ContactPoint to continue for now

ContactPoint will remain in limited operation while the government makes firmer decisions on what should come after it.

A letter from the Department for Education to directors of social services said: “The government recognises that significant investment has already been made in developing ContactPoint and the infrastructure that supports it.

“In considering a new approach, the government will seek to make the most appropriate use of that investment wherever practicable.”

Full details of interim operation and the letter can be seen here.

It said more detail would be published later this summer.

The letter also acknowledged that, during this interim phase of continued operation, local authorities would continue to pay for the system. As a result, the government has confirmed it will meet the grant payment up until the end of June this year.

When ContactPoint ceases to operate, the letter said, access to the system will be revoked centrally, meaning local authorities and partners will not need to do anything to enable the change.

Similarly, removal of data from the system will be managed centrally, “under strictly controlled conditions”.

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