What makes Gateshead unique?
We offer an in house Family Group Conference and Mediation (FGC) service. FGC offer families the opportunity to meet in a safe and neutral environment to discuss and agree a future focused plan for children and families. Families who engage in FGC are involved fully in decision making and benefit from developing their own plan of safety, action and support.
Gateshead Domestic Abuse Team provide support for adult victim/survivors including advice and guidance and practical support. The team have a range of resources, interventions and expertise available to support those who have experienced domestic abuse and their families covering issues such as trauma bonding, power and control, dynamics and tactics of abuse and warning signs that a relationship is unhealthy.
Our Childrens Rights and Engagement Team provide support and offer advocacy to children and young people in Gateshead. On the team, we have three Young Ambassadors: Josh, Poppy and Alexandra. They concentrate on the issues affecting children and young people that are looked after in Gateshead. Our Young Ambassadors provide invaluable insight to our Gateshead Staff. They consult on new initiatives and policies being introduced, they offer training through the voice of experience to our staff and they represent Gateshead in our One Voice Youth Network.
Part of our Gateshead Workforce includes Life Story Work champions, who all hold a Diploma in Life Story Work. We also have a dedicated Therapeutic Social Worker offering bespoke support to our staff and children of Gateshead.
Our Trusting Hands service
In 2023, our children's services and The NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) developed Trusting Hands. The innovative service focuses on the children and young people who need trauma-related support the most, as well as providing ongoing support for their families, carers and social workers to enable them to recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma, respond appropriately and seek further help when needed. Trusting Hands Gateshead also provides speech and language therapy to recognise the impact that trauma in childhood can have on communication. Find out more about the service and its progress so far by watching this video.
Our Gateshead Family Hubs
Gateshead's Family Hubs provide a welcoming space for families and the wider community.
Our Family Hubs support families from conception to the age of two to give all children the best start in life. We continue to support families of children up the age of 19 and to age 25 for young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Our hubs are also open to other members of the community who may need more help. There are nine Family Hubs located across Gateshead. More support is available from community locations right across the borough. We also offer a virtual Start for Life and Family Hubfor families who are unable to attend one of our physical locations.
The family hub team contribute greatly to our aim to making Gateshead a place where our children and families can Thrive.
As you can see we have plenty of service available within Gateshead which makes us so unique. We encourage our staff to adopt multi agency support and work together to share knowledge and experiences to ensure our Gateshead residents are provided with the best support possible.