The introduction of a new computer system for use in
hospital accident and emergency departments (A&E) in England is to be cautiously
welcomed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20846317
I have previously suggested that such a system – which
provides access to information about whether a child is subject to a child
protection plan - might be a worthy successor to ContactPoint, which I believe
was wholly misconceived. http://chrismillsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/after-contactpoint.html
But those responsible for the new database must not claim
too much for it and they must resist the temptation to elaborate it. Keeping it
simple is essential. And it should be UK wide, not simply confined to England.
Why do I support this system when I was very opposed to ContactPoint?
This system deals with simple factual information – whether a child has been
made the subject of a child protection plan, whether a child is in care – and should
contain only details of children who meet these criteria. ContactPoint
concerned all children and it was spuriously claimed that being able to see
patterns in child/agency involvement was an indicator of risk.
Lisa Harker of the NSPCC is spot on when she says that it is
people who protect children, not IT systems. An IT system can support
professional practice if its objectives are simple and clear, but don’t ever
fall into the trap of thinking that it can take decisions or even suggest
courses of action.
