Co-Producing Transitions with Young People & Families: Practical Ideas for LD & Autism Providers
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Every strategy document now talks about co-production, but many young people and families still feel that transitions are something “done to them”, not designed with them. For adults with learning disabilities and autism, that disconnect can make the 16–25 journey feel confusing, disempowering and risky.
The good news is that co-production does not have to be complicated or tokenistic. With some thought, providers can build in practical, visible ways for young people and families to shape how transitions work – and then show commissioners clear evidence of this in tenders and market engagement.
If you are reshaping your model ahead of a tender, it can help to sense-check how you describe co-production in your draft responses. My bid proofreading and light editing service can help tighten up language so that your examples land clearly with evaluators.
Why co-production matters so much in transitions
The 16–25 period is one of the most emotionally loaded times for people with LD/autism and their families. Decisions are being made about:
- Where someone will live, and with whom.
- What they will do during the day – college, work, day opportunities, supported employment.
- Which staff will be in their life, and which relationships will change or end.
Co-production does three important things in this context:
- Builds trust – people can see that services are not just following a template.
- Improves decisions – families and young people know what has worked (and not worked) in the past.
- Reduces crisis – when people feel heard and involved, change is usually less destabilising.
From consultation to co-production: what is the difference?
Consultation is asking people what they think about something that has already been designed. Co-production is bringing them in before decisions are made and giving them real influence over the result.
In transitions, that shift might look like:
- Young people helping design the overall pathway, not just commenting on leaflets.
- Families co-designing crisis and contingency plans, not just being informed of them.
- Experts by experience sitting on recruitment panels for key roles such as transitions coordinators.
Practical co-production ideas for transitions services
1. Young people’s design group
Set up a small paid design group of young people with LD/autism who have recently been through transition. Support them to:
- Map what did and did not work in their own journeys.
- Co-design communication materials (videos, easy-read guides, timelines).
- Test proposed changes to the pathway and give honest feedback.
Build these voices into your governance – for example, a standing agenda item at service development meetings.
2. Family reference group
Families often see risk patterns and system gaps before services do. A family reference group can:
- Review policies on handover, communication and escalation.
- Help design “no surprise” rules – for example, how much notice is given before key changes.
- Co-develop simple tools (like one-page profiles) that follow the young person across services.
3. Co-produced reviews and debriefs
After a transition – especially one that involved crisis or a placement move – schedule a structured debrief with the young person and their family. Use this to ask:
- What went well that we should do more of?
- What felt worrying, unfair or confusing?
- What would you change if you were in charge of the service?
Feed these insights directly into your quality improvement plans and show commissioners how real experiences shape change.
Making co-production accessible and safe
Co-production is only meaningful if people can actually take part safely and comfortably. That means:
- Paying people for their time as experts by experience.
- Providing accessible information (easy read, visual tools, video explainers).
- Offering support with travel, digital access and, where needed, advocacy.
- Being clear about what is genuinely up for discussion and what is fixed (e.g. legal or budget limits).
Evidence for tenders and commissioning
From a tender-writing perspective, strong co-production practice gives you concrete, high-scoring material. Commissioners will be looking for:
- Specific examples – not just “we value co-production”.
- Structures and forums where co-production happens (groups, panels, design sessions).
- Examples of how feedback has changed policies, pathways or staffing models.
When you describe this in bids, focus on the before-and-after story: what you changed, why, and what difference it made to people’s lives.
Starting small, learning fast
You do not need a huge participation team to improve co-production in transitions. What you do need is:
- A few well-designed, routine opportunities for young people and families to shape decisions.
- A way of capturing what they say and feeding it into service change.
- The confidence to talk honestly about what you are still learning.
Get those basics in place, and you will not only improve the quality and safety of 16–25 pathways – you will also have a much stronger story to tell when you respond to LD/autism, Transforming Care and supported living tenders in future.
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