Children and families service complaints and representations procedure

View the Children's and Families service complaints and representations procedure (PDF, 634 KB) as a PDF.

At Gateshead we are committed to getting things right and providing high quality services to all children, young people and families in Gateshead to support our vision for Children and young people in Gateshead to "enjoy their childhood and have the opportunity to thrive and be their best selves." 

We realise we don't always get it right, and if that happens, we want to try and fix any problems you may be experiencing. If you have a complaint about our service, we'd like you to get in touch with us first and we can try and resolve your complaint quickly and informally. 

Our Social Care Complaints Procedure is followed in line with the Department for Education and Skills statutory guidance 'Getting the Best from Complaints: Social Care Complaints and Representations for Children, Young People and Others (opens new window)' which provides guidance for local authority children's services on representations and complaints procedures. 

The complaints that we receive are important to help us improve and develop services. One of the ways in which we continue to improve our services is by listening to the views of our children, young people and families and by responding positively to representations and complaints, putting any mistakes right at the earliest opportunity.