Innovative project for vulnerable children takes major step forward

SOME of our area’s most vulnerable children will be able to receive extra support after an innovative project earned official approval from Government inspectors.

The No Wrong Door (NWD) project involves professionals who work with children and young people with challenges in the community and is part of the Government’s Strengthening Families programme which has been pioneered by North Yorkshire County Council.

It was established in Redcar and Cleveland Council in 2021 and has a specialist team who have since been working with some of the borough’s most at risk children on an ‘outreach’ basis in the community. For example, between October and December 2022, 54 young people were supported by the outreach service and 83% of these remained out of care as a result of this intervention.

Now the NWD’s purpose-built home accommodation has been registered by Ofsted, the team will be able to extend support to children who may need to live with them for a short time, while the specialist teams work towards identifying their most suitable long-term home. This means some children will return to their family, live with foster carers or move into independent living.

NWD provides a multi-agency approach to supporting young people. This involves experts coming together as a single multi-agency team, providing intensive, wide-ranging support, including a life coach (clinical psychologist), a communication support worker (speech language therapist), a police intelligence analyst and liaison officer working alongside other key workers who will all support young people at the hub.

Councillor Alison Barnes, Cabinet Member for Children, said: “This is very welcome news.  It means that we can extend the support offered by NWD to include residential provision, which is integral to this model.  Our team of dedicated professionals will now be able to take the next steps to develop their work with some of our most vulnerable young people to enable them to thrive and to succeed.”

The Council is in the process of recruiting some Hub Community Family foster carers who will work in the Hub to build supportive relationships with young people and then may even offer them a placement in their home as specialist foster carers. The team is are also looking for High Needs Supportive Lodging Hosts. The Council is appealing for people to come forward for these roles – you may be an existing foster carer who is seeking a broader role as part of No Wrong Door. Financial support is available. Contact Amanda Baxtrem – Amanada.Baxtrem@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk. 01642 776966