southtyneside.info
Who are we?
South Tyneside Children and Young People's Alliance is one of the children's trust pathfinders set up as part of the government's Change for Children Programme, driven by the Children Act 2004.
The welfare of children and young people is at the heart of the partnership designed to support and protect them – and ensure they achieve their full potential. The Children's trust works by building front line services, processes, strategies, partnerships and a shared vision around the delivery of improved outcomes, delivering a brighter future for all children, young people and their families in South Tyneside.
What services does The Alliance Provide?
The Alliance provides universal services such as schools, health visiting and services for children & young people that have particular identified needs such as, child & adolescent mental health services and services for disabled children. It also provides a range of services to support children, young people and their families to achieve their full potential. Children and families access a range of services through ‘one-stop shop's such as Children's Centres or extended schools and their needs are assessed via a common assessment framework that means they do not have to tell their story more than once. It also means that decisions can be made more quickly. Services are focused on meeting five core outcomes:
- Being Healthy
- Staying safe
- Enjoying & Achieving
- Economic Well-being
- Making a Positive Contribution
Who is involved with the Children's Trust?
The Alliance brings together South Tyneside Council, South of Tyne Primary Care Trust, South Tyneside (NHS) Health Care Trust, South of Tyne & Wearside Mental Health Trust, Connexions and the Youth Offending Service. We have also formed partnerships with other local agencies such as Sure Start and voluntary and community groups.
What is different about the Children's Trust from other joint working projects?
Current joint working arrangements mean that agencies have to work together, but they remain separate bodies, with their own remits, objectives and budgets. The trust model actually integrates some services, provides clearer lines of accountability and allows for budgets to be pooled where this makes sense. It has enabled the development of co-located teams and services providing a range of supports in one-stop shops, a shared understanding & definition of need and a common assessment framework. It also encourages systems to improve the flow of information between all those involved with children, young people and their families.
South Tyneside's Approach
South Tyneside has a whole systems approach to its Children's Trust. This means that all services that children, young people and their families might require comes under the trust's remit. South Tyneside focuses upon commissioning, that is the assessment of local need and the establishment of plans to provide/procure services to meet it. In order to achieve this the Council has built upon the arrangements that existed to promote partnership between agencies.
Contact us
South Tyneside Children and Young Peoples Alliance
Town Hall and Civic Offices
Westoe Road
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE33 2RL
Telephone: 0191 424 7771
e-mail: dan.jackson@southtyneside.gov.uk
