Safeguarding

Middlesbrough SafeguardingThe Safeguarding Service was created in January 2009 from the existing Family Services Unit, following a review of Children, Families and Learning. This has created a service covering universal services and statutory social work services. Integration of ‘safeguarding’ services will be a main focus, in addition to continued development of locality working.


Services aims and objectives:

 The service aims to:-

  • Ensure children are protected from harm and support safe parenting. 
  • Manage child protection services.
  • Improve the children’s ability to learn and improve education and training outcomes for looked after children.
  • Work with children and families to ensure the best start for children, in relation to health, family support and early learning childcare provision.
  • Manage the childcare market in Middlesbrough by maintaining an overview and identifying gaps and trends.
  • Ensure childcare is of a high quality and is compliant with national standards.
  • Develop the childcare workforce through recruitment, training and the ongoing provision of information advice and guidance.
  • Provide assessment, care planning and management and support services to children, young people and families defined as ‘in need’ under the terns of the Children Act 1989.
  • Commission and provide children’s residential care.
  • Provide family support including advice, counselling and therapeutic intervention.
  • Recruit, Train and support foster carers and adopters.
  • Provide financial and practical support to care leavers.
  • Provide respite care and support services to children with disabilities and their families.
  • Implement extended nursery provision.
  • Implement the Parenting Strategy.
  • Develop Phase 3 of the Children’s Centres Programme.

 

Priorities for 2011/2012

 Plans for this year include:

  • Reduce levels of chaotic and harmful risk-taking behaviour.
  • Increase levels of targeted services delivered in localities.
  • Ensure provision of services is of a high quality, timely and at an appropriate level.
  • Promote and support parent and carers in providing a safe environment; healthy lifestyle and safe care of children in their care.
  • Improve educational achievement of children and young people including those that are children in care aged 16, teenage mothers and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
  • Ensure you children are given the best start in their learning.
  • Maximise training and employment opportunities within the childcare workforce.
  • Ensure sufficient childcare provision.
  • Improve preventative measures to reduce emergency admission to the looked after children system.

 

Longer Term Outlook:


To improve outcomes for children, young people and their families through the early identification of need and provision of services to increase the number of young people who enjoy their childhood and go on to become confident, independent adults. We want all our children and young people, regardless of their background or family circumstances, to be able to realise their potential.

 

Contact Details

Neil Pocklington - Deputy Director
Tel: 01642 728040   Email: neil_pockington@middlesbrough.gov.uk 

Jacqui Callaghan - Prevention Services Manager
Tel: 01642 256070   Email: jacqui_callaghan@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Lynn Lang - Well-Being Services Manager
Tel: 01642 256070   Email: lynn_lang@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Sam Addison - Intervention Services Manager
Tel: 01642 513601   Email: sam_addison@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Jane Wilson - Specialist Services Manager
Tel: 01642 201941   Email: jane_wilson@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Jane Kochanowski - Safeguarding Services Manager
Tel: 01642 354451   Email: jane_kochanowski@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Jeff Watson - Risk Reduction Manager
Tel: 01642 728237   Email: jeff_watson@middlesbrough.gov.uk