The Children's Hub is the first point of contact
for anyone who has a concern about the safety
or wellbeing of a child or young person who lives
in Stockton-on-Tees. The Children's Hub is
delivered in partnership with and managed by
Hartlepool Borough Council. The Stockton-on-
Tees activity is funded from the Children’s Social
Care budget at an annual cost of £902,000
The Families First nationally mandated
children’s services reforms 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 by
engaging with people who are supported by
Children’s Services and partner organisations
the Authority works alongside to support children
and families.

Cabinet is recommended to agree the recommendations for modernising the fostering service, following a comprehensive review that examined all aspects of the service and potential solutions to the declining number of current foster carers and the increasing number of Children in Our Care with more complex needs.

The proposal aims to build sufficiency within the mainstream fostering service by:
· Actively encouraging new individuals to take on the role of fostering.
· Retaining the existing cohort of foster carers.
· Meeting the diverse needs of children in our care.
· Ensuring children can remain in Stockton, provided it is safe to do so.
· Reducing the number of children placed with external providers, both costly residential and IFAs; and reduce the number of children placed in unregulated care arrangements.