Early help

Early Help is vital for improving children’s life chances and delivering better outcomes for them and their families. The sooner we can help families, the more likely it is that they can achieve positive and stable futures  Children and families need to be equipped to adapt positively to challenging life experiences. We know resilient families and communities can bounce back and thrive despite the challenges they face.

While our aim is for children, young people and their families to be confident and independent through their own personal resilience and the support of their networks, this isn’t always possible without some external help. This help needs to be delivered by a variety of partners whose support is available to everyone, such as early years, health services, education, play and youth provision; as well as effective accessible targeted or more specialist services, when they are needed.

Our Prevention and Early Help model is based on the belief that building trusting relationships, providing the right support at the right time and in the right place, will help keep children and young people safe within their families, networks and communities.

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 the Family Hubs:

Shiremoor Hub

Riverside Hub

Howdon Hub

Alternatively, you can contact the Early Help and Coordination team on 0191 643 8178.

We use a Signs of Safety model of practice in North Tyneside because we believe the principles align with our values and ambitions for the children and families we work with.  Signs of Safety is an evidence-based, questioning approach that keeps the child at the centre of the work we do with them and their family. 

The Signs of Safety model helps to identify what is working well for the family as a starting point for support and planning.  It allows us to learn what the family wants and how they think changes can be made.

We believe that the tools and frameworks offered by the Signs of Safety model enable our practitioners to deliver high quality services and achieve positive change for children and families. The foundation of good practice always comes back to the values and principles that underline every interaction. 

The Drug and Alcohol Family Support Service support parents and young people who use substance and alcohol.  We also support children and young people impacted by an adult’s drug and alcohol use.

Parents struggling with drug or alcohol use

We work with parents who are struggling with problematic drug and/or alcohol use. We help parents achieve their treatment goal, whether that is maintaining safer, lower level use or achieving abstinence from drugs and/or alcohol. This support is mainly provided at the parent’s home, where it is appropriate to do so, otherwise it is provided in  community settings.

We work with children and young people to address the hidden harm of a parent or a carer’s alcohol or substance use.  We provide emotional support around the impact of alcohol and/or substance use within the family. We support children and young people to express their thoughts and feelings so they feel listened to and heard, improving their health and wellbeing. This is mainly provided outside of the home, in school settings, but can take place wherever the young person feels comfortable.

Children and young people using substances or alcohol

We work with young people, up to the age of 18, who use substances or alcohol. We mainly deliver our sessions on a one-to-one basis in a setting where the young person feels comfortable. We deliver group work and education sessions in schools and other settings. 

We offer targeted support for children and young people in years 8 and 10. We also offer bespoke sessions to schools and other settings in North Tyneside.

We deliver interactive sessions, which are engaging for young people, on alcohol awareness, harm minimisation and drug awareness.

For further information

If you are concerned about someone’s substance or alcohol use, or the impact it has on a child or young person, please email drugandalcoholsupport@northtyneside.gov.uk