Contacts

Email: caf-enquiries@ hertscc.gov.uk Tel: 01438 737575

Useful Links

Integrated Working - Children Services Integrated Practice Children's Services - Partnership Working

Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for children and young people is a shared tool to be used across all children’s agencies (including schools/other education establishments) in England.  It embraces:

• A common process to enable practitioners to undertake a common assessment and then act on the result.
• A Single Service Request form to help determine if there is more than one area of need for a child or young person you are working with.
• A standard form to record the assessment.

Once the form has been completed with the parents/carers, (with the young person if appropriate) it is essential that all the practitioners currently working with the child are contacted and the findings discussed with them.  Many professionals find this easier to do with a face to face meeting (team around the family - TAF).  The parents/carers and the child should also ideally be present at this meeting.
It is essential that the CAF is not just used as a means of referral and then ‘sign off’.

• Information on the Team Around the Family (TAF)
• Lead Professional

To help CAF practitioners to call together a Team Around the Family, a contacts directory has been developed on Compass. The directory is arranged by District and Extended School Consortia areas. Professionals and practitioners who have completed Integrated Practice training are included as well as County-wide specialists.

The directory can be found on Compass (the HCC intranet accessible from within Hertfordshire Schools)

• CAF Multi Agency Team Lists

CAF Form and Practitioner Guidance

The CAF form is designed to help practitioners develop a shared understanding of a child’s needs, so they can be met more effectively.  It will avoid children and families having to tell and re-tell their story. 

The forms supporting the CAF have been updated nationally, to support the upcoming National eCAF system. 

Please note the CAF form, the CAF Delivery Plan & Review form and Hertfordshire’s Practitoner Guidance are all available to download from the Hertsdirect website at:

• Common Assessment Framework Supporting Tools

The Single Service Request form prompts practitioners to consider the outcomes for children and young people.  However, if more than one area of need is identified, the practitioner should then complete a Common Assessment Framework (CAF).

Please note the Single Service Request (SSR) form and SSR Guidance are available to download from the Hertsdirect website at:

• Single Service Request Form

Integrated Practice/CAF Training

Integrated Practice Training/CAF details are available on Herts Direct at:

• www.hertsdirect.org/services/advben/resprof/integrated/ippractice/training/

Useful Links

Local Links:

• Meeting the Needs of Children and Families - on Herts Direct
  

National Links:

• www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/strategy/integratedworking/

• www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/projects/commonassessmentframework.htm

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