Information Sharing and Assessment (ISA) is a key part of Every Child Matters.  ISA in Staffordshire aims to ensure that children and young people aged 0 - 18 years receive the universal services, such as education and healthcare, which they are entitled to and any additional support when required.  Helpful fact sheets can be found on the Every Child Matters web site.    

Common Assessment must be fully embedded
in Staffordshire by December 2008

Information Sharing and Assessment

Children are more likely to receive the services they need when people who work with them share information about their circumstances.  Recent government documents (Every Child Matters, Next Steps and the Children Act 2004)  emphasise the importance of information sharing.

Uncertainty about what can be legally shared has caused some professionals to be reluctant to pass on personal data even when it is in the clear interests of the child to do so. 

The Information Sharing and Assessment (ISA) Programme is a cross-government programme led by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.  It applies to all local authority areas in England.

ISA has three broad strategies:

• Improving information sharing between practitioners
• Developing and embedding a common approach to assessment
• Multi-agency working.

Further information on ISA can be found at:

Every Child Matters
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/

or by email to:  ISA@staffordshire.gov.uk

Last Modified: 13/11/2008 11:48:58
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