Welcome to a new way of helping families
How can we help your family?
- The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a process intended to help you support your child
- Through discussion a worker may explore with you a solution to a concern or help to identify extra support if needed
- We can work in partnership to help your child receive the right support at an early stage before a small need grows into a larger one
- The CAF process may lead to us completing a shared assessment, so that you and your child will not have to repeat the same story to different workers
- This process can ensure that everyone involved with your child, such as teachers and health visitors, work together to support your child.
When is the CAF used?
- Common Assessment can be used if you or someone who works with your child would like your child to receive extra help
- You and a worker can identify any additional needs your child has, and who might help you, the child or the whole family
But it is your choice whether you accept help and you agree to who is involved in this helping process.
How does it work?
- We hope there is a worker who you feel comfortable talking to, it may be the person who told you about CAF
- After discussing your concerns with them it may be that other services are needed to support you or your child
- The worker can arrange to meet with you and/or your child to consider the questions on the CAF
What happens next?
- Based on the information you and your child provide the worker can begin to complete an action plan with you and all those who can help your child
- Then you can work together to provide the support your child's needs
- The information will only be shared with workers who need to know about your child
What is a Lead Professional?
- If a number of people are providing support to your child, one of those people may be chosen as a 'lead professional'
- This person will keep you informed, listen to your views and support you
- This person will also co-ordinate all the services supporting your child
- You and your child will have a say in who should be the lead professional
Confidentiality
As a rule the information which you and your child provide will only be shared with your family’s consent. However there may be certain times when the people working with you need to share information.
For example:
- when they need to find out urgently if a child is at risk of harm
- to help a child who is at risk of harm
- when an adult is at risk of harm
- to help prevent or detect a serious crime
Parents' leaflet
The leaflet below explains how the CAF could help your child to obtain extra support if needed.