The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a standardised approach to conducting an assessment of a child’s additional needs and deciding how those needs should be met. It can be used by practitioners across children’s services.
The CAF promotes more effective, earlier identification of additional needs, particularly in universal services. It is intended to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of a child’s needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development. Practitioners will then be better placed to agree, with the child and family, about what support is appropriate. The CAF will also help to improve integrated working by promoting co-ordinated service provision.
CAF materials, including practitioners' and managers' guides, CAF form, pre-assessment checklist, training materials and supporting tools are available on the Department for Education website. Resources are available below that were previously brought together under the heading 'locality working'.
CAF training
CAF awareness training
This one day course will help practitioners working with children young people and families understand the values and purpose of early intervention and integrated working. It includes how to: share information; complete a common assessment; take part in team around the child/family processes; be a lead professional and/or support the lead professional role.
CAF awareness training will take place on the following dates:
- 24 April 2012 - North - Banbury Hub
- 16 May 2012 - South - Didcot Hub
- 18 September 2012 - Central - Unipart Conference Centre
- 11 October 2012 - North - Banbury Hub
- 6 November 2012 - South - Didcot Hub
CAF refresher training
This 3 hour refresher course is intended for those who have already completed the one day CAF awareness training. CAF refresher training will take place on the following dates:
- 24 May 2012 - North - Banbury Hub
- 19 June 2012 - South - Didcot Hub
- 3 July 2012 - Central - Unipart Conference Centre
- 27 September 2012 - North - Banbury Hub
- 5 December 2012 - South - Didcot Hub
- 22 January 2013 - Central - Unipart Conference Centre
Booking
These courses can be booked online at http://learning.myoxfordshire.gov.uk.
Attached files
- CAF pre-assessment checklist form (doc format, 82 KB)
- CAF form (doc format, 485 KB)
- Example completed CAF form (pdf format, 215 KB)
- CAF delivery plan and review forms (doc format, 120 KB)
- Example completed delivery plan and review forms (pdf format, 77 KB)
- CAF audit form (doc format, 247 KB)
- An overview of the CAF and TAC process (.pdf format, 42Kb)
- What makes a well completed CAF? (pdf format, 37 KB)
- Tips for a good CAF conversation with a young person (pdf format, 182 KB)
- CAF quick guide (pdf format, 40 KB)
- CAF information for parents and carers leaflet (pdf format, 1 MB)
- CAF information for young people leaflet (pdf format, 939 KB)
- Teenage pregnancy CAF care pathway (pdf format, 96 KB)
CAF resources for children and young people
A number of toolkits, resources and training materials are available to help children and young people contribute to CAF assessments, reviews and planning meetings. This selection was compiled to assist Oxfordshire practitioners.
Team around the child (TAC)
A team of professionals working together with the family to address the child’s needs.
The team works together to plan co-ordinated support from agencies to address problems in a holistic way. The family and child will be an integral part of the process to develop the action plan.
TAC materials, including practitioners' and managers' guides are available on the Department for Education website.
Attached files
TAC resources for children and young people
A number of toolkits, resources and training materials are available to help children and young people contribute to TAC assessments, reviews and planning meetings. This selection was compiled to assist Oxfordshire practitioners.
CAF/TAC evaluation forms
Lead professional when supporting a child
Where a child or young person has additional needs requiring a multi-agency response, a relevant practitioner from among those supporting the child is identified to carry out the functions of the lead professional who will:
- act as single point of contact for the child or family
- co-ordinate the delivery of the actions
- reduce overlap and inconsistency in the services received
- continue to support the child and family if more specialist assessments need to be carried out
- support the child through key transition points but where necessary, ensure a careful and planned handover takes place if it is more appropriate for someone else to be the lead professional.
Lead professional materials, including practitioners' and managers' guides, factsheets and details about the role are available on the Department for Education website.
Attached files
Information sharing between staff
Professionals need to work together in order to provide children, young people and their families with the support best suited to them and their needs. In Oxfordshire, working together in this way was previously referred to as 'locality working'.
Sharing information is vital for early intervention to ensure that children and young people with additional needs get the services they require. It is also essential to protect children and young people from suffering harm from abuse or neglect and to prevent them from offending.
Information sharing materials are available on the Department for Education website.
Attached files
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