Children Services Assessment:
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
What is the Common Assessment Framework?
If a child needs extra support, over and above what can be offered through school, nursery, care provider or through health (these are also know as universal services), it is best for people who work with this child to get together with the child’s carer to find a way forward. The Common Assessment Framework (or CAF) offers a way to look at what’s working, and what’s not working and to come up with a smart plan to make things better. The CAF involves listening to both carer and their child and to establish what extra support maybe needed.
How will the CAF help my family?
The CAF exists to help the carer support their child. It can lead to a quick solution or help to identify extra support if needed. The CAF will ensure that everyone involved with your child works together to support your child. The CAF will help your child receive the right support at an early stage before their needs increase. As the CAF is a shared assessment, you and your child will not have to repeat the same story to different workers.
How does it work?
If both carer and child agree, a worker will ask some questions to find out what extra help and support might be needed. This information is recorded on a simple form. Carers and their child will agree what is put on the form, and will be given a copy.
Older children may feel able to discuss their situation on their own with the worker. A young person’s wish to keep information confidential from parents may be respected by the worker, where this is in the young person’s best interests and welfare.
What happens next?
Based on the information provided, all those who can help your child will work together to support your child’s extra needs. Only workers who have to know about your child will share your child’s information.
Who is a lead professional?
If a number of people are supporting a child, one of these people may be appointed as a ‘lead professional’. This person will keep the carer and their child informed, listen to views and offer support. The named worker will also co-ordinate all the services supporting this child. Both carer and child will have a say in who should be the lead professional.
Confidentiality
As a rule the information which either carer or child provide will only be shared with their consent. However there may be certain times when the
People working on with the child need to share information. For example:
- when they need to find out urgently if a child is at risk of harm;
- to help a child who is at risk of harm;
- when an adult is at risk of harm; or
- to help prevent or detect a serious crime.
For further information
For further information please email hackneycafquestions@learningtrust.co.uk or telephone 020 8820 7057.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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