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What is the Common Assessment Framework (CAF)?

The Common Assessment Framework, or CAF, is a way of working with children and families. It involves listening to you and your child about what is working well for you, but also about anything that they may be having difficulties with.

After telling your story once, to somebody that you know and who is working with your child, an action plan is then drawn up with you. It will be shared, if you say it can be, with the other people who may be able to help your child. It is a way of making sure that your child gets the type of help they need, when they need it before any worries or problems get bigger.

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How will the CAF help my family?

The CAF is there to support you and your child. It can lead to a quick solution or help to identify if and what extra support is needed. The CAF will make sure that everyone working with your child - such as teachers or health visitors - work together. It can prevent needing to tell your story over and over again. The CAF will help your child receive the help and support they need at an early stage before their needs increase.

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When is the CAF used?

The CAF can be used if you, your child or somebody working with your child feels that they may need some additional help or support. It will help to identify your child's needs and the people who may be able to help them and you.

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What will happen?

If you and your child agree, a worker will arrange a time to have a chat with you, and ask some questions to find out what type of help or extra support your child might need.

Older children may feel able to discuss their situation on their own with the worker. If the child expresses a wish to keep information confidential from their parents, this will be respected if it is seen to be in the best interests of the child.

You and your child will then be able to agree on what information is recorded. They will record this information on a simple form and then will draw up an action plan with you.

Once you and your child have agreed who you want to help and support you the worker can then share the form with those people to look at the possibility of setting up a Multi-Agency Support Team Meeting.

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What is a Multi Agency Support Team?

This is simply the people who are supporting you and your child, who meet with you regularly to discuss how things are going and if anything needs to change to reach the best outcome for your child. They will carry out the action plan with you to make sure that everybody who is working with you knows what they need to be doing.

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What happens next?

Based on the information that you and your child give, all of the people who may be able to help and support them will work together to provide the help that your child needs.

Only workers who need to know and that you want to know about your child will share the information.

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What is a Lead Professional?

If there are a number of people who are supporting your child one of them will be known as the Lead Professional. This person will listen to and support you as well as keep you involved. The Lead Professional will also coordinate all of the services that your child is receiving. You and your child can have a say in who you would like the Lead Professional to be.

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Confidentiality

As a rule, the information that you and your child provide will only be shared with the consent of you and your family. However, there may be certain times when the people working with you 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
• To help detect or prevent a serious crime