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Children’s database

Again another outcome of Every Child Matter, the children’s database is the government’s response to Lord Laming’s call for better joint working practice and data-sharing between all agencies involved with vulnerable children. Ten information sharing and assessment (ISA) trailblazer pilots received £1 million each to explore different models of effective practice.

All local authorities will have an ISA system – or data-sharing index - with basic details of every child under 18-years-old in their area, including name, address, gender, GP by the end of 2008. Professionals involved with a child will have access to the system and will be able to flag up whether they have any concerns. This will be visible to the next agency or professional coming into contact with the child. The idea is for these localised databases to form a national database.

Al Aynsley-Green published a report which found that children may be deterred from using sensitive services through concerns about confidentiality. Therefore the Department for Education and Skills launched a consultation in September 2006 which confirmed the index would only hold basic information.