Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

ContactPoint

ContactPoint, alongside the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) will enable professionals and practitioners providing services to children to share and exchange information about children at risk or in need of support. The basic tool for information sharing, ContactPoint, is a national directory for all children and young people under the age of 18 years.

The purpose of ContactPoint is to help improve services to children with a strong emphasis on early intervention and prevention. It will provide a quick way for professionals working with children and young people to find out who else is working with the same child or young person, making it easier to deliver coordinated support.

ContactPoint will hold the following information:

Basic identifying information for all children in England (aged up to 18): name, address, gender, date of birth and a unique identifying number.
Basic identifying information about the child's parent or carer.
Contact details for services involved with the child: as a minimum, educational setting and GP practice, but also other services where appropriate.
A means to indicate that a practitioner has information to share, is taking action, or has undertaken an assessment under the Common Assessment Framework in relation to a child.

ContactPoint will not hold assessment or case information, or subjective observations about a child or their parent. It will not contain any details such as birth weight, exam results, medical records, diet or any other detailed personal information about a child or their family.

Who will have access to ContactPoint?

Access will be restricted to authorised users who need it as part of their work. This will include those working in education, health, social care, youth offending and some voluntary organisations. All users will have to go through appropriate security checks, including enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Users will be trained in the safe and secure use of ContactPoint, information sharing practice and the importance of compliance with the Data Protection Act and Human Rights Act. All users should receive training as close as possible to the time that they will start to use ContactPoint.

Robust procedures and mechanisms will be in place to guard against access by unauthorised users, and the inappropriate use of ContactPoint by authorised users.