Supported Services Referral Process & Eligibility

Referring a young adult to your services is as easy as 1, 2, 3

How It Works

Smartphone displaying a Service Referral Form webpage with a header, form fields for name, relationship, and phone number, and a chat icon at the bottom.

1. Referral Form

Complete the referral form to refer yourself or your young adult for any of our programmes.

Only referrals received via our online form will be considered
If you are a Social Worker/Professional, please use the referral form

start the referral process ⇨

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2. Assessment

All referrals are assessed based on our service eligibility criteria*.

If eligible, we will be in touch to arrange an in-person assessment.

*eligibility criteria detailed below

Group of students and a support worker around a table playing a game with wooden blocks in a classroom or communal space, with wall decorations and photos behind them.

3. Join Edge

If eligible, your young person will be invited to join Edge.

Who is eligible for Edge’s Services?

While some of Edge Group Scotland’s supported services have specific eligibility criteria, ALL young people who engage with any of the services we offer must meet the minimum criteria outlined below.

All young people joining our services must:

Be over 16 years old
Have one or more of the following:
- a learning disability
- be autistic
- other additional support needs (ASN)
Be able to verbally communicate
Be willing to take part in outdoor activities
Be able to understand and follow safety instructions
Be self-ambulatory
Be able to attend to their own personal care and take their own medication

Have an appointed person who will communicate digitally with Edge Group Scotland’s Staff Team
Be able to work in a group environment

Be able to manage apps and communicate via mobile phone and iPad*
Involved in their own plan and want to plan their individual future
Be able to attend Edge Day Services in Musselburgh for each timetabled day
Be eligible for social care funding through their local social work department

*iPads supplied by Edge

Please visit the programme-specific pages for more information regarding specific eligibility criteria for each programme.

Programme information: Transitions Programme | Life Programme | Edge Academy

Applications for any Edge programme can ONLY be accepted via our online referral form.

start the referral process here

We work closely with several local authorities and appreciate they all operate in slightly different ways. As such, we are happy to be flexible in our approach and work with them to ensure a smooth onboarding process for all young adults using our services.

Types of Onboarding

Referrals from Social Work & Education

We work closely with, and accept referrals from, the following local authorities East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, The Scottish Borders and West Lothian.
Our support services catchment area is reflective of this with some geographical restrictions in place.

Contracts need to be in place before services from Edge Group Scotland are commissioned and a young adult is onboarded for support of any kind.

A contract is an agreement between the funding authority (local authority e.g., East Lothian), the service provider (Us/Edge Group Scotland Ltd) and the supported young adult.

Make A Referral

Why Choose Edge?

At Edge Group Scotland, we don’t just talk about quality—we evidence it. We are the only social care provider of our kind led and operated by a registered nurse, embedding clinical leadership, governance, and professional accountability at every level. We are a fully regulated, professionally staffed, values-driven organisation, delivering consistent, person-centred specialist support. Whether you're a professional making a referral or a family planning next steps, you can trust that our approach is safe, skilled, and rooted in real expertise—underpinned by the highest standards of health and social care practice.

Edge Group Scotland is registered and regulated by the Care Inspectorate Scotland as a supported day service, alongside our existing registration for support at home. This means our delivery is held to the highest standards of safety, quality, and professionalism—fully aligned with the Health and Social Care Standards. Our work is externally inspected, transparent, and accountable.
All of our client-facing staff are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), ensuring compliance with national professional standards and a robust code of practice. This offers clear reassurance that our team is properly qualified, regulated, and committed to ethical, skilled support for the individuals and families we work with.
Our client-facing team includes experienced practitioners who specialise in supporting autistic individuals and those with additional support needs. Every staff member receives regular safeguarding training, works within a trauma-informed practice model, and either holds or is working towards an SVQ in Health and Social Care. Continuous learning and development are central to the high quality of care we provide.
We are grounded in honesty and transparency. Everything we do—from how we speak to families, to how we plan support—is guided by our core values. We don’t overpromise or underdeliver. We show up consistently, act with integrity, and always put the needs of the individual at the centre of decision-making.
We are based in Musselburgh and committed to supporting local young people with autism and additional support needs. Our structured, autism-informed programmes are built to motivate progress, nurture independence, and support smooth transitions into adulthood—while staying rooted in community and connection.
We support the whole person—not just their diagnosis. Our practice considers each individual’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Whether we're supporting independent living, travel training, or mental health, our approach is always tailored, respectful, and focused on helping individuals thrive in their own way.