Team help young people supported by social services as they move into adulthood
The Young Adults Team works with young people with social care and support needs to make the move to adult social care as smooth as possible.
Young people are referred to the team who support them and their families to try and ensure that support is in place in time for their 18th birthday. They can start working with young people as young as 14-years-old.
This change means young people receive early advice, information and assessments, and the team support them to identify goals and outcomes for the future.
The Young Adults Team (YAT) supports people until the age of 19, when they will then move to a social care support officer or social worker in adult social care.
In some circumstances young people remain with the YAT until they are 25.
For one parent, Vicky Melia from Rossendale, the support has been extremely reassuring as her son Ben approached adulthood.
She said:
"I’d never had any contact with the council before, but I wanted to plan for Ben’s future. As Ben's grandparents get older I worry that our support circle will get smaller.
"Our social worker, Hannah, has been brilliant and made a real effort to speak to us and meet Ben before he turned 18. She's since managed to get him four hours a week of support with a Personal Assistant, which means Ben will go out with him, he will gain confidence and be able to socialise without his family with him.
"It was a massive decision to let someone else look after him, but it’s been really reassuring, and this support will make things smoother when Ben leaves education and we know what he might need in the future."
Social worker Irene Oshodi is part of the Young Adults Team and says they want to support young people to achieve goals and aspirations.
She said:
"It's being that person that is there for people and provides a voice for those who can't speak for themselves.
"I love being a social worker, you look forward to going to work and it's different every day."
Councillor Graham Dalton, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said:
"It's incredibly important to support young people as they move into adulthood and I’m incredibly proud of the work our Young Adults Team is doing. By stepping in early and working closely with families before a young person turns 18, the team is helping to make what can be a daunting transition feel smoother and more reassuring.
"It's always great to hear from parents like Vicky, and know that there's been a positive impact through the support given to her and Ben.
"Our staff make sure every young person has a voice, feels understood, and can work towards their own goals and aspirations."