ContactPoint will be a record of all children (aged up to 18) resident in England. It will contain only basic identifying information for a child, and contact details of their parent/carer and practitioners and services involved with a child.
The sole purpose of ContactPoint is to support practitioners working with children to co-operate to improve well-being, and to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in England.
Specifically, ContactPoint will enable practitioners to:
• verify the identity of a child or young person who comes to their attention;
• assess whether that child is receiving universal services (education, primary health care);
• identify any other practitioners who are involved with that child or young person; and
• make contact with other practitioners who are involved with the child or young person, in order to plan and deliver the most appropriate response to their needs and circumstances.
Only authorised professionals will be granted access (once they have received training and are in receipt of an enhanced CRB check).
It is optional for Voluntary organisations to engage with the project, unless they are providing statutory services on behalf of the local authority in which case they are required to cooperate, but it is hoped that many will. Nationally Barnados, KIDS, NCH, CEOPS, CAFCAS, The Children’s Society and the NSPCC have all committed to working with ContactPoint as designated ‘National Partners’.
In the Dudley area ContactPoint is due to start being available from May next year and at this time there is the need to gauge the number of users who may want to use ContactPoint. Only specifically authorised users will have access to ContactPoint and so it is important to get an idea of the numbers from Voluntary organisations who are interested in having access. With over 12 months to go it is possible to drop out but it is important to ensure the necessary funding that best estimates are provided by the end of May - 2008 to ensure funding.
If you would like to know more please visit the Every Child Matters web site or I would be happy to come out and discuss ContactPoint with any organisation or groups, or send out further information. My contact details are below or alternatively I can be contacted through Arnie Troxler and Kevin Priest at the DCVS.
John McHale
ContactPoint Manager
Children’s Services DMBC
01384 812997
john.mchale@dudley.gov.uk |