ContactPoint

ContactPoint will be the quick way for professionals to find out who else is working with a child or young person, making it quicker and easier to deliver more coordinated support. ContactPoint is part of the government's Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme to improve outcomes for children and young people.

This basic online directory will be available to authorised practitioners who need it to do their jobs. Currently practitioners can spend days trying to find out who else is working with the same child or unknowingly duplicate work that is already being carried out by another service.

ContactPoint will hold the following basic information:

name, address, gender, date of birth and an identifying number of all children in England (up to their 18th birthday);
name and contact details for:
o parents or carers;
o educational setting (e.g. school);
o primary medical practitioner (e.g. GP practice); and
o other services working with the child.

There will also be a facility to indicate if a practitioner has completed an assessment under the Common Assessment Framework (the assessment itself will not be held on ContactPoint).

ContactPoint will NOT hold assessment or case information, or any details such as exam results, medical records or diet. ContactPoint will only hold contact details for the child or young person, parent/carer, and services working with the child or young person.

Access to ContactPoint will be subject to stringent security controls, including Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau clearance. Authorised users will include those working in health, education, youth justice, social care and voluntary organisations.

ContactPoint will be delivered to Somerset in April 2009, with roll out to all agencies over the following 18 months. The rollout is being managed locally under Somerset's Information Sharing Programme , tel: 01823 358164.

Further information

Making the Links - website of Somerset's Information Sharing Programme :
www.makingthelinks.org.uk

Every Child Matters: Change for Children :
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk