Moving to adult health services: Information for health professionals
This guide has been created to complement the Moving on Up Framework, specifically focussing on supporting the transition of young Tasmanians with intellectual disability to adult health services.
This is the health professional version of the guide. There is also a version for young people and a version for parents/carers.
The below stages are not linear and young people may move between them at various times throughout their transition.
Click here to view, download and print a PDF of this diagram.
Discuss
It is important to discuss the move to adult health services with young people and their family/carers early and regularly.
Young people with intellectual disability and their family/carers may need additional support to understand what these changes mean.
Considering how and when you have these conversations can help.
Resources
This fact sheet includes tips for inclusive communication with young people with intellectual disability.
Planning is important to ensuring a smooth transition. Work with the young person and their family/carers to write a transition plan and give them a copy for future reference.
Ensure that the young person has a regular GP who can be included in the transition process.
It may be useful for you to know what adult health services are available to help the young person make a decision.
Things to consider when planning transition include My Health Record, referrals required, guardianship orders, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plans, and medication management.
Obtain consent from the young person and their ‘person responsible’ before sharing this plan.
Resources
This is an example of a transition care plan that can be used for a young person with intellectual disability who is transitioning to adult health services: PDF version and Word version.
Tasmanian HealthPathways is online information portal developed by Primary Health Tasmania. It’s designed to help primary care clinicians plan local patient care through primary, community and secondary healthcare systems. Of particular relevance:
The Public Guardian is an independent person appointed under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1995. This means the Public Guardian’s decisions and actions are independent of government.
Information about Inclusion Australia’s advocacy, projects and resources on supported decision making.
Prepare (get ready)
Gather all relevant information in preparation for the young person’s handover to adult health services. Prepare a handover letter to accompany this information.
Consider additional supports that the young person or their family/carers may require – e.g. mental health, sexual and reproductive health, or NDIS-specific information.
Confirm that the young person and their family/carers have all the information they need about adult health services. Speak with them about privacy and consent.
Discuss when they will begin accessing adult health services. A staged approach may be required.
My Health Matters is an Easy Read folder made to improve communication between people with an intellectual disability, supporters and health workers.
Customisable Easy Read templates for health services to provide accessible health information to people with intellectual disability and their family/carers.
Transition
Assess the young person’s readiness to start accessing adult health services. Consider any adjustments that need to be made.
Agree on the period of time over which the move to adult health services will take place.
With the consent of the young person and their ‘person responsible’, connect with their adult health services to facilitate the handover. Answer any questions these services may have.
GPs play an important role in supporting the ongoing care of people with intellectual disability. Provide the young person’s GP with a summary of transition information.
Ensure the young person and their family/carers know who they can contact regarding their health moving forwards.
The Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) is an evidence-based tool for conducting annual health assessments for people with intellectual disability. Part 1 of this tool is to be completed by the young person with intellectual disability and their family/carers.
People with intellectual disability can get a health assessment once a year that is supported by Medicare. The annual health assessment helps identify unmet health needs and preventable conditions.
This MBS note provides information on checks that need to be done during health assessments for people with intellectual disability.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or feedback about this information and resources, please send us an emailor call us on 1300 653 169.
It is important to discuss the move to adult health services with young people and their family/carers early and regularly.
Involving young people directly in their health care is a key factor in supporting transition.
Planning is important to ensuring a smooth transition. Work with the young person and their family/carers to write a transition plan and give them a copy for future reference.
Gather all relevant information in preparation for the young person’s handover to adult health services. Prepare a handover letter to accompany this information.
Assess the young person’s readiness to start accessing adult health services. Consider any adjustments that need to be made.