What has happened to the Childcarelink.gov.uk site?

Don't give them ideas!

Oh it just gets better...

The page at childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk says:

The Google Maps API server rejected your request. This could be because the API key used on this site was registered for a different web site. You can generate a new key for this web site at code.google.com/apis/maps/.

Perhaps they should have given this out as a GCSE ICT project, it would have been done more professionally.

I have written an e-mail to Michael Grove MP Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families this morning (he also happens to be my local MP) requesting that he asks DCSF questions about this 'cock up'. If anyone else wishes to write to him, MichaelGrove.com contains his contact details.
With luck, having a Conservative MP ask questions about this may get some response from DCSF, though alas I doubt it will mean we will get a working system... as that is in the hands of the contractor and local authorities.

No this is definitely not a commercial system - it is a government system implemented by a contractor.

Commercial systems are defined by the fact that they have to provide what their customers want, otherwise their customers go elsewhere.

What we have now is an arrangement that provides no incentive for the supplier to provide what anyone wants - they just have to show they are providing what was written in the contract. That is why the supplier's focus is on documenting the process rather than achieving a successful outcome.

The problem with setting up a commercial system is that the government has a monopoly on the data (via Ofsted) and provides a large amount of funding directly to this project, via Local Authorities and via the Every Child Matters programme.

And they still cock it up.

There is a very, very long list of failed government computer systems from the last 10 years or so that have been put out to tender to save money, but that have cost loads more than their original tender, don't work, are worse than what they replaced etc etc etc. It looks like this is just another system to add to the list.

Nick it doesn't offer an option for funded EYE for childminders either

I don't think enough parent know we can offer this so it would have been nice

I also didn't see (but I could have missed) 'Childcare on Domestic Premises'

I am considering that atm

The postcode data side of things does not seem to have been thought out from what I've read about the system so far. In one of the documents for LA's it is saying that if a provider does not want their address being public then only the Outbound part of the code should be entered onto the system. If both Outbound and Inbound code are entered, then the full code will be displayed.
What they should have done is have an additional Flag field, so the full postcode could be entered and used for mileage calculations and the Flag field used to determine if that data should be displayed (or mapped at Inbound level) or not.

I do wonder if they ever asked any users of the system for what they wanted the system to do... certainly I wasn't asked. Were you?

This was a really good idea - it's just the implementation that seems bad. Getting all local authorities to use the same computer system (or systems that all link together) was always going to be tricky but once the standard for data transfer was agreed as long as all the software suppliers stuck to that standard then there shouldn't have been issues. Something however seems to have gone wrong.

"All a parent needs to do is put their postcode in and they get a shortlist of potential childcare providers and their vacancy information." Yep, that seems to have been the aim and should have happened. Though not sure they have thought everything out, as there are not enough categories of childcare type on which to search - they don't seem to have category for Home Childcarer / Registered Nanny for example, even though that was part of the remit.

I could do better in a weekend (go on, bet me ).

There was talk of letting third parties apply for API access, so that other websites could republish the data under license.

Does anyone else think that the public sector is never going to get this right, and childminders would be better off with a commercial alternative?

Isn't this a commercial alternative already - it's not as though Tribal Group is a Government organisation. Instead of doing a system in-house (which the old civil service used to do quite a bit) they put it out to tender. In some ways that does make sense as the Government can then use an expert company in the field of data management to create and support the system... but I feel it makes it harder to change things later on. For example that was an issue with ChildcareLink (when it was run by Opportunity Links), they couldn't add in another data field for Home Childcarers because that was not part of the original contract. Hopefully Government has learnt from that and has included clauses in this new contract with Tribal Group to enable new things to be added over the years... anyone want to place a bet on if they did though!

Use Net mums, much better response.

I managed to find myself but there is no info (had to trawl through 200 listings though)

The support site for local authorities using this 'service' is here. There is some interesting stuff there - in fact it looks to me like a perfect example of an overly beaurocratic and blame-centred project with reams of documentation and a focus on process rather than outcomes.

However a private enterprise would:
a)Cost money
b)Be slightly distrusted by childminders - as they are making money out of us
c)Be slightly distrusted by parents - as they are making money out of us
d)Likely to be funded by PFI so just as incompetent as the new system

cynical.....moi?

This was a really good idea - get all of the information about childcare into one web site with an easily searchable interface. All a parent needs to do is put their postcode in and they get a shortlist of potential childcare providers and their vacancy information.

Unfortunately, the implementation has been completely cocked up on many levels. Even when the problems with the data that has been taken on have been fixed, the interface for parents is nowhere near the quality you expect from a web service in 2009. I could do better in a weekend (go on, bet me ).

Does anyone else think that the public sector is never going to get this right, and childminders would be better off with a commercial alternative?

I checked out my usual Family Information Service website, as I have been continuing to direct parents to it - when you click on the link to find childcare, you get the latest information on swine flu!!

I am pleased to say that I exist on the new website, but I live 1km or 3km from my postcode(depending how you do the search). The complete lack of any information about me (or any other minder listed) is a pain - how parents sift through the list must be a nightmare.

I can imagine that all the information previously listed about my qualifications, special needs experience and facilities have been deleted permanently.

West Sussex have asked West Sussex childminders to be removed rather than ALL childminders everywhere - itms.

I just phoned up West Sussex Childrens Information Service and they have removed ALL childminders details from the site as it was bringing up everyones full addresses and they did not want that (as would none of the childminders!) so asked for have everything removed until they were satisfied that the website could stop it happening. They have no more information about when or if it will be resolved as they have not been told anything. They are not impressed about it and are hoping that childminder (nationally I presume seeing as it's a national problem) will be informed about what is going on. I'm sure we won't though.

Hang on

All the (local to me) childminders have disappeared off Direct.gov

Norfolk are saying they are buying a new server so can't fix it until that is in place & working?

Wondered if there would be anything on mn about this, I wanted to search for childcare job vacanices in my area (on childcare link for my town) - the website has been stopped and the new one not working, just says error. So no childcare info, no support group info, no job vacancies in childcare, no leisure activities listed, no toddler groups listed. . . this is a really valuable tool to any parent looking for information and it is gone! Why did they stop the old website before the new one is up and running???

I do actually know someone looking for a new childcare provider and she won't be able to, if you are in limbo re: childcare this must be very stressful. Also really feel for cm'ers with vacancies having been one myself.

Hope watchdog do run this story as it affects every parent and childcare provder nationwide.

Surrey FIS are saying that they have not been told when the issues with the direct.gov site will be fixed. The Surrey PKHD on the Surreycc website is however working, so to find childcare providers in Surrey, use the Surreycc website instead of DirectGov.

"But what I find really appalling (as a former systems designer and a taxpayer who has contributed to the cost of this shoddy system) is how badly designed and carelessly constructed the "help" on the system is - the instructions on how to navigate to update details refer to pages and and options which simply do not appear. This has clearly not been checked and tested in a professional manner. "

Absolutely, minderjinx! I would add the terrible search facility to your list.

I went to the surrey council list to look up our old childminder and sure enough it has good information. Incidentally, she also appeared as being 2 km from her own postcode.

Why aren't the NCMA kicking up a very big fuss about this fiasco?

Can I just say as a new childminder this is really crap?! It has taken me all year to get to this stage of advertising for new mindees and now I don't even show on the 'official' system?? Parents won't even know I exist - and just when I was hoping to pick up some mindees for the 1/2 term hols

WailinGhoshe what did Dorset Surestart actually say when you spoke to them? Did they give you any helpful info at all?