ContactPoint database to be switched off

Government exploring possibility of new national signposting service

Loughton: It was disproportionate and unjustifiable to hold records on every child in the country

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.