Agenda item

1.

Title of Item/Report

A Children’s Safeguarding Hub for Stockton-on-Tees

2.

Record of the Decision

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 need for statutory interventions.

This was an opportunity to reflect on the current delivery model for how children and their families access services, aiming to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families in Stockton-on-Tees. A Stockton-on-Tees CHub will:

•         Support the wider transformation of children's social care as mandated by national guidance and outlined in the children's transformation programme.

•         Provide SBC senior leaders with the oversight and accountability needed to design and manage services that respond to local needs and systems.

•         Enhance direct links with partners, fostering wider engagement and relationship-building, which will build confidence in our collective response and contribute to improved demand management and decision-making.

•         Better utilise resources within the broader children's early help system.

•         Strengthen connections to the wider corporate approach to Powering Our Futures and Transformation.

•         Enable real-time updates on data and intelligence, improving performance and outcomes management, and facilitating ongoing service improvements.

Extensive discussions with leaders of Children’s Services at Hartlepool Borough Council had highlighted that, in the context of national reforms, the current arrangements for the CHub were not fully aligned with Hartlepool’s nor Stockton-on-Tees' strategic direction. While the CHub had been an integral part of the Children’s System North of Tees, the evolving operational circumstances suggested that a separation of the joint arrangements was necessary. This change would allow both Authorities to better align with their respective strategic goals and the broader national reforms.

Partners delivering services from the CHub had engaged in early discussions regarding the future of the North of Tees CHub arrangements. Partners had also been engaged in discussions which encompassed future partnership visions for Stockton, aligning with national reforms.

There would be an extensive process to disaggregate from the CHub, including process reviews, audits, demand and data analysis of the current service. This would inform future arrangements, identify staffing needs, and determine the CHub's location, which would be considered by the Asset Management group. Additionally, any potential transfer of staff would be carefully managed to ensure continuity and alignment with the new operational model.

Future models would be co-designed and developed with partners, the workforce and children and families themselves in the context of the wider reforms. There would be consultation and engagement exercises and an in-depth communication and engagement plan to ensure a seamless transition.

The estimated start date for the new arrangements will be by 1 April 2026, further updates and recommendations would be provided to Cabinet once the more detailed design work has been completed.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The disaggregation of the Children's Hub from Hartlepool be approved and the front door to services for children and young people and their families to be brought in-house and directly delivered by Stockton-on-Tees Children's Services, alongside partner organisations.

2. Cabinet receive an update on future development as part of the wider Children’s Services reforms including recommendation on the date in which delegation of the function will occur.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

The Families First nationally mandated reforms for children’s services and the strategic direction of both Hartlepool Borough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council means the current approach is not consistent with the future direction of children’s services for both Authorities.  As a result, both Authorities are seeking to disaggregate the Children’s Hub.

This means that each Authority will develop its own front door to services that will have a stronger focus on Early Help for families at the point of access and have a stronger focus on reviewing activity and adapting services and finance accordingly.

It will give Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council the opportunity to develop its services in partnership with residents who are supported by Children’s Services and partner agencies who support children young people and families.

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, Friday, 20 June 2025