From Phase One it can be seen that there has already been progress with proposals for sharing information about Birmingham’s children in partnership with children’s agencies across the city.  A number of inter-agency protocols for sharing information are already established and other protocols are in various stages of development.

A wider group of partner agencies is now becoming involved in the project development, including:

• Birmingham City Council (Social Services, Education and Housing Departments);

• Birmingham Specialist Community Health NHS Trust;

• Birmingham and Black Country Health Authority;

• Birmingham Voluntary Services Council;

• West Midlands Police Service;

• Birmingham Primary Care NHS Trusts;

• Birmingham Acute NHS Trusts;

• Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Trust;

• Birmingham Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership;

• Birmingham Community Safety (Crime and Disorder Reduction) Partnership;

• Birmingham & Solihull Connexions Service;

• Sure Start Strategy Group;

• Birmingham Children’s Fund;Early Years Child Care and Development Partnership;

• Birmingham Youth Offending Service;

• Birmingham Drugs Action Team;

• Birmingham Area Child Protection Committee

The Birmingham Information Sharing (IRT) project is established within the Children & Young People Strategic Partnership.

An initial definition of “at risk” has been established but will be further developed by CYPSP and IRT steering group.  The definition has 2 key features, it identifies children in need of services to improve their life chances AND who are also at risk of social exclusion – ie: a double test. The definition aims to avoid labelling children as permanently in need of services, but rather expects that children will require services mainly for limited periods of their lives.

Assessment and identification tools will be developed with all the agencies.  The project will give particular support to assisting with the multi-agency implementation of the Department of Health Framework For Assessment of Children In Need.  Birmingham Children’s Fund, Identification Service and Signposting Service are developing child friendly tools for identification and referral for 5 to 13 year olds in selected parts of the city at present.  The Connexions Service is also committed to developing applicable tools for targeting support to young people.