Father Inclusive Practice in Children's Social Care

From understanding to action: Developing resources to influence father inclusive practice in children's social care.

Join NEYDL, researchers from Newcastle University, practitioners and experts-by-experience from across the region for a powerful half-day consultation exercise exploring some of the experiences of including father in Children's social care.

This unique practice improvement event will bring together researchers from the INCLUDE study and their collaborators NEYDL to discuss how fathers are currently involved in children's social care - and to develop resources that can be used in practice to improve outcomes for fathers and their children.

Through a combination of presentations and interactive workshops, delegates will have the opportunity to:

• Hear findings from the INCLUDE study on father-inclusive practice in children's social care
• Hear from NEYDL on their work with young dads, including their DigiDAD platform, DADvocate peer advocacy project and how they're building on this evidence base in their own practice
• Contribute directly to shaping practical resources for father-inclusive practice, through a co-production workshop
• Network with colleagues from charities and community organsiations, social care, public health, academia and local authorities

Whether you are a practitioner, manager, commissioner, policymaker, researcher, educator, or community advocate, this event will provide fresh perspectives, practical learning and valuable opportunities to connect with others committed to father inclusive practice.

Dr Hayley Alderson

Dr Hayley Alderson is a Senior Research Associate at the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University. She works at the interface of Social Care and Public Health. Her work focuses on individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages, with a particular interest in social care, domestic violence and abuse, mental health and substance use.

Dr Liam Spencer

Dr Liam Spencer is a Research Associate at the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University, and a Research Fellow with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria. His research focuses on children and young people’s mental health, with particular interests in early intervention and prevention, and school and community-based interventions.

Dr Lee Sobo-Allen

Dr Lee Sobo-Allen is a Research Associate at the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University, with extensive prior experience in social work education. He is a qualified and registered social worker with experience in child protection and children with disabilities. He completed his PhD at Cardiff University in 2023, where he explored the assessment of non-resident fathers by social workers as a resource, and main carer for their children. Other research interests/methodology include strengths-based practice, trauma-informed practice and realist evaluation.

Dylan Peggs (Young dad)

Dylan found NEYDL after searching for support to help with child contact arrangements. Dylan has been involved with the charity for over 2 years, becoming an active volunteer in various roles including as a community beekeeper, AmbassaDAD and Trustee. Dylan was also awarded a regional award by the charity in 2024 in recognition for his outstanding contribution to young fatherhood. Reflecting on his work with NEYDL Dylan said: ‘Working with NEYDL has really helped me upskill myself and I would love to go into a career supporting other young dads. Everything I do with NEYDL contributes to that goal.’ In September 2026 Dylan joined the staff team as a paid employee, holding the position of Peer Enabler in Middlesbrough. When not involved with NEYDL, Dylan enjoys spending time with daughter and working out in the gym.

Callum Fay (Young dad)

Callum is a qualified Social Worker employed by Together For Children, Sunderland as part of the Assessment Team. As a young dad, Callum was originally supported by NEYDL as a service beneficiary and remains an active member of the charities AmbassaDADS community leader’s programme and steering group member for the group breaking DADvocate social care project. In 2025, Callum provided the Foreword to the charities Annual Report.

Robert Oughton (Senior Young Dads Worker, County Durham) Robert was introduced to the North East Young Lads and Dads as a beneficiary back in 2017 after looking for support as a young dad to his then 2-year-old daughter. Between 2017 and 2023, taking this time to develop his own expertise within the charity in many different ways and always eager to learn, this has enabled Robert to actively engage and use his lived experience as a young dad in an impactful way with the families he supports right now as a Senior Young Dads Worker within County Durham. This journey with North East Young Dads and Lads has given him a unique perspective on the difference meaningful, dad-inclusive support can make. He is passionate about using both his lived and professional experience to support young dads, champion their voices and help them build positive, loving relationships with their children.

The venue: Baltic is situated on the Quayside in Gateshead, a 10-15 minute walk from Gateshead Town Centre, or a 15-20 min walk from Newcastle city centre for Newcastle train station. Baltic is accessible for pedestrians from the Newcastle Quayside over the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

By car: We recommend parking at Gateshead Quays Multi-Storey Car Park (Hawks Rd, Gateshead NE8 3AD), around a 10-minute walk from Baltic. There is usually plenty of space available, payment can be made by phone, and charges are significanlty lower than at Baltic's on-site care park.

On-site parking: Baltic has its own on-site car park located at the rear of the building.

By train: The nearest mainline station is Newcastle Central Station, approximately a 20-minute walk from Blatic via the Quayside and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Alterhatively take the metro from Central Station to Gateshead Interchange, then walk around 10 minutes too the venue.

By metro: Take the Metro to Gateshead Interchange. Baltic is around a 10-minute walk from the station via Gateshead Quays.

Event jointly hosted by NEYDL and Newcastle University. This event forms part of the INCLUDE study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

Event venue & nearby stays

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, South Shore Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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