Council-led plans for two new children’s homes and a purpose-built ‘children’s assessment centre’ in South Tyneside have officially been submitted to borough development bosses. South Tyneside Council recently revealed plans to increase the amount of residential beds available in the borough to support young people in need.
Currently, there is only one children’s residential home in the borough, with space for a maximum of four young people at once. Combined with a shortage of foster carers, it means young people often have to be sent outside South Tyneside away from family and friends.
To help improve the situation, South Tyneside Council has developed separate planning applications for new facilities at sites in Jarrow, Hebburn and South Shields. The new homes, if approved, would boost the number of placements for looked-after children and young people while allowing them to stay close to their family, friends and schools.
