Aim To evaluate the impact of a training package on transition and the provision of the ‘Ready Steady Go’ programme, with the aim of overcoming common misconceptions about difficulties in implementing transition and enabling transition.

Background Transition has been defined as the purposeful, planned movement of adolescents from child-centred to adult orientated health care systems. Despite the importance of good transition being recognised, delivery is often fragmented, with many young people (YP) feeling unprepared. This failure has a major impact on long-term outcomes. Interpretation of the definition by many Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) and misconceptions about implementation have delayed the provision of effective transition. Availability of a training package which expands on the definition of transition to include empowering YP by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to function independently and confidently in adult services, and provision of the ‘Ready Steady Go’(RSG) programme have helped enable the delivery of transition for YP.

Methods Multi-professional RSG 1 hour training sessions were delivered over 2 years in 21 centres. Sessions expanded on the definition of transition, addressed common misconceptions (i.e. need for an adult physician; need for specialist clinics; age a YP starts transition) and introduced RSG to demonstrate the incorporation of transition into routine clinical practice. Audience response tools polled HCPs perception and understanding of transition at the start and end of these training sessions. RSG uptake was subsequently recorded.

Results Results from 642 responders during 21 training sessions demonstrated a difference pre and post training: Need for an adult physician identified before starting transition 71% versus 11%; Need for specialist clinic 35% versus 14%; Start of transition: 34% indicated start at 14 years+, (23% at 16 years+) versus, 95% indicating starting at 11–12 years. Over 90% indicated transition was needed if transferring to primary care and was also needed for YP with learning disabilities. Post-training RSG has been widely adopted in over 50 centres across the UK.

Conclusions Training with an expansion of the definition of transition can overcome the common misconceptions about the difficulties of implementing transition. The ‘Ready Steady Go’ programme enables the implementation of transition.