Common assessment framework
What is Common Assessment Framework (CAF)?
The CAF is a new standardised approach for assessing the needs for services for children and young people and is part of a wider Government programme to provide integrated services. The aim behind the CAF is to support earlier intervention, improve multi-agency working and reduce bureaucracy for families. The CAF is based upon the five outcomes highlighted in the Government’s Every Child Matters – Change for Children agenda:
- Be Healthy
- Stay Safe
- Enjoy and Achieve
- Make a Positive Contribution
- Achieve Economic Well-Being
(i) Be Healthy – Physically, Mentally & Emotionally, Sexually, Healthy lifestyles, Choose not to take illegal drugs.
(ii) Stay Safe – Safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence & sexual exploitation, safe from accidental injury & death, Safe from bullying and discrimination, Safe from crime & anti-social behaviour, Have security, stability and be care for.
(iii) Enjoy and Achieve – Ready for school, attend & enjoy school, Achieve national education standards, Achieve personal & social development, and Enjoy recreation.
(iv) Make a Positive Contribution – Engage in decision making and support the community & environment, Engage in law abiding and positive behaviour, Develop positive relationships, Choose not to bully and discriminate, Develop self-confidence and successfully deal with significant life changes and challenges, Develop enterprising behaviour.
(v) Achieve Economic Well-Being – Engage in further education, employment or training, be ready for employment, and live in decent homes & sustainable communities, Access to transport & material goods, live in households free from low income.
Why do we need the CAF
We all want better lives for children and young people. Most children and young people do well. Some don’t, but also do not get help until their situations are in crisis. We want to identify such children as soon as possible and help them earlier before they reach crisis point. The most important way of doing this is if every person whose job involves working with children keeps an eye out for their general well-being, and is prepared to help if something is going wrong.
The common assessment is one way to help people to do this. It is a tool to identify needs. It covers all needs, not just the needs that individual services are most interested in.
Why will use a CAF
All agencies that have contact with babies, children and young people will use the CAF; midwives, health visitors, school health, education welfare, connexions, youth service, teachers, nurses. In fact, any professional whose job it is to work with children, young people and their families.
When will a CAF be used
The CAF should be used at the earliest opportunity when it is highlighted that a baby, child or young person may need help in their lives in order to progress.
The CAF should be used when there is concern about a child, or agencies have recognised a child has additional needs, that require further exploration and a multi-agency response. The assessment will provide further information and understanding of the child’s circumstances.
A common assessment is likely to be of most help when:
- there is reason to think that a child is not making the progress they should be at their age but it is not clear what the underlying causes are or what would help;
- the child is likely to need the support of another agency.
- a common assessment would help identify the needs, and/or get other services to help meet them.
Whether to do the assessment is a decision which should be made jointly with the child and/or parent. If the child is old enough to understand, and competent to make their own decision, they should be the one to decide. However, it is always good to encourage them to discuss things with their parents also.
The CAF can be used for any unborn baby, new baby, child or young person who has additional, unmet needs. It is not necessary to do a common assessment on every child. Those who are progressing satisfactorily, or already having their needs met, do not need one.
How will the CAF be introduced in Walsall?
The CAF is currently in the pilot stage in Walsall. It is being tested by a group of Education Welfare Officers and a group of Health Visitors. The Government have set a two year period (April 2006 – April 08) over which the CAF will be introduced. The next phase for its introduction will be to train the front line workers in all agencies who provide services for children and young people. This will be a mammoth task and will require great planning and the collaboration of all of these services.
How will the people of Walsall benefit?
Because the aim of the CAF is to provide joined up services to children and young people as early as any need is identified; better life chances attached to the five Government outcomes should become available for all children and young people, particularly the more vulnerable within our community. In short, the CAF should make positive changes to how services are identified and provided for our child/young person population.
Where can I find out more information?
The Every Child Matters website tells more about the CAF and the Government’s plans to improve the future for all children and young people: