Establishing a Framework for Information Sharing: A Structured Approach

Effective information sharing helps agencies and organisations deliver support to children and young people that is appropriate to their needs. To be effective the information shared must be relevant and proportional, it must be appropriately protected and secured, and exchanges must be made within the requirements of law. 

This document outlines a framework within which information sharing protocols and agreements can be developed and managed, ensuring that there is consistency and clarity across all agencies involved. The framework allows for protocols and agreements to be developed at strategic, managerial and operational levels, and assumes that protocol development will be focused on specified purposes rather than organisational structures. 

The framework is designed to support a community-based approach, in which information sharing for the support of children and young people will be a major component. The document will be helpful to any agency needing to develop protocols or looking to review existing arrangements. 

The guidance was produced as part of an information sharing protocols standards project, commissioned by the Local e-Government Standards Body.