ContactPoint database to be switched off

Nicola Brittain, Computing, Friday 23 July 2010 at 17:16:00

Government exploring possibility of new national signposting service

The ContactPoint directory of children in England will be switched off at
noon on 6 August, according to a written statement to parliament.

Children's minister Tim Loughton, who delivered the statement, said: "It has
always been our view that it was disproportionate and unjustifiable to hold
records on every child in the country, making them accessible to large numbers
of people."

The statement continued: "Accordingly, we are exploring the practicality of a
new national signposting service focusing on helping practitioners find out
whether another practitioner is working, or has previously worked, in another
authority area with the same vulnerable child."

The department has written to directors of children?s services and chief
executives of ContactPoint national partners. The letter sets out the timetable
for shutdown and decommissioning, provides guidance for local authorities,
national partners and other partners on the activities they need to undertake,
and confirms funding and other support available during this period.

A managed rundown of the system is envisaged, with the last day of use by
local authorities to be 5 August. However, funding for this process will be
ring-fenced by central government.

The government says it will continue to consider the feasibility of a new
signposting service for professionals to help them to support and protect
vulnerable children, particularly when these children move areas or access
services in more than one area.

Another system that has come in for some degree of criticism is the
electronic enablement of the Common Assessment Framework (eCAF).

This will continue to be rolled out. However, today's briefing note
recognises that the removal of ContactPoint from the frame will have
implications for eCAF ? and further information is promised in due course.

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2267007/contact-point-database-switched