Leaders call for transition reforms to create ‘brighter futures’ for young people with additional needs
Senior leaders from social care, health, education and national bodies have called for significant changes to the way young people with complex needs are supported as they move into adulthood, following a national roundtable hosted by NDTi. The discussion, summarised in the report Brighter Futures: Creating Brighter Futures - Supporting Young People Navigating Complexity to Thrive in Adulthood, brought together representatives from local government, the NHS, social care, regulators and government departments to examine how systems can better support vulnerable young people aged 14 to 25.
Participants agreed that too many young people experience unnecessary disruption as they approach adulthood because services, funding arrangements and regulatory frameworks are not designed around their individual needs. The report highlights concerns that support often becomes fragmented at age 18, despite young people's needs remaining largely unchanged. Examples from Bradford and Hartlepool demonstrated how personalised housing and support models can help young people establish stable homes and maintain trusted relationships. However, roundtable participants argued that regulatory barriers, funding delays and organisational boundaries can prevent good practice from being implemented more widely.
A key theme was the importance of creating "homes for life" and reducing the number of moves experienced by care-experienced and disabled young people. Delegates stressed that continuity of housing, support staff and community connections should be viewed as positive safeguarding outcomes rather than optional extras. The report also highlights the need for earlier transition planning, recommending that preparation for adulthood should begin around age 14. Participants called for joined-up planning across education, health and social care, supported by a single coherent plan and a named coordinator to help families navigate complex systems.
Trauma-informed practice was another central focus. Delegates warned that repeated changes in accommodation, services and professional relationships can compound existing trauma and undermine long-term outcomes. Instead, transition planning should prioritise stability, trusted relationships and young people's aspirations. Looking ahead, the group agreed to engage with Ofsted, CQC and national partners to explore greater regulatory flexibility while maintaining safeguards. With reforms already underway across SEND, children's services and adult social care, participants described the current moment as a significant opportunity to reshape support for young people with complex needs.
The report's conclusion is clear: young people should not be forced to fit around systems. Instead, systems must be designed around young people, their relationships, ambitions and futures.
As part of the Small Supports programme, several free webinars are to be held across November and December:
- 9 November 2026 - Small Supports: All you need to know: 12 - 1.30pm UK time
- 16 November 2026 - Brighter Futures - Small Supports for young people moving in to the adult world: 12 - 1.30pm
- 30 November 2026 - Home, Family, Community - Small Supports for people with dementia and their families: 12- 1.30pm
- 14 December 2026 - Local, Bespoke, Micro and Small:12 - 1.30pm
The sessions are aimed at family members, providers, commissioners, community organisations and policymakers looking at why it is important to develop support services that are based in local communities. The discussions aim to explore how investing in local support can help build community skills, create opportunities, and keep wealth within the local area.
