Our commissioning approach for adults, children and families in Gateshead - commissioning priorities 2024-2025

Children's Services are committed to supporting as many children in care as possible to live in local, family based care. This may be with extended family members and family networks , or through the care of Local Authority foster carers or through the provision of fostering via Independent Fostering agencies. As a result of high numbers of children in care, there is a priority to encourage more local families to foster as well as ensuring that services are available to provide wrap around support. There is potential to build longer term consolidated arrangements with the most often used local and regional providers, to establish more cost-effective dependable provision. It remains challenging to find homes for children and young people with complex behaviour needs. Gateshead can promote its wider offer of wrap around education and support services to give confidence to providers.