Family support

How we can help

We provide support to families who experience two or more of the following issues:

  • poor school attendance
  • worklessness
  • children who need help
  • parents and children with health problems
  • domestic violence
  • anti-social behaviour and crime

Family partners

Family partners work with families who need support and:

  • are dedicated to the family
  • look at what is happening for the family as a whole
  • give practical, hands-on support to the family
  • have an assertive and challenging approach
  • are supported by a plan agreed with the family and relevant services

We work across North Tyneside and are based in:

Early help: sharing your information

Related documents

Early help assessment form

Related documents

Parent Carer Needs Assessment

What is a Parent Carer Needs Assessment? 

The purpose of a Parent Carer Needs assessment (PCNA) is for you to have an assessment of your own needs, allowing you to discuss with a practitioner your caring role and how it affects your wellbeing, your feelings and choices about caring, what help you need to support you as a carer of a child/ young person with additional needs and / or disabilities, and to find out what help and support may be available.

If you are a parent carer of a child with a disability, you have the right to request a parent carer needs assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014.

The assessment will consider:

  • Your individual needs as a parent carer
  • Things that could make looking after your child easier for you
  • Your wellbeing as a parent carer
  • The need to safeguard and promote the welfare of your disabled child
  • The need to safeguard and promote the welfare of any other children that you care for

We must assess parent carers if:

  • It appears to us that the parent carer may have need for an assessment, or 
  • We receive a request from the parent carer for an assessment. 

We would not do a parent carer needs assessment if:

  • Your child has an allocated social worker. Your needs would be considered within a social work assessment for your child.

About this assessment

The assessment is the tool by which the parent carers needs can be understood where those needs are complex and as a result the assessment is the most appropriate means of identifying which needs should be met by the Council. 

The assessment will consider your needs as a parent carer, but it will not lead to a direct service or budget for a service. It will help identify support available for you and your families, from our other departments or other local agencies.

You may feel that the needs of your child with a disability impacts on your other children, and that you are unable to offer them the time and attention you would like. The plan may identify a referral to young carers, where they can meet with other young people who have a sibling with a disability 

Request a parent carer needs assessment

You can download parent carer needs assessment request form here:

Return the completed form by email to: PCNArequests@northtyneside.gov.uk

If you are unable to download and complete the form, e-mail your name, address, telephone number and details of your child/children with a disability.

Let us know a convenient time to call you back between 9am - 5pm. 

All requests and assessments will be recorded and stored electronically under your child’s name.

The assessment process

We will call you back within five working days, to arrange a suitable time to complete the assessment. 

At the end of the assessment, we will agree on whether:

parent support plan could be drawn up and what it could include. For example:

  • Signposting to support services and advice on agencies you can approach yourself
  • We will make referrals to our other departments or other local agencies (with your permission)
  • There is no further action needed 

If a plan is drawn up, this will be reviewed annually.

How long does the assessment process take?

The process will take no more than 40 working days, from the first contact to the end of assessment and creation of a plan (if needed). 

The well-being duty is an important addition to guidance in the Children and Families Act 2014.

It means we must consider your: 

  • Personal dignity and respect 
  • Physical and mental health and emotional well-being
  • Protection from abuse and neglect
  • Control over your day-to-day life
  • Participation in work, education, training or recreation
  • Social and economic well-being
  • Domestic, family and personal relationships
  • Ability to contribute to society, and
  • The suitability of your living accommodation

Related documents

Contact us

Supporting Families
Telephone: 0345 2000 109