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Transitional safeguarding: Strengthening practice across adolescence to adulthood

As young people move from adolescence into adulthood, they often experience gaps in care and protection that can leave them vulnerable to harm. Traditional safeguarding frameworks often split between child and adult services and can miss the complex needs of those aged 14 to 25, particularly those affected by exploitation, homelessness, mental ill health, alcohol and substance misuse or social isolation. These challenges have been further exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19, which disrupted education, limited opportunities for social interaction, and reduced young people’s independence.​

​This transitional safeguarding course is designed to bridge that gap. It offers frontline practitioners the tools to navigate grey areas of responsibility, challenge age-based thresholds, and provide relationship-based, trauma-informed support to young people across systems.​

Courses

In-house course

Below is a sample training course outline. It is based on approximately 16 delegates (for online delivery) and 20 delegates (for face to face delivery at your premises). The course can be adapted to your organisation’s CPD requirements.

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Course content

This course provides essential knowledge and practical strategies for professionals working with young people moving into adulthood. You will explore:

  • an overview of Transitional Safeguarding and Transitions
  • the national picture – where the concept originated and why it matters
  • legislation and policy – navigating legal and social frameworks with confidence
  • ‘emerging adulthood’ – applying developmentally appropriate practice
  • real-world scenarios – tackling the challenges of transitional safeguarding in practice
  • effective strategies – enhancing collaboration across child and adult safeguarding systems, including multi-agency working and information sharing.

Learning outcomes

  • Define Transitional Safeguarding​ – articulate what transitional safeguarding is and why it matters for adolescents and young adults moving between child and adult services.​
  • Recognise Vulnerabilities and Risk Factors​ – identify key risks and vulnerabilities affecting young people during their transition to adulthood, including exploitation, mental health issues, and housing instability. Understand that contextual safeguarding is an approach to understanding and responding to young people’s experiences of significant harm outside the home, for example with peers, in neighbourhoods.​
  • Understand the Policy and Legal Frameworks​ – demonstrate an understanding of the legislative, policy, and guidance landscape underpinning safeguarding across transition points (e.g. Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, etc.). Understand thresholds and the differences in children and adult statutory provision. ​
  • Apply Developmentally Appropriate Practice​ – use knowledge of adolescent development and trauma-informed approaches to assess and respond to safeguarding concerns in a way that is age and developmentally appropriate.​
  • Collaborate Effectively Across Services​ – demonstrate effective strategies for working collaboratively across child and adult safeguarding systems, including multi-agency working and information sharing.​
  • Promote Young People’s Voice and Participation​ – apply approaches that empower young people to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives and safeguard their rights during transitions. This includes offering clear choices, explaining the reasons behind decisions, and ensuring actions are in their best interests, in line with Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) principles.​
  • Reflect on Personal and Organisational Practice​ – critically reflect on one’s own practice and organisational culture to identify barriers and enablers to implementing transitional safeguarding effectively.​

Who should attend?

This programme is aimed at practitioners who work with young people aged 14-25 years, including residential support workers, care workers, mental health professionals, education staff, and many more.

Duration

The course is delivered over one full day or divided into two mornings.