Children’s Services in Newcastle is introducing important changes to how support is delivered to children, young people and families across the city, with a stronger focus on early help, joined-up working and family-led decision-making.
The changes are driven by experienced Child Protection Lead Practitioners (CPLPs), senior social workers who will provide guidance and oversight. The aim is to bring services, families and communities closer together, ensuring support is available earlier and helping families build on their strengths to improve wellbeing.
At the heart of this transformation is a commitment to collaboration. By working more closely with families and partners, Newcastle City Council is working towards an inclusive city where every child and young person can thrive, feel a sense of belonging and reach their full potential.
Cllr Christine Morrissey, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families said: “We know that early support can make a life-changing difference and we are committed to building a city where every child and young person can succeed. By putting families at the centre and strengthening collaboration across services, we can deliver better outcomes and make a lasting difference.”
These changes align with the national Families First reform, which promotes a move towards earlier intervention and a more joined-up, family-centred approach.
This includes meaningful engagement with families to ensure services are shaped by lived experience, responsive to local needs and focused on strengths rather than crisis. By embedding this approach, services can better coordinate support, improve outcomes and reduce long-term demand on statutory services.
To make support more consistent, accessible and effective:
- A new Family Help assessment will be introduced from 29 June 2026 for all families receiving support
- This will replace multiple existing approaches, creating a clearer and more consistent experience
- Changes will be introduced gradually, with ongoing feedback from families and partners shaping delivery
A number of key developments are being introduced to strengthen support across Newcastle:
Community Family Offer (CFO)
The Community Family Offer focus will be on short-term, high impact support for families with new emerging needs, helping to provide support earlier and reduce the need for more intensive support later.
Early help and support for families with children aged 0–19 (up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) is delivered through our Best Start Family Hubs in local communities. This provision is central to the success of the new model.
From families seeking early, community-based support to those requiring intervention from child protection teams, the support and group programmes delivered by CFO Practitioners will continue to make a positive difference for families across the whole system.
CFN Connect (formerly the Front Door)
Recognising that no single service has the full picture of a child’s life, CFN Connect will bring together agencies from the council, police, health and education to work more closely to safeguard children.
CFN Protect
A new multi-agency safeguarding team will:
- Share information and assess risks collectively
- Lead strategy discussions and decision-making
- Oversee child protection enquiries and planning
- Support children when entering care
- Work closely with wider services such as mental health, housing and domestic abuse support
Family Help teams
A newly structured Family Help service will provide local, early and voluntary support tailored to each family.
These teams include:
- Family Help Lead Practitioners
- Family Support Workers
They will:
- Build strong, respectful relationships with families
- Identify strengths and develop solutions together
- Coordinate support and act as a main point of contact
- Work closely with other professionals where needed
Support will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate and effective.
Working together for better outcomes
Strong partnerships are central to this new approach. Newcastle will continue to work closely with services, partners and communities to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.
These changes represent a significant step towards delivering more coordinated, family-focused support, helping children and young people across Newcastle to grow up safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential.