Common Assessment Framework: Frequently Asked Questions?
What is the Common Assessment Framework or CAF? CAF is a shared assessment tool for use by all services for children and young people throughout England. Its purpose is to identify need, offer help at an early stage and promote a co-ordinated response. It is one of the processes being set up to support the integrated delivery of frontline services under the Every Child Matters agenda. The other processes are: Lead Professional Role, Information Sharing, e-CAF and Contact Point. In Waltham Forest, we have combined these into one project called the „Mainstreaming Integrated Working‟ project. Who is the CAF for? The CAF is appropriate for use with all children and young people aged 0-19 years. But it is not intended to be used for every child. Use the CAF for children with additional needs i.e. those who, without some additional help, are not likely to meet the five Every Child Matters outcomes. For example: in Education, this could mean pupils at School Action or School Action Plus. CAF is not to be used where the child may be suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm. Use the Pan London Child Protection procedures: Do I need to do a CAF to refer children to other services? From 20th March 2008, we expect referrals to most specialist agencies to be accompanied by a completed CAF. Briefly these services are: Social Services Children‟s First Response Team Youth Service Specialist Children‟s Service Special Educational Needs Service Educational Psychology and Behaviour Support Services Connexions But, CAF should only be done when it is of benefit to the child and should not be done retrospectively as this risks duplicating assessments. For example, if a child already has an SEN statement, then we do not expect a CAF as well. [Further information is given in Waltham Forest‟s guidance - see note at end of this paper.] How many CAF forms will a child have? One, though this will be reviewed and added to over time. The idea is to get a holistic picture of a child‟s needs on this one form and to ensure that the information follows the child.
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Common Assessment Framework: Frequently Asked Questions?
Is the starting point completing the CAF? No. The starting point is checking to see if a CAF already exists. You can do this by: Checking with the Integrated Working Manager at the LSCB 1; Asking the child or young person Asking the parents or carers. If a CAF has already been done, find out who initiated it and contact them to discuss how best to contribute to the assessment. Who is involved? A CAF can only be done with the participation and consent of the child/young person and their parent/carer.2 The young person or their parent / carer will need to sign on page 8 of the form to give their consent to their information being stored or shared. Who is in charge? The assessment belongs to the child and family. The person completing the assessment has initial responsibility for agreeing the action plan (page 7 of CAF form), making referrals and contacting other services that need to be involved. Who does a CAF? Any practitioner may complete a CAF, though we recommend that they attend the training before doing so. So in schools, The SENCO, Year Heads, Coordinators, The Head, Mentor, TA depends on what the need is and who is dealing with the child to meet that need. You do not need to be an expert to do a common assessment. If there are sections of the form which you cannot complete, then record what you can, leaving others to add to the form later. Completing the CAF does not mean that you will automatically become the lead professional. How long will this take? Each CAF will need at least two meetings – one to complete the assessment and another to review the action plan. For the majority of children, it is expected that their needs will be met and difficulties resolved within 3 months from starting the process. If the process continues up to 6 months, the practitioner and the line manager should review the situation and consider whether referral to a statutory or higher level of
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To be advised,
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In some circumstances the child/young person will be able to agree to an assessment without reference to their parents or carers if they are judged to be “Fraser” competent i.e. if they have „sufficient understanding and intelligence to enable him or her to understand fully what is proposed‟. As a rough guide, a child of 12 or older would probably be deemed competent, but children under 16 should always be encouraged to involve their parent or carer unless to do so could put them at risk of harm.
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Common Assessment Framework: Frequently Asked Questions?
intervention is indicated to meet the child‟s needs. [See information about thresholds in the WF guidance.] So what do I do with a completed CAF? 1. Ensure that the action plan on page 7 has been completed and agreed with the child and family. 2. Set a date for reviewing the action plan. 3. If applicable and with the consent of the child and family, send a copy of the CAF and the multi-agency referral form to other services as detailed on the action plan. 4. Give a copy to the child and family. 5. Keep a copy for your own agency‟s records. 6. Send a copy to the IW Manager (details in footnote on page 2).
Note: For staff with access to the Council‟s “Groupwise” network, documents can be safely emailed to the IW Team: Noel.Fullerton@walthamforest.gov.uk. Or Chris.Kelly@walthamforest.gov.uk For other agencies, documents will need to send by Registered post; please contact The Integrated Working Team for details.
Who needs to know about CAF? Every manager and practitioner in services working directly with children and young people, whether that service will generate or receive completed CAF‟s. Where are the CAF Forms? An electronic template is available for pre-assessment and assessment. They then can be sent via email as long as the email is secure (see note on page 3) www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/TP00004/ Where is the help? Training is available now and more will be organised throughout 2008/9. We have an Integrated Working Co-ordinator to offer you advice and support. The Every Child Matters website is an excellent source of information. The Mainstreaming Integrated Working project board and covers have produced guidance: Common Assessment Framework, Lead Professional Role, Information Sharing and Referrals to Specialist Services. Copies will be available to download at the Council website. http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/cspolicy-iw-guidance-march2008.pdf
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