The Children and Families Service offer a wide range of services:

• Referral and Assessment;
• Adoption;
• Safeguarding and Care Planning Teams;
• Children's Trust;
• Fostering;
• Safeguarding Childrens Unit
• Youth Offending Team
  

We work closely with partner agencies such as health and education and the voluntary sector to ensure that we provide the best possible service to children and families in Gateshead.

Looked After Children and Young People

'Looked after' is a term used to refer to those children and young people who are cared for by the local authority, usually by living with foster carers or in children's homes. 

Interpreting and Translation

If you need to talk to a social worker and English is not your first language please ring the duty social worker on 0191 433 2515. They can arrange for an interpreter to talk to you.

Things we do not provide

There are some services that we do not provide:

• Legal advice;
• Counselling;
• Immediate accommodation of children unless 'at risk';
• Household appliances;
• School uniforms;
• Financial aid;
• Housing bonds.

Useful Contacts

ChildLine	0800 1111
Citizens Advice Bureau	5 Regent Terrace Gateshead NE8 1LU 0191 477 1392
NSPCC	0808 800 5000