interests’ decision making and care planning at end of life.
The Mental Capacity Act (Compassion in Dying) Information on the Mental Capacity Act.
Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice (www.gov.uk) Code of practice providing guidance for decisions made under the Mental Capacity Act.
