Chapter 5: Give every child the best start in life

Over the course of the pandemic, Children's Services have seen significant increase in demand to support the most vulnerable children in Gateshead (similar to other authorities regionally and nationally). 

An additional 800 contacts were made to children in social care (a rise of 14%)  

Early help services were supporting100 more children (a rise of 17%)  

The number of children and young people aged 0-25 years with an Education, Health and Care Plan in Gateshead increased by around12%  

An additional 147 children were being supported by the Service (a rise of 10%) 

14% more children needed to be brought into care, resulting in the highest ever number of children in our care, peaking at454(a rise of 10%)  

More of the children in our care were protected by Court Orders, with Interim and Full Care Orders increasing by 13%  

There were 133 additional children supported as a child in need (a rise of 31%) 

Since March 2021, the demand for support from Children's Services has continued to increase significantly, as the pandemic continues. 

There has been a noted impact of Covid on Children's Services and the referrals we have received.

Firstly, we have had an increase demand for services and complexity of referrals has risen. Having spoken to our multi-agency partners we know that this has been the case for health services and police.

During the restrictions we found an increase in referrals in relation to mental health, many of these families has not been previously known to Children's Services. An example is a mother who was sectioned under the mental health act and required assistance to care for her child.

Families have struggled with the lockdowns and restrictions in place and have missed the support they would usually receive from within the community or from families/friends.

Young people have struggled to manage the restrictions and impact on their education with schools being closed and we have seen an increase in referrals in relation this. Feedback from families is that some struggled to manage support services suddenly not being available face to face.  
Suzanne Storey, Service Manager, Gateshead Council