The new national ContactPoint database will be the quick way to find out who else is working with the same child or young person, making it easier to deliver more coordinated support. The database will be available to authorised practitioners who need it to do their jobs. It is a key part of the Every Child Matters programme to improve support for children.

ContactPoint records will contain only the following basic information:

• name, address, gender, date of birth and an identifying number of all children in England
• name and contact details for parents or carers and for key services (e.g. GP, school).

As ContactPoint is intended to support early intervention as well as child protection, all children will have a record on the database, regardless of whether or not they are currently accessing additional services.

Testing of the system has indicated that ContactPoint can offer improved services for children and their families through better coordinated service delivery, more timely response to needs and a reduced number of unnecessary repeat assessments and referrals. The system will permit more efficient integrated working by the various professionals coming into contact with the same child, allowing them to spend more time working with the child and less time on administration.

Access to ContactPoint will be strictly limited to those who need it as part of their work and will be subject to stringent security controls. Authorised users could include those working in health, education, youth justice and social care to help ensure more coordinated service provision for children and young people. The introduction of ContactPoint will not change any existing rules governing confidentiality or sharing information when practitioners discuss a child’s needs.

Third sector organisations that deliver statutory services will be expected to enter information on ContactPoint and authorised professionals will have access to it. It may be possible for other third sector organisations to enter information or have access to the database, but the needs of each organisation will be assessed individually to ensure that access is appropriate and safe.

Everyone with access will have completed relevant mandatory training, have security clearance (including enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks) and will have unique log-in details so that their use of the system can be monitored. The database itself will have built-in systems to protect the data and will be rigorously tested before it goes live. Authorised users will have restricted access rights and will not be able to download or move data.

The roll-out of ContactPoint will start in autumn 2008 and will extend to all areas in early 2009.

Sections of this paper have been taken directly from www.everychildmatters.org.uk/deliveringservices/contactpoint/. Further information about ContactPoint is available on this site.