Agenda item

Nikki Patient, ContactPoint Project Manager, will give a presentation and answer Members’ questions.  Total time 45 minutes.

(Item B1 – Presentation by Miss N Patient, ContactPoint Project Manager, who was in attendance at the invitation of the Board)

(1)       Miss Patient referred to a series of slides which had been included in the meeting papers and tabled some additional, updated information.  She explained how the ContactPoint and Common Assessment Framework (CAF) processes fitted together and the range of services they would cover.  Points highlighted in Miss Patient’s introduction, and in response to questions from Members, were as follows:-

(a)       the ContactPoint Service would be established in Kent early in 2009, and  would bring several benefits. It would allow early identification of children with problems, aid preventative work, and allow one central information database which would link all agencies and avoid duplication;

(b)       the ContactPoint directory would include basic information only – no case notes or information from GPs.  There was a statutory requirement for organisations to supply data, including all schools and independent schools, for example, so this would help identify children not attending school;

(c)        the ‘sensitive services’ referred to were services relating to any mental health, substance misuse or sexual health needs a young person may have;

(d)       the large number of potential users of the ContactPoint identified – 10,400 – was made up of staff who most needed access to the service to do their jobs; for example, headteachers, deputy headteachers and social workers responsible for referring young people onto services.  Access for these users would be introduced in stages;

(e)       all users of the system would need to have had enhanced CRB checks (which would be reviewed every three years) and be fully trained before being able to access it.  Miss Patient emphasised that ContactPoint could not be accessed from the Internet, or by any authorised user; 

(f)         young people and their parents would not be able to log in directly but a young person could request to see their record under existing Access to Information legislation;

(g)       Members would not be able to access it directly but, to help them assist a local family which had approached them for help, they could request information via an authorised practitioner;

(h)        most children would have one ‘lead professional’, in most cases their lead Social Worker, but, for those with complex needs, professionals would need to decide between them who would take on the lead responsibility;

(i)         ensuring the quality of the data included was covered in the responsibilities of Miss Patient’s colleague, the CAF/Lead Professional Project Co-ordinator, Ms Burwell;

(j)         Members were shown an example ContactPoint screen.  The system was flexible and could be searched in several ways.  After its launch, the system would continue to be developed to cover further and non-statutory services, for example, allowing a young person to search for local youth club facilities;

(k)        Members asked to be advised of the costs of introducing the new system, once these were known, and be advised as and when each new part of the system was introduced/launched.

(2).      RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the content of the presentation, and the information given in response to questions, be noted, with thanks; and

(b)       the Board be kept informed of the progress of the system and be advised when each new part of it is introduced/launched, and the of costs of introducing the new system, once these are known.