Capita Children’s Services
has acquired CPFR Solutions, a provider of integrated
recording and assessment solutions to childcare and early years
services within the public sector.
Capita has acquired the entire share capital of CPFR for an
undisclosed sum to help it deliver an integrated database for
children’s services departments, with a single record for each
child from birth to adulthood.
Capita’s EMS technology is currently used in 126 councils to
manage children’s data. The integration of CPFR's eStart technology
with the EMS portfolio will help local authorities to track
children from early years settings to school without any loss of
data.
Capita said the data would let social care professionals spot
children at risk more quickly and easily. The subject is high on
the government’s agenda following the Victoria Climbié tragedy, and
the subsequent introduction of the Every Child Matters
initiative.
The combined solution will let data be entered on a child once
and then viewed by all authorised personnel in any service, saving
time and eliminating the duplication of data entry.
“The government has made it clear that social care practitioners
must have access to all relevant data on children if the life
experiences of some of the most vulnerable members of our community
are to be improved,” said Sean Massey, director of Capita
Children’s Services.
“The acquisition of CPFR Solutions helps us achieve this vision;
ensuring authorised personnel can view a full history of a child
from birth until they leave school,” he added.
Founded in 2002, CPFR develops data management solutions for
SureStart children's centres and nurseries and its systems are used
by more than 60 local authorities. It operates out of Windsor
in Berkshire and the entire workforce of 25 will now transfer to
Capita.
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