ContactPoint

What is it?

ContactPoint will be a secure national database where demographic information will be kept on every child and young person in England from birth until their 18th birthday. This will include, for each child, their name, address, gender and date of birth; it will also show contact details of their parents or guardians.  It will also record any additional services that a child or young person is receiving e.g. Social Care, Youth Offending Team.

How will it work?

Worcestershire County Council is responsible for the implementation of ContactPoint within Worcestershire and it is our responsibility to collate the data sources within the Local Authority and our partner agencies, and prepare them for ‘Go Live’.

The information within these data sources will then be sent securely to the ContactPoint database.

The idea is that partner agencies will then be able to access ContactPoint and work more effectively together, and contact each other if they are working with the same child or young person.  Practitioners will then be in a position to share the most up-to-date and accurate information about a child.  The aim is to ensure the child or young person receives the best possible service(s) to meet their needs.

Where will the information come from?

Information will come from a variety of different sources both within the Local Authority and from partner agencies.  The amount of information stored on ContactPoint will depend how many services are being provided to a child or young person at any one time, e.g. Social Care, Youth Offending Service, Health Practitioners etc.

Will my details be secure?

Only people who need to know a child or young person’s details as part of their job will have access to ContactPoint.  All ContactPoint users will have a current, valid police check (e-CRB) and will be provided with a security token which only they can use.  They will not be able to see case-specific details about the services a child or young person is receiving on ContactPoint.

When will this happen?

ContactPoint is due to go live in April 2009 in Worcestershire, so there is plenty of time for you to ask us any questions.

How will it be managed?

Amanda Hughes - Project Manager for ContactPoint works within the Business & Systems Development Team.  The team are responsible for supporting Children’s Services in developing the systems and processes needed to deliver key objectives. Amanda started working with Worcestershire County Council at the beginning of April 2008 after coming from the voluntary sector working with hard-to-reach teenagers.  Prior to this Amanda worked within the public sector as a Police Constable.

How can I get more information?

Contact the Children’s Services System Support Desk on: chs.system.support@worcestershire.gov.uk  or the Every Child Matters website on: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/contactpoint