As most of my north-east colleagues will know, I moved to the assistant director role in Stockton on Tees in October 2024, following five years as a social care HMI with Ofsted. I have attended several regional ADCS events and meetings since then and have been warmly welcomed and supported by many of you, so thank you, I think I am forgiven! Since my return to local authority, I have reflected …
From reflection to action: priorities for North East ADCS in 2025/26
25 March 2025 Helen Fergusson, Director of Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning at Gateshead Council and Chair of North East ADCS, reflects on our regional improvement work over the last 12 months and shares an update on the priorities for the coming year... As the new chair of the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) for the North East region it feels a great privilege to …
Continue Reading about From reflection to action: priorities for North East ADCS in 2025/26
Working together with our north east family
21st January 2025 Martyn Stenton, Head of Early Help, Inclusion and Vulnerable Children at Durham County Council, has kindly agreed to be our first NE ADCS blog contributor. Martyn writes... Last summer seems a bit of a distant memory now. I recall having discussions then with our great ADCS regional team when they came to visit us in Durham as part of their tour round the region’s local …
Continue Reading about Working together with our north east family
“What a wonderful day!”
North East Harm Outside The Home Conference 2024 What a wonderful day it was! Harm outside the home in its various guises, being discussed, deconstructed and then practical tools to problem solve. I went away feeling re-energised and inspired by all involved! " Feedback from our 2nd North East Conference on Young People & Harm Outside the Home was top tier, with delegates leaving the …
We are now on LinkedIn
North East ADCS have joined the ranks of LinkedIn with our own public page. Please follow our page on LinkedIn for our regional updates, and we'd love to hear from you with any good news stories you'd like us to share or re-share on LinkedIn to maximise positive publicity for our region's children's services activity. …
Launch: north east web platform
We are excited to announce the launch of our regional web platform to support north east networks and regional improvement and innovation programmes. In addition to this website, (officially launched 20th January 2025), there is a SharePoint web platform which can be accessed using the Login function at the top right of our website's home page. Members of our network, or those invited to …






