Common Assessment Framework

Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

The common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key element of Every Child Matters providing a common method of assessment across all children's services and will;

• Help in the early identification of needs
• Lead to co-ordinated provision of services
• Promote information sharing to avoid the duplication of assessments
• Reduce the need for children and their families to re-tell their story to different practitioners

The five outcomes of Every Child Matters gives all agencies a simple and coherent view of what it is they are doing and gives responsibility to everyone for a child's well being.

The outcomes we want to achieve for all children and young people in Kirklees are:

• Be healthy - enjoying good physical health and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle
• Staying safe - being protected from harm and neglect and growing up able to look after themselves
• Enjoying and achieving  - getting the most out of life and developing broad skills for adulthood
• Making a positive contribution - to the community, society and not engaging in anti social or offending behaviour
• Economic wellbeing - overcoming social-economic disadvantages, to achieve their full potential in life.

All workers involved with children and their families have a duty to act in the best interest of the child.  It is the worker's responsibility to identify and respond to concerns about a child's welfare and to know how to effectively challenge decisions which in their professional opinion do not promote positive outcomes.

To access the CAF handbook please click here

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