ContactPoint will be a simple but secure computer-based resource that will provide a quick way for those working with children and young people to find out who else is working with the same child or young person. This will make it easier to deliver more co-ordinated support. The system will be accessible to authorised staff who need it to do their jobs.
ContactPoint will hold very little information about each child - it will not hold case data (e.g. medical history, examination results, etc.) - but will transform children's services by facilitating more effective prevention and early intervention. The system will be more secure than online banking facilities and misuse will result in disciplinary action and, if appropriate, prosecution as directed by the Data Protection Act or the Computer Misuse Act.
For more information, please see the many user-friendly fact sheets and documents available on this page.
Current status (as at 21 November 2008)
Bury Council will be an early adopter of ContactPoint and, as such, is scheduled to take delivery of it in January 2009, with the first users accessing the system from March 2009. An 18-month/two-year rollout programme will then follow which includes: training relevant children's workers, granting them access, and connecting local computer systems that will provide ContactPoint with the information it needs.
Recent news
The ContactPoint Guidance (383kb 60 page pdf) was published at the end of July and outlines the links between legislation and ContactPoint. It also provides information as to how the system will work and the responsibilities of those who will use or maintain the system. This version of the guidance follows the draft guidance released last summer as part of the consultation process and has gained clearance from ministers, other government departments, etc.
Previous developments
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families decided, on 20 November 2007 to commission an independent assessment of ContactPoint's security procedures. This was to reassure young people and parents that data security will not be compromised by ContactPoint's aim to maintain or improve the delivery of positive outcomes for children, young people and families. The review was undertaken by Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The review was completed in early 2008 and the delivered report confirmed that robust measures are in place for the security of ContactPoint. It acknowledged that the importance of security appears to be ingrained within the key areas of the project. The report did make a number of minor recommendations of measures to consider in addition to those already planned, in order to further reduce any risk that security could be compromised.
A summary of the review and the Government's response are available for viewing at the 
Every Child Matters website maintained by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The Draft Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) Regulations 2007 were approved by both the House of Lords and the House of Commons in July. This backing allows ContactPoint to be implemented as intended.
The Bury ContactPoint team has conducted a workforce analysis. This has identified which departments within Bury Council and which of its partner organisations require access to the system.
If you believe your service should require access to ContactPoint but haven't been contacted, either by the Bury ContactPoint team or the DCSF, please contact the Bury ContactPoint team. National partners such as the police or national charities should note, though, that initial discussions will be instigated by the DCSF.
We have also determined which computer systems should feed ContactPoint with data and have commenced the process of ensuring that systems used by schools, social workers, etc. can interface successfully with ContactPoint. We are currently assessing the quality of data used in key data sources.
Contact Details
For further information, please read the fact sheets, etc. below or contact the Bury ContactPoint team.
Downloads
Information for children, young people and parents/carers
Information for children's workers
Information for all
The ContactPoint shielding fact sheet (23kb 2 page pdf) explains the circumstances under which a child's address and involvement details may be concealed from other ContactPoint users.
On 12 December 2006, Education Guardian Weekly published an article about ContactPoint (then known under its working title of the Information Sharing Index) and reported the benefits realised through trials.
Further information can be found on the DCSF website covering the Every Child Matters programme. The DCSF website also provides HM Government Information Sharing Guidance, which is practised by Bury Council practitioners.
