Family and child care services are provided by professionally qualified social workers who are there to help parents and children in difficult situations and to make sure that children are protected. They have a special duty to support children and young people in need. They do this by providing family support services, a child protection service, services to children in care/looked after by the Trust and court work. They also make referrals to other services on your behalf for additional support.

You can either refer yourself directly to your local team listed below or someone else working with your family; such as your GP, health visitor or teacher may make a referral on your behalf if they feel your child needs additional support.

For further information or to make a referral, the Gateway Duty Social Worker can be contacted at:

Greater Lisburn	North Down	Down
Base: Stewartstown Road Health Centre, Dunmurry	Base: James St, Newtownards	Base: 81 Market Street, Downpatrick
Area Covered: Lisburn & Dunmurry Areas	Area Covered: Bangor, Ards & Peninsula Areas	Area Covered: Newcastle, Downpatrick & Ballynahinch Areas
Tel: 028 9060 2705	Tel: 028 9181 8518	Tel: 028 4461 3511

For more information on this service click here to view our leaflet.