The Common Assessment Framework

Delivered by: Gill DowntonBromley CAF Team

The Common Assessment Framework

A standardised method of assessment for assessing children and young peoples needs. Recognising that promoting the well-being of children and young people and safeguarding them from harm is everyone’s business

Be proactive – identify concerns as early as possible and initiate actions

Relevant to any agency who provides a service to children and young people and will support multi-agency working together

1 Dimensional

The focus is on the needs relevant to your agency

2 Dimensional

The focus is on the whole child

3 Dimensional

Child/YP seen in the context of the whole family & community

Holistic Assessment

Early Intervention (Cover of The Second Independent Report by Graham Allen MP)

It is a PROCESS which is supported by a standard form

The process includes: A holistic assessment focussing on needs

and strengths

Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings

A multi-agency action plan instead of several uncoordinated single agency plans

A Lead Professional

A review process

The CAF is NOT simply a FORM to fill in!

Role of the CAF Team

The CAF Team (4.2 FTE inc Manager and Administrator) is responsible for: -

providing appropriate training, support, advice and information to practitioners using the framework;

offering a chairing facility for complex ‘Team Around the Child’ meetings;

the management of Information Systems relating to CAF including a central depository for all CAFs;

monitoring and auditing CAF implementation & progress within Bromley.

7

TAC Meetings

Where a TAC meeting is chaired by the CAF Team and the consensus is that a referral to Children’s Social Care (CSC) is required the CAF Team will make the referral and escalate it as appropriate

If the case is not accepted as a referral the CAF Team can continue to support with ongoing TACs

Step-down from CSC

The Social Worker (SW) will contact the preferred Lead Professional (LP) and discuss step down with them. If the family give consent, the SW can share a copy of their recent assessment report with the LP. The ongoing needs must be clearly identified and a proposed action plan put in place. The LP should then register a copy of the shared assessment and agreed Action Plan with the CAF Team.

If the child has complex multiple needs, good practice should mean that the SW arranges a final case closure/ Team Around the Child (TAC) meeting and invites the LP to the meeting as well as other practitioners. The young person (where age appropriate) and/or parent/carer(s) must also be present.

Benefits

> Early intervention > Improved joint working > Much clearer information about family situations – a

structure under which to gather that information> Parent/carer engagement & empowerment> Parent/carer and/or Young Person given a voice

Via TACs/consultation> Multiagency 3 dimensional approach> A multiagency plan instead of several service

specific plans – reducing overlap, common goals and shared responsibility

> Engagement of agencies> Preserved history – a picture built up over time* > Myth blowing assumptions about who is involved and

doing what*

CAF use within Bromley

194

377

466

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2008/9 2009/10 2010/11

Growth of CAF use within Bromley

CAFs via age range 2010/11

13 14

36

96

117

184

210

170

1 2

0

50

100

150

200

250

Prebirth 0 to 4 5 to 10 11 to 16 17+

CAFs received via age range - comparison statistics between 2009/10 and 2010/11

2009/10 2010/11

Other sources of information

CAF Practitioner and Managers Guides (July 09) http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-

and-practice/IG00063

Information sharing guidance and training materials

www.ecm.gov.uk/informationsharing

Bromley Safeguarding Children Board (info re CAF Training, relevant guidance and CAF Form)

http://www.bromleysafeguarding.org/

Any Questions?