National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for young disabled people: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

2. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

The evidence and assessment demonstrates that the Strategy could have a positive impact by furthering children’s rights and/or promoting the better realisation of one or more rights contained within the UNCRC requirements as incorporated into domestic law. This proposal has the potential to have a direct and indirect impact on young people, outlined as below:

• The Strategy has a direct impact on young disabled people aged between 14-18 as this is in our proposed age range for the Strategy (to note, the Strategy aims to support young people until the age of 25) (Article 1, Article 23).
• The Strategy has an indirect impact on young disabled people aged under 14, as it will ultimately have an impact on them as they grow up to reach this age bracket (Article 1).
• The Strategy has a direct impact on young disabled people as it aims to support better transitions and make them aware of their rights during this stage (Article 23).
• Priority 1 advocates for ensuring children and young people transitioning into adulthood have a voice in their planning (Article 12).
• Priority 2 promotes clear and accessible information for young disabled people to make informed decisions about their transitions and to understand their rights in this changing period of their lives (Article 42).
• Priority 3 recommends collaboration and successful coordination of transitions, this includes where young disabled people require services and support across multiple areas of their lives (e.g. health, education, housing) (Article 24, Article 28, Article 29).
• Priority 4 advocates for high quality transitions including standards of practice and continuous improvement practices to ensure positive transitions are promoted and valued for the benefits of young disabled people into adulthood whether that includes education, employment, health, mental health or social care services (Article 24, Article 28, Article 29); and
• It is expected that there will be a varying level of impact based on the variations of complex needs and ambitions of the young disabled person, however the aim of the Strategy is to move towards more successful transitions for young disabled people into adulthood and to learn and improve as the principles of good transitions are implemented across services which support young disabled people aged 14-25.