ContactPoint

ContactPoint is a national IT system designed by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to make services better for children and young people. It is a contacts list for people who work with children and young people. It will provide them with a quick way to find out who else is working with the same child, making it easier for them to work as a team and deliver more coordinated support.

Why is it needed

Many children and young people need extra help or support. If the people who are helping a child can find each other quickly they can find the right support at the right time.

It can take a long time for a professional to find out who else is working with the same child. ContactPoint means that they won’t waste time trying to find out this simple information, or duplicating work already being done by other services. This means professionals can spend more time delivering services to children and families.

Children, young people and their families should be at the centre of what is happening, and have a say in the services and support they get.

Some key facts

ContactPoint will hold name and contact details for:

• All children in England up to their 18^th birthday;
• Their parents and carers; and
• Services working with a child (school, doctor, plus other services such as a health visitor).

You can ask to see the information held about you by completing a ContactPoint Subject Access Request Form. If any information is incorrect you can ask for it to be changed.

ContactPoint will only be used by people whose job it is to help children and young people – such as a headteacher, a GP or a social worker. They will all have been trained and security cleared before they can use it.

ContactPoint uses the latest technology to keep it safe and up-to-date.

ContactPoint is part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Every Child Matters plan, which all councils follow. It will be introduced across England from spring 2009.

For further information and examples of how ContactPoint will help improve services visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/deliveringservices1/contactpoint/contactpoint/

All questions relating to ContactPoint national policy should be addressed to:

DCSF
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT

Tel:0870 000 2288
Email:info@dcsf.gov.uk

Confidential records (shielding)

Some children may have some of their details hidden on ContactPoint to prevent their location being identified – this is called screening (shielding). This is available for children and families who are at risk of significant harm, such as victims of domestic violence. The screening concept is used by lots of systems, not just ContactPoint. Further information on confidential records (shielding) is available on the confidential records (shielding) web pages.