Social Care Pathways

This provision is available for 18+  who are eligible for Adult Social Care

There are a number of social care services in Gateshead available to young people aged 18 years and over in receipt of an Adult Social Care Assessment (subject to eligibility). These range from community bases and resource centres to services helping people get into work.    

Gateshead Council – Gateshead Access To Employment Service (GATES)

GATES serves to support people with disabilities to gain and maintain paid employment in the local community. It not only provides a seamless pathway from education to work for young adults with disabilities, but, effectively maintains people in their jobs by constantly reviewing their progress, having excellent relations with local companies. 

Find out more about GATES

Gateshead Council – ‘Next Steps’ enterprises

Next Steps enterprises are leading lights in the provision of person centred support for young adults with learning disabilities and autism. Next Steps is the only provider service in England who has won four National awards in the last four years for its excellence in providing people with greater choice and control in their lives. Being supported by coherent and motivated support staff, young adults with disabilities can excel in the following professional functioning enterprises:

Find out more about Next Steps enterprises

Gateshead Council – day centres and community bases

Marquisway Resource Centre

Marquisway Resource Centre’s service is utterly flexible to suit the interests, hobbies and aspirations of young adults with complex learning disabilities, enabling and inspiring people to reach optimal levels of self-care skills and independence. The service won the ‘Leaders’ award at the 2016 Great Britain Care Awards, receiving recognition for how brilliantly it supports people to be active citizens in their local community. Marquisway Resource Centre serves to provide service users with fun, meaningful activities that develop their skills and highest quality of life. The ‘fit for purpose’ centre contains an Autism Suite, iMUSE room, Snoezellen room, Boccia Court, Performing Arts studio and delivers Rebound Therapy. An adapted gym is available and holistic therapy room. The centre’s Performing Arts studio is the source of many creative opportunities. The service has an acclaimed Wheelchair Dance group which has won many medals at European Inclusive Dance competitions. Marquisway has a proven track record in song and music production.

Marquisway service users are members of the award winning ‘Angling 4 All’ sporting club, winning medals in regional angling competitions. The service’s Special Olympics athletes have won over 160 medals at Special Olympics national competitions. Marquisway provides excellent opportunities for people who want to have fun by doing physically active and energetic activities. Canoeing, Zip wiring, Abseiling, Go Karting, Paintballing, High Ropes and Power Boating are many of the thrilling, ‘wow’ factor pursuits which Marquisway can provide access to.

The staff team at Marquisway are extremely skilled in supporting people with complex needs being highly qualified in Rebound Therapy, Lego Therapy, Travel training, Autism, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and Total Communication approaches including Makaton and BSL. The team is supported daily by a Physio and Speech and Language Therapists. A number of staff are trained as Aromatherapists who provide massage sessions within Marquisway.

Eligibility Criteria:

Gateshead residents over 18 years old, who have a Learning Disability, Physical Disability, Autism and / or a Mental Health condition. The individual must be in receipt of an Adult Social Care Assessment. Referrals must be made through Gateshead Council’s Adult Social Care service.

Unity Community Base

Unity Community Base provides activities to suit the interests, hobbies and aspirations of young adults with complex learning disabilities, inspiring people to reach optimal levels of self-care skills and independence. Unity Community Base is located within Gateshead Leisure Centre and they also have a office at Teams, Young adults with disabilities ‘touch base’ in the service in a morning and receive personalised support to fulfil their potential and showcase their talents – helping them to be influential in their local community. With instant access to the leisure centre gym, sports hall and swimming pool, Unity is wonderfully able to support people to fulfil their aspirations in sports including angling, athletics, boccia, cycling, football and swimming; enabling people to become fitter, make new friends, improve confidence and have opportunities to showcase their sporting talent. No service can provide the sporting opportunities that unity can and if young adults with disabilities wish to be a budding sports superstar, then Unity has the means to make such dreams come true. Unity service users have been selected by Great Britain to represent their country at the 2019 Special Olympics World Championships in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. and won over 90 medals at National Special Olympics competitions.

From weekly angling training, Unity service users have won competitions for ‘Angling 4 All’ sporting club in regional and national angling competitions. Phoenix provides excellent opportunities for young adults with disabilities to have fun by doing physically active and energetic activities. Canoeing, mountain biking, snowboarding, skiing, rock climbing, go-karting, power boating, and paddle boarding are many of the thrilling, ‘wow’ factor pursuits delivered by Unity.

Unity supports people to be the very best they can be, developing their skills and become independent. People regularly access the Central Library, developing their multi-media and literacy skills. With an intrinsic link to GATES employment service and ‘Next Steps’ enterprises, Unity support people to achieve a high quality of life by securing volunteering roles (for example running the Saltwell Park Almond Pavilion and supporting Edberts House) and paid employment. The Unity staff team are highly skilled in rebound therapy, Lego therapy, travel training, Autism, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and total communication approaches including Makaton and British Sign Language (BSL).

Eligibility criteria:

Gateshead residents over 18 years old, who have a learning disability, physical disability, Autism and / or a mental health condition. The individual must be in receipt of an Adult Social Care Assessment. Referrals must be made through Gateshead Council’s Adult Social Care service.

For more information Contact Adult Social Care – Gateshead Council