INFORMATION gaps about children and young people in care continue to exist between public bodies in Dorset – but are getting better.

Similar problems also exist when young people move from children's to adult services, councillors were told.

Tuesday's (6 May) People and Health Scrutiny committee heard that the NHS, GPs, social services and other agencies are often working on different computer systems which often do not share information.

Councillors were told that in some cases this can lead to duplication of effort or even children and young people missing out on services they might be entitled to.

Councillors heard that staff training in systems used by partner organisations was now helping to bridge the potential information gap in a small number of cases.

Sturminster Newton councillor Carole Jones said she was concerned about vulnerable young people who might miss out because of information not being shared.

"Because Dorset Council, the NHS and other forms of healthcare are involved is there a danger that the young person could fall through the gap and not have their needs met because, somehow, they have twiddled down a little black hole?" she said.

She was told the chances of that happening were unlikely – but could happen.

The meeting heard of a range of organisations, and systems, which may be involved in the lives of children and young people often changes throughout the lifetime of a young personand into adulthood.

Gillingham councillor Carl Woode told the meeting that he worried about changes in partnership working where, a policy change, between one partner or another, might lead to funding for an individual being lost, or becoming insecure. In many cases some services are part-funded by one or more different organisations, typically where there is a health and other needs.

Executive director for social services Paul Dempsey admitted local authority finances were "pressured" but said the service did have a good record in meeting needs at an early stage, helping prevent families splitting up and reducing the number of children and young people in long-term care.

He said this now also involved working with staff in education, and with parents, to help early identification of need and ensure children who required support were catered for at an early stage.

Mr Dempsey later told the meeting there was flexibility between children's and adult services as a young person moved from one to the other but said there was "still work to do with health colleagues".

Cllr Toni Coombs, committee chair, said she was pleased to hear of good working practices which she said was helping to break down what she described as 'silo-working' in the past.

"I know what a challenge it is for services to try and create that full 'bubble' around a child and the work that is being done will go a long way to achieve that – it's nice to hear that everyone is buying into it," she said.