Decision details

1.

Title of Item/Report

A Children’s Integrated Front Door for Stockton-on-Tees (Update)

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on a Children’s Integrated Front Door for Stockton-on-Tees.

The report provided an update on the disaggregation of the joint Children’s Hub with Hartlepool Borough Council and the development of a new Integrated Early Help and Safeguarding Front Door for Stockton-on-Tees. Rising demand, evolving national Families First reforms, and the need for a more locally responsive service had driven the decision to bring the front door inhouse from April 2026.

The proposed model would create a single access point for early help and safeguarding, supported by multiagency triage, digital tools, and alignment with Family Hubs. The report outlined progress to date, implications for workforce, finance, and partnership working, and requested Cabinet approval to formally withdraw delegated authority from Hartlepool to enable the transition.

A comprehensive options appraisal was undertaken with input from a range of support services to ensure all decisions were lawful, feasible, affordable, and aligned with corporate and public expectations. Following this process, an ‘Early Help Integrated Front Door’ was identified as the preferred approach because it best met statutory safeguarding duties while offering the strongest alignment with national reform priorities, local accountability, and improved outcomes through early intervention.

Although complex to implement in the short term, this model provided enhanced support for children, families, and partners, promotes financial transparency and resource efficiency, and strengthens partnership working and demand management. It represented the most suitable solution for delivering long-term improvements.

A range of partners both statutory and non-statutory had been engaged with the process of developing the design and approach to the Children’s Front Door. The approach was endorsed by the Families First Partnership Board September 2025. Partners would continue to be engaged in the development of the front door, and the multi- agency response.

RESOLVED that:-

1.       The establishment of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s in-house Integrated Front Door arrangements (Early Help and Safeguarding) be approved to be operational from 1 April 2026, replacing the current shared front door arrangements.

2.       The Council’s delegation/arrangements for Hartlepool Borough Council to discharge the relevant front door functions on its behalf be withdrawn, with effect from 23:59 on 31 March 2026, and to confirm that the Council will resume full responsibility for delivery from 1 April 2026.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

The Children’s Hub serves as the primary point of contact for anyone with concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person living in Stockton-on-Tees. The Hub is currently delivered in partnership with, and managed by, Hartlepool Borough Council.

This report asks members to note the update regarding the disaggregation of the Children’s multi-agency hub, and the commencement of a new service within Stockton-on-Tees. This change will strengthen the Council’s commitment to the Powering Our Futures Mission by enhancing service responsiveness for local communities and aligns with the Early Intervention and Prevention work programme.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight, 17 February 2026