Children and Young People: Transition to Adult Services

Transition is the purposeful planned movement of young adults with chronic conditions from child-centred to adult-orientated health care systems. This guide has information resources about transition to adult services including books, reports and journal articles.

Last updated: 06/06/2022

Key Resources
Books
Journals

Key resources

Young Minds (2020) Transferring from CAMHS to adult mental health services.

Two bloggers share their experience. Information aimed at the young person.
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Southampton Children's Hospital (no date) Ready Steady Go resources for health professionals

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Queen's Nursing Institute (2017) Transition from children's to adult community services: learning resource. London: QNI.

This online learning resource aims to improve the experience of a young person transitioning from children’s to adult community services by supporting community and primary care professionals.
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Campbell F, Biggs K, Aldiss SK, O'Neill PM, Clowes M, McDonagh J, While A and Gibson F (2016) Transition of care for adolescents from paediatric services to adult health services, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4.

Systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve the transition of care for adolescents from paediatric to adult health services.
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Together for Short Lives (2016) Moving to adult services: what to expect. a guide for young people with life-threatening conditions making the transition to adult services. Together For Short Lives, Bristol.

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Chambers L and Kelly K (2015) Stepping Up: A guide to developing a good transition to adulthood for young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. Bristol: Together for Short Lives.

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Care Quality Commission (2014) From the pond into the sea: children's transition to adult health services. Gallowgate: CQC.

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Helen & Douglas House (2014): Transition and beyond toolkit. Oxford: Helen & Douglas House.

The purpose of this toolkit is to equip clinical staff with an understanding of the process of transition for young people with life-limiting illnesses.
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We would like to thank the RCN CYP Continuing & Community Care community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Books

Betz C L and Coyne I T (eds.) (2020) Transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services for adolescents and young adults with long-term conditions. Cham: Springer.

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Brimble M and McNee P (2021) Nursing care of children and young people with long-term conditions. Newark: John Wiley and Sons.

Chapter 11 covers transition to adult services
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Christie D and Martin C (editors) (2012) Psychosocial aspects of diabetes: children, adolescents and their families. London: Radcliffe.

Chapter 14 covers transition to adult clinics in diabetes.
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Davies A and Davies R (eds.) (2016) Children and young people's nursing: principles for practice. 2nd edn. New York: Productivity Press.

Chapter 12 covers transitional care for children and young people with life- threatening or life-limiting conditions.
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Franklin S, Sanderson H and Gitsham N (2013) Personalisation in practice: supporting young people with disabilities through the transition to adulthood. London: Jessica Kingsley.

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Hergenroeder A C and Wiemann C M (2018) Health care transition: building a program for adolescents and young adults with chronic illness and disability. Cham: Springer.

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Hughes J and Lackenby N (2015) Achieving successful transitions for young people with disabilities: a practical guide. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

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Long T (ed.) (2016) Children's nursing case book. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Case study 23 covers transition to adult services: cystic fibrosis.
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McDougall T and Cotgrove A (2013) Specialist mental healthcare for children and adolescents: hospital, intensive community and home based services. Florence: Taylor and Francis.

Chapter 11 covers transition services in mental health.
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Steinbeck K & Kohn M (eds.) (2013) A clinical handbook in adolescent medicine: a guide for health professionals who work with adolescents and young adults. London: World Scientific.