What is National eCAF?
The National eCAF system was established by the previous Government with the intention of providing the IT enablement of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and to offer practitioners a modern, effective tool to undertake and support CAFs more simply and securely.
The system operates across local authority borders and organisations, enabling practitioners to work together more effectively to provide an improved service experience and continuity of care for children, young people and families who move locations or use services in different areas.
National eCAF is developed in close consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including practitioners from across the children’s workforce, local authorities from every region in England, and national voluntary organisations.
Northamptonshire is one of the first four local authority areas to have access to the system.
Department for Education Announcement on National eCAF
In 2010 the present Government instigated a review of child protection under the leadership of Professor Eileen Munro. The review published in May 2011 was very positive on the effectiveness of early intervention. However it stated that the Government should not endorse nationally prescribed approaches to IT systems.
Professor Munro was also clear that it is the local ownership of assessment processes and the quality of local thought and engagement which will ensure that early help makes a difference.
In August, the Department for Education (DfE) announced that:
“In this context we are minded to stop the Department’s support for national eCAF and to decommission the system”.
The DfE asked for feedback on the implications of decommissioning the system.
The Northamptonshire Children and Young People’s Partnership Board is committed that Northamptonshire should have an electronic system to support the use of the CAF and is consulting with local practitioners and managers:
- The implications for them of the DfE proposal.
- The qualities and functions practitioners and managers would like from an electronic system to support early intervention.
- To what extend the National eCAF system had these qualities and was able to deliver these functions.
- If Northamptonshire were to invest in supporting an electronic system, whether they would like to see the continued use of the existing system (if possible) or whether they would prefer a local alternative with different functionality?
To take part in the consultation please complete the online form below:
Northamptonshire Consultation on the National eCAF System
National eCAF accreditation
Before practitioners can use National eCAF, the organisation from whom they work, will need to be accredited to support the safe and secure use of the system.
For further information please contact the Project Team nationalecaf@northamptonshire.gov.uk
National eCAF training
We will not be planning any further training on the system until the Department for Education makes a final announcement on the future of the National eCAF.