In line with a longstanding policy intention, and a commitment in the
Coalition Agreement, the Government has confirmed that ContactPoint has been switched off at noon on 6 August 2010.
From now on no users will be able to access the system. The
database will be destroyed using Government-approved security standards
and processes.
The Government continues to consider the feasibility of a new
signposting service for professionals to help them to support and
protect our most vulnerable children, particularly when these children
move areas or access services in more than one area.
Closure arrangements
On 22 July 2010, Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of
State for Children and Families, placed a written ministerial statement
in Parliament, to confirm arrangements to shut down ContactPoint. The statement is available from the DfE News page.
Also on 22 July 2010, Tom Jeffery, Director-General, Children and
Families Directorate, wrote to all local authority directors of
children’s services and chief executives of ContactPoint National
Partners to confirm arrangements for the closure of ContactPoint. The letter, available from the DfE News page, includes a timetable and guidance for the safe and effective shut down of the system.
Local authorities and ContactPoint National Partners are responsible
for ensuring local partner organisations, users and suppliers receive
notice of ContactPoint closure.
This page will be updated in due course.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why have you decided to end ContactPoint? How are you so sure it is the right thing to do?
Ending ContactPoint is part of a longstanding policy commitment from
both coalition partners. Ministers do not believe that a database, which
holds details of all children in England and which is accessible to
hundreds of thousands of people, is the right way to help vulnerable
children.
What is your alternative approach?
We are exploring the practicality of a national signposting approach,
which would focus on helping a strictly limited group of practitioners
to find out whether a colleague elsewhere is working, or has previously
worked, with the same vulnerable child. We are working closely with our
partners to assess the feasibility and affordability of such an
approach.
How are you shutting it down?
We are closing this database in a managed, safe and controlled way.
This involves providing local authorities and practitioners with a
period of advance notice before the system is switched off, to aid local
planning and management. We are also providing detailed guidance on the
steps central government will take, and what local authorities and
other partners should do.
Practitioners and organisations should talk to their local authority (or
National Partner where appropriate) about any activities they need to
undertake related to the closure of ContactPoint.
I am a practitioner, trained on ContactPoint. Are my training materials safe to dispose of?
Yes they are. Training materials given
out by the DfE and Leeds ContactPoint team used only dummy data. Any
similarity to actual people or cases is entirely coincidental. As a
result, you are free to recycle any paper as you deem appropriate.