Every Child may finally be recognised by every system
Every Child could receive a unique identifier so agencies can share vital safeguarding information more reliably. This is important work. It should not require three incompatible databases to hold a summit about whether the same person exists.
The government has added £18 million to accelerate children’s social care reforms. Plans include earlier family help, family group decision making, multi agency panels and better information sharing.
Children and families deserve safe, responsive support. The humour does not touch that. It touches the machinery around it, which has sometimes treated matching a record like an archaeological expedition with password rules.
The databases attempt basic cooperation
“We can identify the same record because all four systems have found a different way to spell the surname,” said Prudence Drop Down, Controller of Joined Up Boxes. “Education accepts Tuesday. Health prefers 14:03.”
A consistent identifier should help services connect relevant information. This is less glamorous than a ministerial launch. It is also far more useful than a spreadsheet that develops opinions and refuses to meet its neighbours.
Earlier help can support families before difficulties become crises. Family group decision making can involve relatives in appropriate choices. Those are practical aims. The bureaucracy should be the only thing wandering off to form a working party.
Multi agency safeguarding panels need professional judgement, resources and trusted relationships. A panel is not improved by adding eight introductory slides, three logos and a chair who says let us take that offline before anyone has said anything.
The letter confirms the letter exists
When the new identifier connects a record, systems may celebrate quietly. Ideally, they will not send five letters asking the same family to confirm that the information they shared remains information.
The reform aims to make help arrive sooner and information work better. That should be normal. If the old systems need a round of applause for recognising a child across several buildings, the applause should be brief and followed by an actual improvement.
Read the real story: The announcement on accelerated children’s social care reforms.
