An evaluation by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP), commissioned by the Health and Social Care Committee, found significant systemic barriers preventing young people from receiving consistent support during the transition.
The report identified poor coordination between NHS trusts, local authorities, schools, GPs, mental health services and housing providers, alongside inadequate funding, staff training and data sharing.
It found transition planning did not consistently begin by Year 9, when young people are aged 13 or 14, despite this being the recommended starting point. There was also insufficient national data to establish how many young people were receiving early planning, what outcomes they experienced or how much resource was being invested.
Professor Dame Jane Dacre, chair of the IEP, said: 'The evidence shows that young people who have the most complex physical and mental health needs are routinely let down by poor coordination and planning from the numerous services they rely on.
'There should be straightforward processes to take young people from one set of services to another. Far from it, one young person we interviewed described the support ending at 18 as ‘like falling off a cliff edge'. It was shocking to see how continuity crumbles and vulnerable young people are forced to battle for the support they need.
'The lack of data and trained staff also indicate how overlooked this problem is, how the state's support lacks someone with a bird's eye view that can join dots and make them work in young people's best interests.'
The panel found that transitions were largely determined by age rather than individual circumstances, with significant variations in eligibility and provision. Some NHS trusts and local services provide adult care from 16, others from 18, while some offer support until 25.
This can result in abrupt changes to care, rather than a gradual process based on young people's needs, wishes and readiness for greater independence.
The report also highlighted the value of named workers, including youth workers supporting people aged 11 to 25, who can help coordinate services and build relationships with young people and their families.
However, these roles are not consistently available and are often funded through short-term pilot schemes, despite evidence of their benefits. Staff also lack sufficient protected time and training to manage transitions effectively.
Young people with protected characteristics or additional and intersecting needs were found to face particular challenges, with poor coordination and limited information-sharing increasing the risk of unequal outcomes.
The panel said young people and their families were not always given accessible information or meaningfully involved in decisions about their care. It also highlighted gaps in support across housing, education, training and employment, all of which are important to young people's wellbeing and independence.
The report calls for a more person-centred approach, with transitions planned around individual needs rather than rigid age thresholds. It also highlights the need for clearer accountability, better coordination between services, improved data collection and investment in a trained workforce.
The findings will inform further work by the Health and Social Care Committee, which will produce its own report and recommendations to the Government.
