By Helen Fergusson, Strategic Director of Children's Social Care and Lifelong Learning at Gateshead Council There is nothing like a Joint Targeted Area Inspection to bring the importance of the relationships we have as partners within our local areas into very sharp focus! My reflections following the recent inspection in Gateshead, focused on Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment …
The Special Power of Kinship
by Rachel Farnham, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Durham County Council This month we have all celebrated Foster Care Fortnight with lots of celebrations across County Durham, the North East and the UK, but as I was scrolling through social media last bank holiday weekend, I came across the BBC’s Caring Matters week (23 to 30 May 2026) – a week of special programmes …
Six months in: keeping children at the centre
By Annabel Bates, Corporate Director of Children's Services Middlesbrough Council The 13 April marked my six-month anniversary as a DCS, as a member of the Middlesbrough team and as a new arrival in the North East. The past six months have been a whirlwind of everything I was expecting, a fair few surprises and a lot of learning. There is much for us to do in Middlesbrough, as there is …
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Every child deserves a place to call home
by Danielle Swainston, Executive Director of Children and Family Services at Redcar and Cleveland Council Happy New Year! I think I can still say this in the first few weeks of January. I hope you all managed to have some chill out time with your loved ones. I had the luxury of being off for two weeks over Christmas and New Year and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had our Standard ILACS …
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Turning Challenge into Change: South Tyneside’s Journey to Listen, Learn and Lead
by Stuart Easingwood, Director of Children's Service, South Tyneside Council. When the stakes are highest, true change begins with listening. In South Tyneside Children’s Services, we have embraced change in our journey to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Following Ofsted’s judgement of ‘Inadequate’ in May 2023, we’ve faced tough questions and even tougher …
Working together to build an inclusive education system
by Tony Murphy, Assistant Director Education and Inclusion, Darlington Borough Council In Darlington our SEND strategy was extensively co-produced with families and young people. Some of the key messages from families were the importance of feeling included, respected, valued and safe at school and a sense of belonging and involvement in the town they live in. Through the implementation of …
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