Personal tools

“I have been meeting with the parent worker from the Teenage Pregnancy Team, I like her as she has listened to me when no one else has. She has been really helpful to me and my partner. She has provided me with accurate information advice and guidance through my pregnancy into parenthood. I really appreciate it” - Young Parent 2009

What does the service do?

The teenage pregnancy support team works in partnership with a range of services to enable our young parents to receive a tailored package of support to meet their individual needs.

We provide activities focused on young people aged 0-19 years and their parents/carers. Our work is targeted at young people who suffer from high deprivation and disadvantage in areas where rates of teenage conception are highest.

We work to tackle the social exclusion of teenage parents and their children and provide targeted work for vulnerable groups such as those in or leaving Looked After Care, school non attendees, young people involved with youth offending and unemployed young people.

All our services are based on consultation with young people and delivered to them in a non threatening and non stigmatising environment, using ways which engage, support and encourage them to access support services.

We work in partnership with appropriate agencies working with young people and their families.

Some examples of the type of work we do are listed below:

“Been There, Done It, Got The T-Shirt!”
A group of young mothers have been recruited as volunteer Peer Educators.  Following a 20 week training programme the Peer Educators will be working with other young people to raise the awareness of the issues associated with teenage parenthood and wider sexual health.  The group have been working closely with Media19 to create a range of resources to use with young people.

Boys Own Programme
The Boys Own programme creates opportunities for young men to think about their self esteem in relation to issues they face, and develop positive approaches and strategies to assist them in their everyday lives.

Public health award
The public health award has been designed and created by members of the Northumberland Teenage Pregnancy Team to work in partnership with the youth service and schools to address teenage pregnancy issues in their local area.

It is aimed at small groups of young people, who have been identified as at risk of becoming a teenage parent by teaching staff.  These young people are invited to attend half day, weekly sessions facilitated by two teenage pregnancy team/ youth service staff. The course also incorporates a work experience opportunity for 14 weeks. 

On completion of the course students have the opportunity to complete a 20 question test to gain a Public Health Qualification.  The programme is currently running as a pilot within four schools located within teenage pregnancy hotspot areas.

Speakeasy
Speakeasy is a fun, relaxed course designed to help parents and carers learn about sex, relationships and growing up to enable them to talk confidently on these subject with their children. The course can be offered as an accredited unit through the OCN (Open College Network) which is optional. 

“Speakeasy brought to light my lack of knowledge into many areas which I have in the past believed that I knew a lot about. It just shows you are never too old to learn” -  Foster Carer 2008

Contact details

Northumberland teenage pregnancy and sexual health team
Epsom Drive
Ashington
Northumberland
NE63 8BD

Tel: 01670 819049
Fax: 01670 523701
E-mail: teenage.pregnancy@nct.nhs.uk

The team

Teenage pregnancy work is developed and lead by the teenage pregnancy team.  The team consists of:

Karen Rowell - Teenage Pregnancy Programme Manager
Jane Telfer – Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Health Improvement Specialist
Emma Shields – Project Development Worker
Jackie Hepple – Project Development Worker
Suzy Oliver – SRE Project Development Worker
Eileen Daglish – Reintegration Officer
Jayne Saul – Teenage Parent Support Worker
Janine Middlemiss – Support Officer

They all have a county wide remit although work is targeted in the teenage pregnancy hotspot areas.

Aim of service

• 50% reduction in the under 18 teenage conception rate by 2010 from a 1998 baseline conception rate of 47.2 per 1000 females aged 15-17 to 23.
• 60% increase in the participation of teenage parents in education training or employment to reduce their long term social exclusion by 2010.
  

Our vision
For young people in Northumberland regardless of race, gender or social class to have access to high quality sex and relationship education (SRE), and be aware of and have access to contraception and sexual health services that meet their needs.  Pregnant teenagers and teenage parents will have access to support in their area. 

Our mission
Young people will be at the centre of planning, delivering and evaluating the work.