ContactPoint

ContactPoint was a British government database that held information on all children in England under the age of 18. It was designed to improve child protection by enabling better communication between different services involved in the care of children. The database was managed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

History

ContactPoint was established as part of the Children Act 2004, which was introduced following the Victoria Climbié inquiry. The system was intended to help professionals such as social workers, teachers, and healthcare providers share information more effectively to safeguard children and provide better services.

Functionality

The database contained basic information about each child, including their name, address, date of birth, and details of their school and healthcare provider. It also included contact details for the professionals working with the child. The aim was to ensure that no child slipped through the net of services and that any concerns about a child's welfare could be quickly identified and addressed.

Controversy

ContactPoint faced significant criticism and controversy. Concerns were raised about the security of the data and the potential for misuse. Privacy advocates argued that the database was an invasion of privacy and that it could lead to the stigmatization of children. In response to these concerns, the government implemented strict access controls and security measures.

Closure

In 2010, the newly elected Coalition Government announced that ContactPoint would be shut down. The database was officially closed on 6 August 2010. The government stated that it would develop a new approach to supporting vulnerable children that did not involve a centralized database.

Legacy

The closure of ContactPoint left a gap in the system for sharing information about children. Various local and national initiatives have since been developed to address this gap, but none have replicated the scale or scope of ContactPoint.

Related Pages

• Children Act 2004
• Victoria Climbié
• Department for Children, Schools and Families
• Coalition Government