What is the YorOK Child Index?

The YorOK Child Index is a managed database that helps practitioners to:

• Find out if there is any other service / organisation working with a child / young person
• Share information effectively
• Receive advice about what to do if they have a concern about a child / young person.
• Find out if Common Assessment ( CAF ) (CAF – Common Assessment Framework) has been completed

The YorOK Child Index was developed in 2004/5 in response to the Every Child Matters Change For Children agenda, specifically identifying vulnerable children and young people and helping practitioners know who else is involved. As it is not possible to predict accurately in advance who will need additional targeted and specialist services the YorOK Child Index covers all children and young people in York. Any child and young person could require additional support at any time in their childhood. The YorOK Child Index allows information to be shared quickly and is a vital part of delivering early intervention. The YorOK Child Index also allows children and young people not receiving the universal services of education and health care to be identified and appropriate action taken.

How is information on the YorOK Child Index accessed?

To access the information stored on the YorOK Child Index practitioners need to have consent from the parents/carer or if over 12 years old, the young person themselves. Practitioners wanting to use the YorOK Child Index also need to undergo a full-day training session on Integrated Working, involving the principles of information sharing. They then become Authorised users and have their own unique Personal Identification Number. Access is via the Information Sharing and Assessment Team, practitioners cannot access the YorOK Child Index directly.

To check training dates and book online click here.

What is ContactPoint?

ContactPoint will be a national system that will provide a quick way to find out who else is working with a child or young person, making it easier to deliver a more coordinated support. This basic online directory will be able available to authorised staff who need it to do their jobs.

Currently, practitioners can spend days trying to find out who else is working with a child / young person and they may unknowingly duplicate work that is being carried out by another service. ContactPoint has been designed to support the processes followed by people working with children / young people and is in response to what many practitioners said they need.

A national system will enable a practitioner to identify other practitioners working with a child / young person, regardless of local authority boundaries. Also, when a child / young person moves area ContactPoint will help them have their needs for services quickly identified, by enabling practitioners in new areas to see which services were being delivered in the old area.

For more information please contact:

Information Sharing & Assessment Team
Children’s Trust Unit
Mill House

North Street
York
YO1 6JD

or email the team.

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