Transitional Safeguarding: The Case for Change

Learning from safeguarding adult reviews about Transitional Safeguarding: building an evidence base

“…Transitional Safeguarding covers more than the safeguarding risks for young people known to social services who need care and support provided when they are young adults. There are other groups of young people at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation whose needs have not been traditionally addressed by adult safeguarding services (Cocker et al , 2021b) and it is these systems issues relating to the transition points – or gaps – that need addressing, including between the safeguarding system/s, the justice system/s and health system/s including mental health (Holmes, 2022). As such, it is a term intended to denote “boundary spanning”: working collaboratively and creatively across institutional borders to tackle complex issues.…”

“…It briefly sets out the case for Transitional Safeguarding and provides examples of good practice in this area. Holmes (2022) provides a more in-depth examination of a case for Transitional Safeguarding, citing relevant literature from child development studies, health research, youth justice research, sociology and social work research. The work of Holmes and others has been used to develop a framework for analysis where SARs concern young adults.…”

“…Practice is clearly focused on preventing harm, protecting young people/young adults from harm and enabling them to recover from harm and trauma where this has already occurred. Practice is trauma-informed, strengths based and outcomes focused, aimed at promoting safety and well-being (Holmes and Smale, 2018). Practice offers flexible and integrated support.…”

“…Practice recognises the impact on decision-making of coercion and exploitation. It challenges any assumptions about lifestyle choice (Holmes and Smale, 2018). Practitioners explore with young people/young adults their decision-making, offering support and advocacy.…”

“…Agencies work together across service and geographical boundaries rather than in silos, to offer an integrated system of planning and support, recognising the inter-connected nature of harms and risks. This involves primary and secondary health care, children’s social care and adult social care, child and adolescent mental health services and adult mental health providers, housing and substance misuse services, modelling whole system thinking (Holmes and Smale, 2018). Practice is characterised by collaboration, information sharing and co-location.…”