Welcome To Wirral
ContactPoint
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 will provide 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 coordinated 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 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. ContactPoint is part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Every Child Matters plan, which all councils follow.
The information that can be held on ContactPoint is limited by law as provided by Section 12 of the Children Act 2004 and the supporting Regulations.
For further information and examples of how ContactPoint will help improve services go to:
www.ecm.gov.uk/contactpoint
Document Downloads
-
ContactPoint Factsheet
Factsheet produced by the DCSF outlining the background, purpose and aims of ContactPoint.
-
ContactPoint Shielding Factsheet
Factsheet produced by the DCSF outlining the facility to ‘shield’ records on ContactPoint.
-
ContactPoint factsheet - young people's version
One page document covering the key facts about ContactPoint, produced by the DCSF.
-
ContactPoint Q&A - young people's version
Covers key questions and concerns raised during consultations with children, young people, parents and carers. Produced by the DCSF.
-
ContactPoint Information for Young People and Parents
-
ContactPoint Leaflet for Young People and Parents
-
How will your information be handled?