Practical support
Moving to adult mental-health services
For parents and other supporters planning a handover, or trying to resolve a gap in care.
Supporting a child or teenager before transition? Start here.
A birthday does not make someone’s support needs disappear. Moving services often happens around 18, but the timing varies. The NHS describes transfers between 16 and 25 depending on the person and local services. Ask their team what applies.
Before the current service ends
Ask for a planning appointment with the young person and, if they want you involved, attend together. Request a written handover plan and a named contact.
- Has the referral been accepted, and when is the first appointment?
- Who is responsible until the new team takes over?
- Who will arrange prescriptions and medication reviews?
- What is the contact for urgent help, including evenings and weekends?
- How will the young person’s wishes about family involvement be recorded?
We need to understand the handover before the current support ends. Who is coordinating it, and can we have the plan and contact details in writing?
Adult services have not accepted them
Ask the current team to explain the decision and the alternative plan. Ask for the GP to be involved and for clear instructions on getting reassessed if needs change. Referral does not guarantee acceptance by a specialist adult team.
If this team cannot offer support, which service will? Please explain the reason, who is responsible now and how we ask for a review if things deteriorate.
When mental-health services say no explains how to record concerns and escalate. For urgent deterioration, use urgent help rather than waiting for a complaint response.
They will not speak to me, or say “they have capacity”
Ask the young person how they want you involved. Consent can be specific, such as discussing appointments while keeping therapy conversations private. Services can listen to your observations even when they cannot tell you about treatment. What you share may be discussed with the young person.
Capacity concerns a particular decision at a particular time. A decision you disagree with does not by itself show a lack of capacity. If you are worried about the assessment, ask which decision was assessed and how your observations were considered.
I understand you may not be able to share information with me. Please record these observations and explain how I should raise new concerns.
Capacity: England and Wales · Write concerns to their team. Laws differ across the UK; ask the service which rules apply.
What about the rest of the family?
Use the handover discussion to explain what the family can realistically provide. Be specific about sleep, work, siblings and any support you cannot continue. Do not leave services assuming you can fill every gap.
Long-term support · Help for younger family members with caring responsibilities · Limits, including financial help.
Sources and how this guide was written
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Last full source check: 25 September 2026
Independent information, not a medical or crisis service. This guidance has not been clinically reviewed. How we use sources.