Contactpoint

What is ContactPoint?
ContactPoint is a secure electronic tool which will provide a quick way for practitioners working with children and young people to find out who else is working with a particular child or young person, making it easier to deliver more co-ordinated support.

The system will be accessible to authorised staff who need it to do their jobs and is scheduled to be operational during 2009.

What benefits will there be?
Providing a quick way for practitioners to find out who else is working with the same child will provide key benefits such as:

• improved service experience for children, young people and families through a:
• more co-ordinated service delivery,
• more timely response to their needs and
• a reduced number of unnecessary repeat assessments and referrals;
• faster and more effective intervention before problems become serious because practitioners can build a fuller picture of children and young people’s needs;
• less unproductive time spent by practitioners trying to find out which other services are involved with a child and then trying to contact the right person: this is conservatively estimated to be worth five million practitioner hours a year and means that practitioners can spend more time working directly with children and young people;
• making it easier for children and young people who access services in different council areas or move between areas.

What information will be held on ContactPoint?
ContactPoint will only contain the following basic information:

• name, address, gender, date of birth and an identifying number for all children in England (up to their 18th birthday);
• name and contact details for:
• parents or carers;
• educational setting (e.g. school);
• primary medical practitioner (e.g. GP practice);
• other services.

Want to know more?
Email contactpoint@medway.gov.uk

Useful links
ContactPoint – DCSF Home Page

About ContactPoint

ContactPoint Questions & Answers – Young People