Overview:

After delays and calls for it to be scraped, ContactPoint went live on 26 January 2009. Its introduction, coupled with recent high profile child deaths, highlights the need for practitioners to be clear on their legal obligations in operating and using the new database. The seminar will address the key issues regarding this new legislation ensuring you are fully updated.

What will be covered

We are delighted to provide you with an update on the Children Act 2004, and accompanying regulations, which gave the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) powers to start operating ContactPoint. The seminar will address the principles behind the change, the practical issues of sharing information and balancing the conflicting requirements for privacy and openness in child protection work.

Children Act 2004
The Children Act 2004 is the legislation underpinning the government’s “Every Child Matters” initiative. The Act creates and expands the duties and responsibilities of professionals and clinicians working with children and their families. There are now increased requirements for inter-agency co-operation and information sharing, which are designed to better safeguard children. The introduction and expansion of child databases is central theme of the new legislation and the procedures, which have or will be implemented. Jonathan Flower, Head of Family Law, will outline the background and history, which has lead to the introduction of the Act and the key features of the legislation.

Information sharing in practice
Jonathan will review the background to the Act, explaining how the Act and resulting procedures will impact on the clinician or professional in practice, particularly in light of existing duties of confidentiality and record keeping.

Privacy and openness
Judy Baker will talk about key privacy and human rights aspects of the regulations and the new ContactPoint database. She will also examine the current position on data sharing in the public sector, the context for ContactPoint

Why attend?

This is an opportunity to ensure that you and your organisation are fully briefed on all major aspects of the legislation. Specifically, this seminar will provide you with a checklist of the key changes, as well as offering constructive guidance on how to deal with these issues.

Who should attend?

The seminar will be of interest to all clinicians and professionals directly or indirectly involved in child protection work. It will be of particular interest to the following:

• Paediatricians
• GPs
• Health Visitors/Midwives
• Managers
• Nurses
• Early Years Practitioners
• Information Governance Officers
• DP and FOI Officers
• Local Authority Data Protection Solicitors
• Social Workers
• Risk Managers

The Programme

12.00pm Registration and lunch

12.30pm Jonathan Flower
               Children Act 2004 
               Information sharing in practice

1.40pm  Refreshment break

2.10pm  Judy Baker
              Privacy and openness

2.50pm  Question and answer session

3.30pm  Formal close

About your speakers

Jonathan Flower, Partner. Head of Family Law
Jonathan is accredited under the SRA Children Panel Accreditation Scheme and has specialist child protection experience, acting for children, parents and Children’s Guardians. He has provided Child Protection training to NHS Trusts for many years.

Judy Baker, Partner
Judy is a specialist lawyer in information law. Her data protection practice includes advising on databases and information sharing arrangements between public sector bodies.

Cost

There is no charge to attend this seminar. All that we ask is that you register your place by 6th March 2009.

To register, simply click on the ’book event’ button at the top right hand of this page. For further information on this seminar, please contact Michelle McBride by emailing michelle.mcbride@wardhadaway.com or by calling her on 0113 205 6600.

Venue

Ward Hadaway
1A Tower Square
Wellington Street
Leeds, LS1 4DL