Common Assessment Framework
The Common Assessment Framework (or CAF) is a new way of working with children and young people.
It involves listening to you and your child to find out your child’s needs, and what is working well in your child’s life.
An action plan, agreed with you and your child, is also put in place to make sure your child gets the right sort of help.The CAF is voluntary – you and your child can choose to be involved.
A message for parents and carers
When your child needs extra support, we want to find the best way forward as soon as possible.The information below explains a new way of everyone working together which puts your family at the heart of decisions made about your child.
A new way of helping families, your questions answered.
- How will the CAF help my family?
The CAF exists to help you support your 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, such as teachers and health visitors, work 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.
- When is the CAF used?
The CAF can be used if you or someone who works with your child would like your child to receive extra support. It will help to identify your child’s additional needs and other workers required to support your family.
- How does it work?
If you and your child agree, a worker will ask you and your child some questions to find out what help and support your child might need. This information is recorded on a simple form. You and your child will agree what is put on the form and you will be given a copy of it.
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.
Confidentiality
As a rule the information which you and your child provide will only be shared with your family’s consent. 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 or to help prevent or detect a serious crime.
For further information look at this site, or speak to our Family Worker Sarah Bell on 01242 525472. You can also download a pdf about CAF.
Family Worker