First of Three Children's Homes Built in South Tyneside

South Tyneside's investment in new children's homes has taken a huge step forward with the first building completed this month.

A new children's home has been built in Seton Avenue, South Shields, and will provide a home on a short-term basis for up to two children undergoing assessment.

Two further children's homes are currently under construction in Grant Street, Jarrow, and Victoria Court, Hebburn. The three new homes will cater for children who cannot live with their birth families for whatever reason.

The Council currently provides high quality care for eleven young people across four existing homes within South Tyneside. With the new investment, the Council is extending this care to provide homes for 10 more children, whilst supporting children and young people to maintain contact with their networks of family and friends.

Combined with a lack of foster carers, it means young people cannot always be placed in the Borough and are often placed further away from family and friends.

Councillor Liz McHugh, Lead Member for Children, Families and Social care and Education and Skills at South Tyneside Council said: "It's wonderful to see our first new children's home completed. It's a lovely welcoming, safe and secure place, with a beautiful garden, and I'm sure the young people who stay will feel at home here.

"Staff will always be on hand to offer support and guidance to the children and address any issued faced, as any parent would their child."

The Seton Avenue facility has been delivered in partnership with Able Construction.

An Ofsted report published in May 2023 highlighted that there were too few suitable places to keep children in care close to home. More recently a report funded by the Nuffield Foundation found more than 80 per cent of children's homes nationally are now operated by the private sector. This is up more than 20 per centage points since 2010.

Councillor McHugh added: "We take our corporate parenting responsibility very seriously. Caring for our children within the Borough, and keeping them closer to home and their communities, helps to improve the life chances and aspirations of children in care and supports us to be able to provide them with the best home and parenting experience we can offer.

"Our young people can still attend school, be closer to their families and wider support network and enjoy time with their friends, as any child should.

"A lack of residential places for looked-after children is an issue faced by many councils across the country, but we are focusing significant investment in this space. By providing our own children's homes, we won't need to rely on the private sector to support us. These facilities also help to reduce the cost of expensive out of borough placements.

"As well as residential provision, we need more in house foster carers to support our young people, providing loving homes and make a difference to children's lives."

Anyone interested in fostering can visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/fostering for further information or call 0800 917 7771.