Issue - meetings

STOCKTON-ON-TEES BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET DECISION

PROFORMA

Cabinet Meeting ........................................................................ 12 June 2025

Consideration was given to a report on a Children’s Safeguarding Hub for Stockton-on-Tees.

The Children's Hub (CHub) served as the first point of contact for anyone concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person in Stockton-on-Tees. Since 2016 the CHub had been managed in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council. The multi-agency front door included Hartlepool and Stockton local authorities, Cleveland Police, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Trust, a Local Authority Designated Officer, and representatives from 0-19 services delivered by Harrogate District Foundation Trust.

The report asked Cabinet to agree to the disaggregation of the Children's multi-agency hub, and to bringing services in-house within Stockton-on-Tees. This would ensure that the Council continued to deliver its commitment to the Powering Our Futures Mission by improving service response to communities and formed part of the work programme surrounding the Early Intervention and Prevention portfolio.

The operational context of the CHub had evolved significantly since its inception. The service had experienced a substantial increase in demand, with Stockton referrals surpassing national and regional averages. Economic pressures, the cost-of-living crisis, and the aftermath of COVID-19 had also contributed to the growing complexity of needs of people referred to the hub.

Separating from the integrated front door to an in-house offer aligns more closely with national reforms and the strategic direction of the Council. This transition supported the national policy direction to transform children's social care by improving outcomes, keeping families together, and enhancing localised service delivery. It ensured that the CHub can better reflect local needs, partnership arrangements, and Stockton-on-Tees specific strategies for reform.

The national policy aimed to transform children's social care by improving outcomes, keeping families together, enhancing information sharing, and fostering partnership and multi-agency collaboration. Key policy documents outlining the framework for change included:

•         Working Together to Safeguard Children (DFE 2023)

•         Children's Social Care: National Framework (DFE 2024)

•         Families First Partnership programme (DFE 2025)

•         Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Government Bill 2025)

In March 2025 the government issued guidance to support the implementation of these reforms. This guidance encompassed a wide range of changes affecting children's services, from early help to safeguarding, tailored to the needs of local communities. Consequently, the future operation of the CHub must align with local needs, partnership arrangements, and Stockton-on-Tees specific reform strategies.

In alignment with national reforms, the Council’s Powering Our Futures (POF) programme had prioritised Early Intervention and Prevention, Partnerships (Team Stockton), Data, Digital, Technology, and Communities.

In April 2024, a cabinet report included a Project Initiation Document for Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP), the EIP programme was focussed on embedding prevention and early intervention across the Local Authority, improving outcomes and reducing the need for statutory services. Bringing the children’s front door back into Stockton was a fundamental element of the Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) mission and the broader Children’s Social Care Reforms. This approach aligned with the overarching vision to support families at the earliest opportunity, addressing challenges proactively to reduce the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19