Is anxiety over data sharing getting in the way of successful early interventions?

Phil Neal, Managing Director at Capita One Children`s Services, argues for improved data sharing practices:

Some children’s services staff I have spoken to reveal that nervousness exists over when it is ‘right’ to share data and how it can be used to inform better decision making in the delivery of early help.

The challenge for any organisation committed to supporting local authorities in driving the early help agenda forward is to break down the barriers to success. This will bring many benefits for children, families and the public purse in the future.

It is vital that important information on children and families flows easily between teams. Advances in technology are helping to ensure that this becomes a simpler task in the years ahead. The Information Commissioner’s Office also offers a wealth of guidance on how and when to share data, where it is appropriate to do so.

The launch of the Early Intervention Foundation one year ago has seen initiatives being implemented across the UK that are successfully cutting crime and boosting attendance and school achievement.

To continue the great work already being done, data must provide the firm foundation needed to ensure decisions are more informed and children and families get the help they need sooner. Only then can the most vulnerable in society reap the considerable rewards of this new approach.

Phil Neal is beginning to sound like the Scottish Government and their GIRFEC approach who have lowered the threshold for early interventions and have no qualms about breaching confidentiality by sharing data. For example:

Perth and Kinross CPC has produced this Toolkit in collaboration with the Perth and Kinross Getting it Right for Every Child Implementation Group; the Scottish Government's Getting it Right For Every Child Policy Team; and with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): Scotland.

Remember, nothing whatsoever, in Scottish, UK and/or European Law and/or in the Scottish child protection legislative, policy and/or practice environments prevents you from sharing information where you are worried or concerned about a child or young person's wellbeing. On the contrary, you are, within certain limitations and constraints, empowered to do so.

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/6056/Practitioners-toolkit---information-sharing-confidentiality-and-consent

Now we learn that "OUTSOURCING giant Capita yesterday signed a major contract to link up all the public sector computers in Scotland. The Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) contract will see Capita ensure that hospitals, schools, GP surgeries and council offices are all linked to the same computer network. The scheme is worth £325m for a period of nine years, or £36m in revenue a year."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/questor/10644909/Questor-share-tip-Capita-wins-Scottish-public-sector-deal.html

So when Capita spins the doctrine of early interventions and data sharing do they have these kind of contracts in mind?