ContactPoint
ContactPoint is one of a range of tools that will help services work together more effectively to meet the needs of children, young people and their families. It is part of the Every Child Matters, Change for Children 
programme, being delivered by the Department for Children, Schools and Families .
ContactPoint, previously known by the working title of the "Information Sharing Index", will enable practitioners delivering services to children to identify and contact one another easily and quickly.
Objectives of ContactPoint
- help practitioners quickly verify the identify a child with whom they have contact, and assess whether that child is receiving universal services (education, primary health care);
- enable earlier identification of needs, and earlier and more effective action to address them by providing a tool for practitioners to identify who else is involved with the child;
- encourage better communication between practitioners by indicating that there is information to share, an assessment has taken place or action has been taken.
Information held on ContactPoint
ContactPoint will be a record of all children (aged up to 18) in England containing the following basic information:
- name, address, gender and date of birth of child or young person
- name and contact details for:
- parents or carers
- educational setting (eg nursery, school)
- primary medical practitioner (eg GP practice)
- practitioners providing other services; and
- a lead professional for that child (if appointed)
The consent of the young person or the child's parent/carer will be required to record specialist health services (mental and sexual health and substance misuse). Access to this information would be restricted categories of users.
Using ContactPoint
Authorised practitioners in children's services, including education, health, social care, youth offending and some non-statutory voluntary services will be able to have access to ContactPoint.
Access will be granted according to the role of the practitioner and in many cases may be through one or more central users (eg a teacher responsible for pastoral care rather than all teachers)
All practitioners with access will have had relevant training and have undergone appropriate security checks, including enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks.
Authorised practitioners will access ContactPoint either through their existing case management systems, through a secure web link, or through another designated user.
Implementation
The Government is committed to implementing ContactPoint across all areas of England by end-2008 and the regulations under Section 12 of the Children Act 2004 were passed in the House of Commons on 23 July 2007.
ContactPoint will draw data from existing systems and each local authority has received funding to ensure data systems are up to date, accurate and able to connect to the national system.
For more information contact Jacqui Vye, Information Sharing Assessment Project Manager, on 01202 714743.
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