ContactPoint
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All children and young people should get the best possible start in life. 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. It provides them with a quick way to find out who else is working with the same child, making it easier for them to work as a team and deliver more co-ordinated support.
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 will avoid wasting 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 holds the 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 is only used by people whose job it is to help children and young people – such as a headteacher, a GP or a social worker. They have to be trained and security cleared before they can use it.
ContactPoint uses the latest technology to keep it safe and up-to-date. ContactPoint is part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Every Child Matters plan, which all councils follow. It is being implemented across England.
More detailed information about ContactPoint can be found in the attachments below. Please get in touch with the ContactPoint team if you would like any further information.