The Strangford MLA said: “It’s quite clear that the EA Transitions team is severely under-resourced. Each member of the team has responsibility for approximately 900 children and young people, and has a key role to play in supporting that young person to develop and implement their own personal Transition Plan. This figure is simply not acceptable and raises serious questions as to the standard of service that can be delivered in these constraints.
“During Committee we heard from post-19 SEN legislation campaigner Alma White, who leads the Caleb’s Cause Campaign. She highlighted that many parents of SEN children do not even know that this service exists, despite the primary role of a transition coordinator being to support young people and their families through the transition planning process.
“I have serious concerns as to whether the Transitions Service has been adequately resourced in order to deliver its statutory function. Staff come into these roles at an admin grade level, and I believe the Department of Education must now consider permitting the Education Authority to hire more staff at a grade level which appropriately reflects the work undertaken by these coordinators.
“What is perhaps most frustrating, is that once a young person leaves education at 19, no government department currently holds statutory responsibility for the continued implementation of a Transition Plan. We need a collaborative approach from the Departments of Education, Health and Communities that works towards a legislative solution to ensure that transition plans are adhered to, with the right supports in place for children and young people with SEN once they leave school. In the meantime, operational delivery of transition plans once a young person leaves school must be prioritised.”
“During Committee we heard from post-19 SEN legislation campaigner Alma White, who leads the Caleb’s Cause Campaign. She highlighted that many parents of SEN children do not even know that this service exists, despite the primary role of a transition coordinator being to support young people and their families through the transition planning process.
“I have serious concerns as to whether the Transitions Service has been adequately resourced in order to deliver its statutory function. Staff come into these roles at an admin grade level, and I believe the Department of Education must now consider permitting the Education Authority to hire more staff at a grade level which appropriately reflects the work undertaken by these coordinators.
“What is perhaps most frustrating, is that once a young person leaves education at 19, no government department currently holds statutory responsibility for the continued implementation of a Transition Plan. We need a collaborative approach from the Departments of Education, Health and Communities that works towards a legislative solution to ensure that transition plans are adhered to, with the right supports in place for children and young people with SEN once they leave school. In the meantime, operational delivery of transition plans once a young person leaves school must be prioritised.”