All children and young people should get the best possible start in life.
ContactPoint is part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Every Child Matters plan, which all Councils follow. Bradford Council will begin operating ContactPoint from August 2009.
ContactPoint aims to make services better for children and young people. It is a contacts list for people who work with children and young people and provides them with a quick way to find out who else is working with the same child. This makes it easier for them to work as a team and deliver more coordinated support.
Bradford Council will disclose basic information on children to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) for inclusion on ContactPoint as it has a duty under the Children’s Act 2004 to work with partners to improve the well being of children in the area.
Why it is 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 they won’t waste time trying to find out this simple information, or duplicating work already being done by other services. This means practitioners 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 18th 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, and can ask to have it corrected if something needs changing.
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.
For further information and examples of how ContactPoint will help improve services go to: www.bradford.gov.uk/integratedworking or contact the ContactPoint team:
Address:
Integrated Working Team
Transformation Services
4th Floor, Olicana House
Chapel Street
Bradford BD1 5RE
Telephone: CAF Help Desk 01274 437685
Email: contactpoint@bradford.gov.uk
Or visit www.ecm.gov.uk/contactpoint
