7 evidence-based principles based on the law and what research tells us works best to support young people.
Young people and their families must have access to the information they need
The Principle
Why this Principle matters
Clear and accessible information is essential to enable young people and their parents and carers to be aware of their rights and entitlements, explore choices and make confident decisions about the future.
What this Principle can look like
- Young people, parents and carers know what they are entitled to, and who should be involved during the transitions process.
- Young people, parents and carers know what their rights are.
- Young people, parents and carers know how to complain or get help if things are not working well.
Young people and families having the information they need means:
Young people, parents and carers should have access to information stating what support they are entitled to, who should be involved and what they can expect during their transition.
They should also have easy to access information on how professionals are held accountable if their rights are not being met and the process to make a complaint should be clear and accessible.
Information should be produced in partnership with young people and their parents and carers to make sure it gives the information they need and is accessible to them.
Young people should be able to make informed choices about which services they would like to support them. There will be a range of supports available in local areas which can be collated or mapped to ensure that they are aware of them. This can be on websites, flyers or information provided at local transition fairs and events. Many local organisations, particularly in the third sector, are keen to be involved in delivering these events and have the capacity to improve the information available to young people and their families.
This can include information about therapies, employment support, social groups or third sector organisations. All practitioners should be involved in signposting young people and their families to these.
It is best practice to provide information in ways that are inclusive of the different communication needs of young people, parents and carers. This may include British Sign Language, alternative audio and video formats, assistive technologies, Boardmaker and Talking Mats, depending on the individual needs of the young person involved. This is essential when working alongside people with sensory or impairment or communication support needs.
Raising awareness and promoting the use of BSL interpreters or accessible formats ensures that all services are inclusive of the deaf and blind community.
All information should be, as far as possible, free from professional jargon.
When this is unavoidable, there should be clear definitions of the terms that are used that is agreed by all professional sectors. For example, words like ‘transition’, 'key worker', 'transitions co-ordinator', 'learning disability', 'disability', 'learning difficulty', 'outcome', 'positive destination' and 'person-centred' can have different meanings depending on the professional background of the person using them. This leads to confusion among young people, parents, carers and professionals.
Building this Principle into your strategies
Principles into Practice is designed to help those with strategic responsibility for transitions improve the experiences of transition for young people with additional support needs, and is widely adopted by local authorities in Scotland.
It provides practical guidance to help ensure young people and their families have access to the right information in your local authority area. Data collected through Compass will help to evaluate progress and identify where further improvements are needed.
With a data sharing agreement in place, ARC Scotland can provide data reports from people using Compass in your area. These include to what extent:
- Young people understand the information available to them.
- Young people and their families know what they are entitled to during the transition process and have all the information they need.
- Professionals are confident in using inclusive communication methods.
Contact us to discuss the support available to help you build this Principle into your strategies.
