Preparation for adulthood

The Health Passport is intended to help healthcare staff better understand the clinical needs and preferences of a young person up to 25 years of age with special educational needs and or disability (SEND) when they attend appointments or go into hospital.

It can be completed by the young person, with help from parents and carers or by someone who knows them well or by the parent or carer on behalf of their young person.

Download a Northamptonshire Health Passport.

Anyone over the age of 14 with a learning disability can have an annual health check arranged through their GP.

Annual health checks – what are they and why are they important? 

The annual health check is an evidence-based tool recommend by NICE. The purpose of an annual health check is to:  

• help identify and treat medical conditions early
• screen for specific conditions and health issues particular to people with learning disabilities
• ensure the appropriateness of ongoing treatments
• improve access to generic health promotion
• establish trust and support continuity of care

What happens at an annual health check?  

A person with a learning disability will have an appointment with a GP or nurse, who will ask questions about health, how the person is feeling and give information and guidance on how to stay healthy. 

During the health check the GP or practice nurse will:  

• do a physical check-up, including weight, heart rate, blood pressure and may take blood and urine samples
• talk about staying well and any help needed for this
• review any medication being taken
• talk about relationships and sexual health
• check to see if vaccinations are up to date
• ask about any health problem such as asthma, epilepsy or diabetes, to see how things are going
• check if family and carers are getting the support they need

For a young person with a learning disability, annual health checks help them to: 

• develop a relationship with a trusted health professional
• increase awareness of their personal health and wellbeing
• take more responsibility for their own health and wellbeing
• learn how to communicate about their health needs
• identify signs and symptoms early and reduce the risk of avoidable illness.

Other benefits of the annual health check include: 

• reassurance for family that a holistic health check has taken place for the young person with a learning disability
• an opportunity for the young person and family members to ask questions and discuss any concerns
• a key source of support for the young person’s health needs when transitioning into adulthood
• increased awareness for the GP or nurse of the wider family impact of any health needs of the young person
• an opportunity to connect the young person’s health needs with their special education needs and disability (SEND) and if in place, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) 

Following an Annual Health check, a health action plan should be put in place. A health action plan is a guide to a person’s health. It is made by the person with a learning disability and the people who know them best.

It tells doctors and hospitals about the person’s health and the best ways to support them to get the right treatment and health care. 

The health action plan can:

• include appointments for example: opticians, dentist and hearing checks
• be written on paper or on an app on a phone or iPad
• include objects of reference or symbol pictures/photographs to support a young person with learning disability to understand their health action plan
• be discussed at the EHCP Annual Review meeting so there is better understanding of health needs 

Easy Health have created an accessible video - you need to have a free account to view it:

What is an annual health check?: Easy Health accessible video

Information about annual health checks has been developed locally with young people and parents and carers. This is available in an easy read version and a version for families and educational settings. Please ask for a copy from any professionals working with the young person.

The GP manages the local learning disability register.

Read everything you need to know about the learning disability register on the Mencap website.

Young people will receive free prescriptions if they are under 16 and until they are 18 while they are in full time education. If they receive Universal Credit this is extended until they are 20.

They will continue to receive free prescriptions as an adult if they have some other medical conditions such as epilepsy or a continuing physical disability which means they cannot go out without the help of another person.

Check with your doctor whether your young person may be entitled to ongoing free prescriptions by applying for a medical exemption certificate.

Find out more about medical exemption certificates.

When a child reaches 18 years old, if they need to go to hospital either an inpatient or for an outpatient appointment, it will be different from when they were a child.

They will need to give their consent for parents or carers to be involved in conversations about their health and treatment. Hospital staff will assume that they have capacity to make their own decisions but will also welcome the contribution parents and carers provide.

As a reasonable adjustment, parents or carers are still able to stay with their young person whilst they are an inpatient on an adult ward.

Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital both have Learning Disability Liaison Nurses who can support young people with a learning disability, their parents or carers and the clinical teams when accessing hospital services.

The LD Liaison Nurses can be contacted by telephoning:

• Kettering General Hospital - 01536 491241
• Northampton General Hospital - 01604 545431

A hospital passport can be completed to help make the hospital visit as smooth as possible. Different hospitals have templates for these, but it doesn’t matter if you use a different template to the hospital they are visiting.

It is good to encourage the young person to complete this, or it can be completed with them or on their behalf if they are unable to do so themselves.

There is a range of support for mental health and wellbeing for young people as they move towards adulthood.

Not all young people who have accessed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) will need access to adult mental health services, and support for their emotional and mental health will revert to their GP.

If the young person does need to transition into adult mental health services, then support for this transition will usually start between the ages of 16 and a half and 17 and a half (around 6 months before they transition). The CAMHs team will discuss and plan this.

As well as CAMHS, and local youth counselling services, support can be sought through these organisations:

Re:Start is run by Lowdown in West Northants. This service is led by support workers, and helps young people aged 16-25 to navigate or access mental health services or provide support accessing services to help in other life areas which is made more difficult because of mental health difficulties.

Referrals can be made directly through the relevant provider website.

Espresso Yourself Cafés are located around the county and run on a drop-in basis, although appointments can be made if this would be better for the young person involved.

They are available to help young people aged 11-18 (and up to their 19th birthday) with any presenting mental health or emotional wellbeing need and provide a safe space, a listening ear, and access to advice, support and signposting.

Adult mental health crisis cafés are available for those aged 18+ and are run by a mental health expert and a Mind support worker.

Download a copy of Using the SEND Ranges 0-25 years 2022 for guidance on the graduated approach.

Support is available for anyone who has a drink or drug problem. Anyone worried about a family member should encourage them to talk to their GP who can help to get them treatment.

To find out more, visit the Aquarius website.